Main Beach surfer Chris Bennetts has taken a calculated gamble to launch a career on the world surfing stage and if recent results are any indication he is on the right track.

Bennetts, 21, wound up a successful junior career last year and has spent the best part of 2010 focusing on improving his surfing away from the rigours of the almost weekly competitions he had taken on in previous years.

That tactic looks to be paying off after the natural footer finished second behind great mate Noah Lane in the Queensland qualifying event for the ASP World Tour's Quicksilver Pro Trials that will be held on the Gold Coast in March. Further success in those trials could see Bennetts move into the main event to take on the best in the world on home surf.

But before that the determined natural footer has his sights set on another means of cracking the professional tour - Jim Beam's innovative competition The Break, an online contest that will let one lucky male surfer ‘catch the break of a lifetime' - a $50,000 sponsorship in cash and prizes to help in an assault on next year's World Qualifying Series tour.

"I have taken most of this year off competition to prepare for 2011 and my surfing is getting better," Bennetts said.

"I have been working hard as a lifeguard and saving so I could travel around and go in more events but winning Jim Beam's The Break competition could take all that stress away and get me in a contest singlet for the 2011 WQS!

"To win, I would say, would mean the best year of my life and a chance to see how I scale up against some of the best surfers in the world. Travelling, competing and surfing new waves without any worries about work would let me do that."

It's not too late for Gold Coast surfers to take on Bennetts and join the competition. Surfers (over the age of 18) that are unsigned to a major endorsement deal can register online now at www.jimbeamthebreak.com.au and have until the end of the month to submit a 60 second highlight package of their best waves as well as a short insight into their character out of the surf. From there 40 men and 20 women will be announced as semi finalists, going to public and judges' votes in online heats over two months before fifteen finalists will be selected to attend the Jim Beam The Break surf camp in January. The camp will feature free surfing displays, physical testing, media training and a marketing session before the overall winner is selected and awarded The Break of a lifetime. All thanks to Jim Beam - The Spirit of Surfing and their partners Rip Curl, Sanyo, Swellnet and Tracks.