Ben Van Dalen

Ben van Dalen started rowing in 2010 with St Peter’s Cambridge and Cambridge Rowing Club. He was selected into the Waikato RPC for the 2013–14 domestic season.

Ben first represented New Zealand in the U21 trans-Tasman team in 2013, and repeated this selection in both 2014 and 2015. The following two years saw him gain selection into the U23 team where he competed in the lightweight men’s quad and the single respectively. After some hard years racing in the U23 age groups, Ben made his big breakthrough in 2018 when he gained selection into the lightweight men’s double sculls alongside Matthew Dunham. The duo improved progressively throughout the international season, making the A finals at World Rowing Cups II and III before really shining at the World Rowing Championships. Ben and Matt impressed in the progression rounds and placed 4th in the A final in Plovdiv.

Off the water Ben is studying a degree in health, sport and human performance with the University of Waikato.