ISA Judging & Officiating Official Presenter
Name: Lee Ryan
Nationality: British nationality, raised in South Africa, now a New Zealand permanent resident
E-mail address: lee.ryan@surfingnz.co.nz ; Skype name: Lee.john.ryan
Country and/or region where you present the ISA Judging Course?
New Zealand
How many years have you been surfing and judging?
23 years surfing, 10 years judging.
Why the decision to become a Judge?
Originally qualified whilst competing on the ASP WLT to learn the criteria, now I want to use my experience to ensure we get the right result and the best surfer of the day wins the event.
What are your goals in respects to judging?
To become a respected judge on the world circuit.
What are your favorite surf breaks?
Telos Islands, Indonesia.
Do you have any other hobbies other than surfing?
Snowboarding, fishing, squash, travel and beer tasting.
Any other comments that might help promote the ISA Judging and Development Programs?
Lee worked as a Trainer/Assessor for the British Surfing Association delivering coaching accreditation courses before moving to New Zealand in 2006. He ran a very successful one to one coaching business in the UK and has written an instructional book on longboard surfing –“A Shortcut to Longboarding.”
He now passes on his vast experience through his work as the Development Manager for Surfing NZ. Lee has been surfing for 23 years and has numerous titles to his name including 9 British National Longboard titles. Although equally comfortable riding both short and longboards he concentrated on competing on the ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT) for the last 12 years, finishing 9th at the Oxbow World Longboard Champs in Raglan in 2004. He has now hung up his contest singlet and concentrates on the officiating side of the sport. Lee is the head Judge for the majority of events in NZ including the popular Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. He has also judged the ISA World Games at Piha, NZ in 2010 as well as a number of ASP events including the 2009 World Longboarding Championships in the Maldives, the 2010 Pro Junior in Tahiti and the 2010 Women’s World Tour event in Tarankai.
