Ocean sufr 99

East Coast surfing sensation and sometime Mexico resident, Ryan Helm has announced his intentions to engage the 2005 WQS tour in a bid to qualify for the 2006 WCT.

Born in L.A. California during the tumultuous 1970's, yet calling South Florida home, Ryan Helm has spent the last 5 years of his life in Mainland Mexico. Originally heading south of the border to train for professional competition, Ryan fell in love with the place and more.

Fast forward to 2005 - Helm returns to Florida with a beautiful Mexican wife named Paola and an adorable 3 year old son named Leon. From a surfer's point of view, one could say that for the last 5 years, life was good, even close to picture perfect. He had everything... a loving wife and child - surfing perfect, hollow waves every day in a warm tropical paradise, 'nay a care in the world. While many of his friends were groveling in less than perfect Florida conditions or dueling in contest heats, Ryan was cutting his teeth in some of Mexico's gnarliest beach breaks... surfing powerful Pacific ground swells at places like Puerto Escondido's 'Mexican Pipeline', to 'Pasquales' and some of Mexico's finer point breaks. Ryan's life seemed like it could have been taken right out of one of those Corona television commercials, or a Jimmy Buffet song - only his was the real thing. Most surfer's dream of finding their own place in the sun with perfect surf at their door step - Ryan found his and was living it. Yet there was something missing - call it unfulfilled destiny.

Ryan Helm has returned to the United States to fulfill his destiny. A man on a mission - to write the next chapter of his amazing book. Before Ryan's "Excellent Mexican Adventure" he was as Surfing Magazine recently dubbed him "a sometime pro surfer with heaps of skill". CJ Hobgood remembers battling with Helm in the days of the ASP East and his shaper Bill Johnson (Teqoph Surfboards) remembers him as the teenager who you "swore was Slater until you looked a second time." However, the crowd at January's Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro will likely remember him as the South Florida darkhorse who according to Surfing Magazine, "outscored (eventual tournament winner), Cory Lopez and Damien Hobgood and whose surprising, punk rock airs and carving cutties carried him all the way to the semis". And what of this taste of success? "Hey, I got beat by the best," reasons Ryan. "But that just makes me more motivated than ever to give the tour a go."

Give the tour a go? We'll if Ryan's surfing of late is of any consequence, many believe it will be more like "giving the top dogs a run for their money" (ala Chris Ward). The revised judging criteria won't hurt either, embracing Ryan's fast and fluid, yet progressive new school approach. But as the ever humble (yet focused) Helm prepares to head West to compete in California's 4 star 'Body Glove Surfabout' at Lower Trestles (April 26-30), he muses with steely determination, reminiscent of a samurai warrior prior to battle; "After having some good results in the first few events of this year, I'm now focusing on qualifying for the 'CT tour. Surfing perfect and powerful waves 3 or 4 times a day, every day for the past 5 years in Mexico, has really honed my surfing ability." In the world of high stakes professional surfing, this may prove to be the understatement of the year. "Now focusing", "heaps of Skill", come-on Ryan, who you kidding? No doubt, surfing places like 'Puerto' and Pasquales' every day for the past five years should serve him well when he makes the 'CT, considering the list of comparable 'Power' venues like 'Teahupoo', 'Pipe' and 'Cloudbreak'.

At the Globe Inlet Pro in January, former (3x) World Champion Tom Curren seemed measurably impressed by Ryan's talent and potential. After surfing a few rounds together, Helm found inspiration in Curren's renewed commitment to re-qualify after earning three World Titles. Such inspiration has fueled and ignited the agile regular foot's passion to fully commit himself to qualifying for the 2006 World Championship Tour. Top ranked WCT campaigner and 2005 Globe Inlet Pro Champion, Cory Lopez commented after being narrowly beaten by Helm in an earlier round at the Globe Pro; "Florida talents like Ryan Helm... went off. I think a lot of people were surprised. I grew up surfing with (Ryan), and through the years just free-surfing. He's always been fun to watch. It's cool to see him finally step up and do some events". Helm earned the label of spoiler, defeating many top-ranked surfers on the way and climbing through a heat against Tom Curren and into the semi-final rounds, prompting former world champ Pete "PT" Townend to ask, "who is this darkhorse?"

Accolades from some of these recent events include, winning the 'Air Show' at the 2 star WQS 'Salinas Pro' in Ecuador, while placing 9th over-all; 4th at the 'Smith High Roller' Invitational at Sebastian Inlet and 5th at the 3 star, 'Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro' in January. It would seem that Ryan has more on his mind than just doing a few events. Ryan definitely intends to keep "stepping-up", all the way to the WCT. Hailing from an athletic family where natural talent runs deep (Ryan's dad Surf's too); Ryan engages in a robust cross-training regimen with brother Drew, a soon to be professional soccer player and hopeful first round MLS draft pick.

Destiny. It's a funny word that more often than not conjures up grandiose thoughts... but every so often a genuine prodigy comes along. Sometimes the arrival is delayed. Sometimes it's delayed because the surf was just "simply too good in Mexico". Although an American by birthright, you can be assured that Ryan Helm will be carrying the flag of his adopted home close to his chest, as Mexico's unofficial, surfing ambassador.

Although some may consider Helm's high flying surfing to be "out of this world", we are pleased to confirm their suspicions that he is from Jupiter - Jupiter Beach, Florida that is. Top 'CT skins already in his bag, comparisons to Slater and Tom Curren singing his praises... all Ryan has to do now is go out and get the job done! As we continue to watch Ryan's steady climb up the WQS ratings toward his goal, it should be clear to all who is at the 'Helm' steering this ship.


A Del Mar Media - World Ocean Press Release...
Del Mar Media - World Ocean athletes and clients include:
Top Pro Surfers, Cory and Shea Lopez - www.lopezbrothers.com; Surfer/Artist extraordinaire, Jonathan Damm & Green Room Galleries - www.damm-popart.com; Bill Johnson / Teqoph Surfboards - www.teqoph.com and Ryan Helm (among others). We are pleased to welcome Ryan Helm as the latest edition to our exclusive list of Del Mar Media - World Ocean athletes and clients. Look for Ryan's new website coming soon!