Joey Buran Named as the New Head Coach of the USA Surf Team

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. - August 14, 2007 - Surfing America, the National Governing Body for the sport of surfing in the USA, is excited to announce the appointment of Joey Buran as the new Head Coach of the USA Surf Team.  Buran's role goes hand in hand with a new era of coaching and training for USA Surf Team athletes.

"Joey Buran is a dynamic addition to the USA Surf Team program and we're honored to have him involved," said Mike Gerard, Surfing America Executive Director.  "While Surfing America had an incredible line up of applicants from which to choose, Joey Buran kept rising to the top of the conversations.  Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and well qualified for the job--his enthusiasm is electrifying, he has an incredible vision, and he is a very patriotic American!  We're certain that Joey Buran's involvement with the USA Surf Team will launch the program to heights never before contemplated."

Buran brings plenty of competitive knowledge to a burgeoning USA Surf Team program.  He began coaching some of California's top surfers after his highly successful professional surfing career. 

"There is a tremendous talent pool within the ranks of American surfing.  I am personally very excited and looking forward to scouting, recruiting, and developing this talent for Surfing America," said Buran.
 

Dubbed the "California Kid" by ABC's Wide World of Sports broadcasters in 1978, he was the first California surfer to break into the ASP Top 30. Buran finished in the Top 16 five times and placed seventh in 1984 - the same year he won the coveted Pipe Masters.  He retired ranked 12th in 1985 and founded the Professional Surfing Association of America, which later became the Bud Pro Surf Tour.

During the 1990s, he coached a wide range of surfers including Taylor Knox and Julia Christian and also held coaching positions with San Diego's Surf Ride Boardshops as well as Billabong USA, with surfers T.J. Barron, Tonino Benson, Che Stang, Nate Yeomans, Dane Johnson, and Brian Conley experiencing tremendous competitive success.

In 1998, Buran returned to the competitive arena donning an ASP Masters jersey and surfed to victory over a hefty field.  Known for his highly motivational coaching techniques, Buran will surely bring a rejuvenated aura to the nation's top junior surfers.

"I anticipate that through hard work and diligent preparation our 2008 USA Surf Team will be disciplined, focused, inspired, unified, and well prepared to represent our country in international competition," said Buran.  "I intend to do all that I can as Head Coach of the USA Surf Team to ensure that we will give our best -- and be at our best -- when our best is needed."

To go along with the new Head Coach position, Surfing America named Mike Parsons as USA Surf Team Program Director.  Parsons is already a Vice President of Surfing America and member of its Executive Committee. 

"I'm really excited about Buran," said Mike Parsons.  "He's definitely the most qualified person for the job considering his current experience with coaching kids. He's also the perfect guy because he has the passion and the fire to capture medals for the USA Surf Team."

Additionally, Surfing America has unveiled a greatly expanded coaching support staff and will be releasing details about its new training program next week. 

On the coaching side, Buran will be joined by a soon-to-be-named Assistant Coach and returning Women's Coach Julia Christian.  Further, athletes selected to the 2008 USA Surf Team will have the opportunity to work with a high-profile Training Staff which includes: 1989 World Champion Martin Potter, 2001 World Champion C.J. Hobgood, Damien Hobgood, Pat O'Connell, Mike Lambresi, and Matt Kechele.  In addition to that, Mike Parsons and Dino Andino will conduct a special session of the Snips and Dino Surf Academy, exclusively for the 2008 USA Surf Team athletes in November.

"Our goal all along was to offer something special for these kids -- more than just being on a team and competing once a year," added Parsons.  "Our coaching staff has great credibility and now, more than ever, will be a year-round thing to bring more value to our program."

Buran will begin immediately at his new role.  He plans on contacting current USA Surf Team members to get feedback from the team's fifth place result at the 2007 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships as well as provide them with tips and insight that may help in future events.  Once the 2008 USA Surf Team roster is set following the SIMA Surfing America USA Championships this October, Buran and the expanded training staff will immediately begin preparing the squad for the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

Source: Surfing America

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