Riding the Tides for Clean Waters: Ben Rogers’ Epic River Surf Marathon
When you think of a marathon, you probably imagine pounding pavements in running shoes. But Ben Rogers, a surfboard shaper, model maker, and long-time SAS supporter, had a different vision-one that involved tidal bores, a custom board, and a lot of surfing. We caught up with Ben to hear about his incredible story.
What’s your connection to Surfers Against Sewage?
I’m a surfboard shaper and the founder of Leaf Surfboards , my surfboard brand. I’ve been a member since I started surfing – so over two decades. In 2017, I even became a SAS Rep for a few years. I had to step back due to life being hectic, but I’m hoping to get back to organising river cleans soon.
SAS has had a really big impact on me. The work they do speaks directly to who I am and what I care about keeping our rivers and oceans clean. Supporting them just makes sense.
Tell us more about the challenge itself
Over the 9 days I completed 19 rides on 11 tides totally a mega 30.25 miles of rivers surfed! Pretty extraordinary looking back at it.
What inspired you to take on this unique fundraising challenge?
Originally, it was just a trip – something I’d always wanted to do. But then I thought, “How can I give this some real meaning?” I don’t run, unless I’m chasing a train or a ball! So instead, I decided to set myself a surf-based goal: a marathon of river surfing.
I’d always dreamed of doing something like this on the Severn Bore, but this time it became a full-blown adventure in Canada – surfing unfamiliar rivers, in a country I’d never been to, with limited information and access. It felt like the right challenge, and the right way to raise money for SAS.
You shaped your own board just for this trip, tell us about that!
Yeah, I designed it specifically for this challenge, although the idea actually came to me years ago. Most rivers I surf have Canada geese, so I put one on the board as a kind of emblem.
The board’s super bright because river water is usually brown, not blue, so colour helps lift the vibe. It’s got extra float to ride even the smallest ripples and a wide tail for better manoeuvrability. It’s now my go to board for river surfing.
How did the fundraising go? Any tips for others?
Honestly? Nag people. A hundred times.
Some of the people I thought would support me didn’t – but then others I barely knew came through in amazing ways.
I promoted through Instagram and Facebook constantly. The key was following up. Loads of people said they’d donate, but life gets in the way. So, I kept reminding them. Persistence pays off.
Give us some highlights (or lowlights!) from the trip.
The boat trip on the Shubenacadie River was hands-down the highlight. The weather was grey and freezing for most of the trip -it felt like going back in time three months -but on the second-to-last day, the sun came out and the waves were just perfect.
Morgan, the boat guy, was a legend. Normally, they tow tourists behind the tide on that river, but this time he took me in front so I could surf it. I got to ride almost every wave section. It was unreal.
What were the logistics like—especially with a 9’6″ board?
The real challenge was access. In the UK, we’re spoiled with footpaths. In Canada, most riverbanks are private land. I spent hours on YouTube, scrolling maps, and checking satellite imagery just to figure out where I could surf. On some rivers, the only way in was by boat.
Have you surfed rivers or beaches where water quality was an issue?
Definitely. The brown water hides a lot. Over the years, I’ve had “river belly” – where you get sick at both ends – and even caught leptospirosis once. I’m always cautious now. I avoid areas near sewage plants and always wash my hands properly.
What advice would you give to other surfers who care about clean water and want to fundraise?
Think outside the box – do something different. This challenge started out a bit crazy, but I ran with it. I actually surfed 4.25 miles more than my original goal. Once I hit the target, I thought, “Why stop now?” and just kept going.