--- title: "Ben Hood and Thomas Hodges win their first Beach Pro Tour gold in Nuvali, Philippines; unbeaten run in the Philippines" sdDatePublished: "2026-06-12T10:07:00Z" source: "https://www.fivb.com/es/ben-hoods-trust-in-the-process-brings-his-first-beach-pro-tour-gold/" topics: - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" - name: "sport event" identifier: "medtop:20001108" - name: "sport achievement" identifier: "medtop:20001301" locations: - "Spain" - "Japan" - "Poland" - "Australia" - "France" - "Italy" - "Uzbekistan" - "Germany" - "The Gambia" - "Austria" - "Greece" - "Latvia" - "Switzerland" - "Turkey" - "Santa Rosa" - "Netherlands" - "Algeria" - "Slovakia" - "Senegal" - "Cape Verde" --- Ben Hood and Thomas Hodges win their first Beach Pro Tour gold in Nuvali, Philippines; unbeaten run in the Philippines Ben Hood’s trust in the process brings his first Beach Pro Tour gold – FIVB Winning his first Beach Pro Tour gold medal gave Ben Hood the chance to pause and enjoy a moment he had been working towards for years. The Australian secured the first Challenge gold medal of his career at the Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge alongside Thomas Hodges, completing an unbeaten run in the Philippines. Six victories delivered the title, but Hood traces the result to something built long before the tournament began. «For me personally, it was belief and confidence,» Hood said. «Trusting in your training, coaches and your partner standing next to you. Just giving it all you’ve got every single point.» The victory marked a statement stride in what has been a rapid rise for the new Australian pairing. Hodges brought Olympic experience from Paris 2024, while Hood entered the season as one of the country’s emerging talents. Just months after joining forces, the pair found themselves standing atop a Challenge podium. Their path to gold was far from straightforward. After progressing through pool play, the Australians defeated fellow countrymen Joshua Howat and Luke Ryan in the round of 16 before overcoming Latvia’s Ardis Bedritis and Arturs Rinkevics in the quarterfinals. A hard-fought three-set victory over Switzerland’s Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan then secured their place in the final. The road to gold ended against another Swiss team that had looked untouchable throughout the tournament. Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener reached the final without dropping a set and appeared on course to continue that run after taking the opening set against the Australians. Hood still sees the second set as the moment the match began to change. «For me, it was the second set in the final,» he said. «We came out under pressure, having to win that set to take it to three. We backed our game and went for it the Aussie way. Winning the set and taking it to a decider.» The Australians responded with confidence, levelling the match before pulling away in the tiebreaker to secure a 2-1 victory and the first Beach Pro Tour gold medal of Hood’s career. Success in Nuvali was built on more than technical execution. Throughout the week, the Australians repeatedly found themselves dealing with pressure situations and the demands of a tournament where small margins often separated victory from defeat. Managing those moments became just as important as any skill performed on the sand. «We work very closely with our coaching and mentor team on staying present in the moment,» Hood said. «A lot of energy goes into how quickly we can mentally reset and focus on the next point. There’s a lot of trust in our partner and ourselves to then deliver our skills in those crucial moments.» That support network extends beyond the two athletes competing on court. Australia’s beach volleyball programme continues to benefit from coaching support provided through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, helping strengthen athlete development and high-performance pathways. For young players such as Hood, access to experienced coaching and mentoring has become an important part of the environment surrounding the national programme. Nuvali presented another challenge that every team had to navigate. The heat and humidity in Santa Rosa tested players throughout the week, making recovery and hydration critical components of tournament preparation. «Because Nuvali is one of the hottest and most humid places on tour, we had to hydrate constantly,» Hood said. «Having to drink over 12 litres a day, we got pretty sick of water and electrolytes.» The demanding conditions only added to the satisfaction of the result. Before arriving in the Philippines, Hood’s highest finish on the Beach Pro Tour had been a silver medal at Futures level. Standing on top of the podium represented a new milestone. «Winning gold in the Philippines felt amazing,» he said. «To be standing on top of the podium was a special feeling.» The achievement also carried broader significance for Australian beach volleyball. Hood is part of a new generation of athletes building on the work of those who helped establish the country’s reputation on the international stage. «I am very grateful for the opportunity to play for my country and follow in the footsteps of my fellow teammates, past athletes and coaches,» he said. Although the gold medal was the most visible reward, Hood’s thoughts quickly turned to the people who helped make the moment possible. Behind every training session, tournament and international trip has been a support system that stretches well beyond the beach volleyball court. «My family, because they have sacrificed so much for me, allowing me to follow my dreams,» he said. The title has also provided a timely boost heading into the second half of the season. With important tournaments still to come, the Australians left Nuvali with greater confidence in what they can achieve together. «I think it has helped to build confidence as a team going into some very important events for the back end of the year,» Hood said. The 21-year-old Hood remains one of the younger players competing regularly at the highest levels of the Beach Pro Tour. His first Challenge gold medal does not change the work that lies ahead, but it does provide confirmation that the progress made over recent seasons is translating into results. The significance of that week is still settling in for Hood, who summed up the experience in three words. 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