Ryan Simmons Named USA Surfing Head Coach

With a medal-studded coaching track record, Simmons returns to lead USA Surfing juniors as they defend their ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Gold Medal
 
(March 28, 2022) – USA Surfing announced Ryan Simmons as head coach. With a medal-studded coaching track record and keen eye for talent, Simmons returns to lead USA Surfing juniors as they defend their International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship Gold Medal May 27 in El Salvador. 
 
Simmons coached USA Surfing juniors to the first-ever ISA World Junior Championship Gold Medal in Oceanside in 2015. He says the stars are aligned for a repeat in 2022. The event is the largest junior surfing competition in the world, bringing together hundreds of top surfers from more than 40 nations.
 
“It is a true personal and professional privilege to coach the team that will be defending their team Gold Medal against the world’s best in El Salvador,” Simmons said. “The talent among under 18 surfers in the United States is next level.”
 
“As a coach and WSL QS commentator, no one has watched and coached more junior surfers compete at elite levels than Ryan,” said USA Surfing CEO Brandon Lowery. “That’s why his coaching produces such impressive results. He has an abiding respect from surfers, parents, and leaders in the industry, who seek out his technical expertise, analysis and guidance.” 
 
In addition to fielding and training the ISA World Junior Championship team, Simmons is working on a training program for the developmental and national teams. “With COVID and a lack of funding, these kids have been waiting a long time to get together as a team,” Simmons said. “We’ll do our best to make up for lost time.”
 
Simmons' goals for the team are to instill confidence, technical knowledge, and good habits. “We want to provide continuous opportunities to progress and develop proper preparation and sportsmanship that goes along with representing their country at the highest levels of surfing,” said Simmons. 
 
USA Surfing’s 2019 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship world title was propelled by six individual medal finishes. Dimitri Poulos won the Boys U18 Gold Medal. Taj Lindblad and Zoe Benedetto won U16 Silver Medals. Tommy Coleman took the U18 Bronze. Ryan Huckabee and Caitlin Simmers won U16 Copper Medals. Due to COVID shutdowns, 2019 was the most recent ISA World Junior Surfing Championship event. 

Simmons is looking to build on USA Surfing’s strong podium performances, drawing on his impressive coaching track record. As head coach between 2012-2016 USA Surfing’s team racked up medals in ISA World Surfing Games, World Masters Games and World Junior Surfing Championships.  These include winning team Gold, three team Bronze, and team Copper Medals. 

Simmons coached five surfers who won individual Gold Medals, including ISA World Junior Surfing Championship U16 Gold Medalists Caroline Marks and Stevie Pittman, two-time World Surfing Games Gold Medalist Tia Blanco, and Para Surfing legend Jesse Billauer’s 2015 Gold Medal.
 
“It’s exciting to bring a key leader from USA Surfing’s successful past back to lead a promising future,” Lowery said. “With the level of talent in American surfing and Ryan’s leadership, the future looks bright.”  
 
Stay tuned for more updates and announcements.