N
ame: Lee Ryan

Date of Birth:
21/07/73

Y
ears Surfing: 23

Competing: 14

     Sponsors:  
GUL International, Surftech Surfboards
Background: Born in England, but grew up in South Africa, where I caught my first wave and got hooked on the sport of surfing. Lived twenty minutes from the beach so I was continually nagging my parents to take me to the beach on weekends where I learnt to surf on an old beat up 7ft pintail. Returned to England aged 15 and realised my dad wasn't joking - England did have waves! Surfed every day since and my addiction to saltwater has never been stronger. Recently re-located to New Zealand to take advantage of the uncrowded surf and better lifestyle.

Profession: Professional Surfer, Surf Coach Level 4, Trainer Assessor, Competition Judge and Lifeguard.

Countries Surfed: South Africa, France, Spain, Portugal, Morrocco, Canary Islands, Indonesia, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, British Virgin Islands, Peru, USA, Equador

Favourite Wave: Are Goling, Lombok, Indo

Surfing Achievements: British Open Longboard Champion 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

                                     British Senior  Longboard Champion 2002, 2003, 2004,2006

                                     British Longboard Union Series Champion 2003

                                     Oxbow World Championships 2004 Raglan 9th place

                                     European Pro Champion Biarritz Surf Festival 2003

Lee has been a member of the British Surfing squad for the past ten years and has represented Great Britain in the World Surfing Games in 2004 in Equador and surfed for the English National Team at the European Championships in Portugal 2005 where he finished 5th overall         

Heroes:  Gerry Lopez, Joel Tudor, Donavon Frankenreiter

Music: Chilli Peppers, Jamiraquai, Fat Freddy's Drop

Ambitions: To surf the world

Philosophy on Life: Do what you love, love what you do.

Lee is quite an achiever when it comes to competing. Not one to blow his own trumpet but prefers to let his surfing do the talking. Although he was voted the best progressive Longboarder in Britain in a recent survey, his style is more a blend of the old and new, combining powerful off the lip manoeuvres with stylish tip time. "You can only surf the way the wave allows you to. We don't have the classic point breaks of California or Australia so the time we spend on the nose is drastically reduced."

Since relocating to the North Island of New Zealand in October 2006 Lee has concentrated on his surf coaching business. "I want to pass on my skills and knowledge to other people and let them experience the buzz you get from riding a wave for the first time." Lee specialises in teaching the classical manoeuvres of Longboard surfing on a personal one to one basis. So if you want to know how to do a drop knee turn or cross- step up the board and hang ten then click here to find out more and book a lesson with Lee.

Lee is also a highly respected competition judge and is the Head Judge for the Hyundai Pro Longboard Circuit in New Zealand.

 

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