In 1967 Colonel Al Benson moved his wife and 5 children to Oahu’s North Shore and immediately bought Becky, Blanche and the rest of the kids surfboards. He bought himself a camera the family of seven acclimated to life on the islands.

The Colonel (as Al Benson would eventually be known), had served in 3 wars, and one can’t help but imagine what sort of perspective that would give someone and further, what sort of knowledge and wisdom would be passed down to their children. When you see how fragile life can be, it’s not hard to make the leap that they would want to savor the sweet moments and to make the most of one's life.

Becky & Blanche would surely benefit from their parents' perspective and encouragement. With the introduction of both surfing and the Hawaiian community, they would go on to live a full and enriching surfing life.

Blanche, the older of the two, and Becky would go on to play a role in helping to shape and pioneer the beginning of women’s professional surfing. Both showed a tenaciousness in larger surf and the two would help blaze a trail in the early days of the IPS World Tour with Becky finishing 3rd in 1977 just behind Margo Oberg and Lynne Boyer and won the inaugural OP Pro in 1982.

We are honored to have these trailblazing sisters on the show for this episode of The Swell Season Surf Radio Podcast.

The Swell Season Surf Radio Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is part of the Swell Season Surf Radio Network

Music:
Opening Song: Father's & Daughter
Artist: Paul Simon
Album: Surprise