NEW CAPTAIN AT THE HELM
Ian Cairns Named Head Coach for PacSun USA Surf Team
With a surfing career of over 40 years, Ian Cairns has one more title to add to his resume: Head Coach of the PacSun USA Surf Team.
Surfing America announced on Wednesday, June 24, that Cairns had been appointed to the Head Coach position vacated by Joey Buran, who held that title for the past two years. Buran, who had a SURFER Magazine cover shot in 1984, left the position in good standing to work on a worldwide tour for his new documentary film Beyond the Dream: The Joey Buran Story.
Cairns will have little time to adjust to his new role as he prepares the USA Surf Team for the 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games at Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica, on August 1-8.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the terrific young USA talent improve their surfing skills and again be extremely competitive with the Australians, Hawaiians and Brazilians," Cairns said
But Cairns is no stranger to the role of the surf coach. For the past two years, his primary focus has been coaching many top American athletes on the ASP World Qualifying Series.
"Ian Cairns is a powerhouse coach and Surfing America is extremely fortunate to have someone of his caliber step into the role," said Mike Gerard, Surfing America's executive director. "Not only does Ian bring a wealth of experience to the position, but he also has some incredible new ideas and concepts that will surely help lift the USA Team program to new heights.”
Among his many accolades, Cairns won six World Tour events, represented Australia on their National Team twice, and placed 2nd in the world when organized rankings were first introduced in 1976. Cairns shifted his focus in 1983 to event production, starting the OP Pro, which led to the founding of the Association of Surfing Professionals. After a brief return to Australia, Cairns came back to the United States and began heading the PSAA, leading to the beginning of the US Open of Surfing.
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READER COMMENTS
Tue Jun30, 2009, 8:03 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but hasn't Ian been Brett Simpsons coach for a few years and simpo has still never made the cut. If these guys don't start picking a real coach with recent experience it will be like the movie ground hog day the movie year after year at the ISA contests. What about Machado, Beschen, Curren.... You know, guys who were US winners & were on tour not too long ago. For god sakes, the Amercans just got 2nd in soccer... American pride seems to be dead in the surf industry.
Wed Jul 1, 2009, 7:22 PM
Simpos sitting at 7th.
Wed Jul 1, 2009, 10:52 PM
I believe Beschen would do a great job as the American coach. And I mean the grandfather! He raised two world class surfers, and he was the best goofyfoot I ever saw at T-Street (late 60's) as well as being a "4A" East coast competitor. I always admired Kanga as a surfer, and even got tongue tied when Andrew Mckinnon was going to introduce him to me at V-land back in 81, but I think it sucks to have an Australian coaching American athletes.
Thu Jul 2, 2009, 11:00 AM
Give Beschen a chance as the coach! He's American, with competitive experience as a highly rated contest surfer in the ESA, back in the late 60's (one of the best goofy-foots I've ever seen at T-Street), who raised two professional surfers (Gavin and Shane). He lives on the north shore, so he's familiar with the traditional proving grounds and the international scene (anyone who's ever surfed/lived on the north shore sees everyone from around the world). I respect Kanga, in fact I used to try to mimic the cutback photo you ran with this story, but he's an Aussie. Let him coach the kids from OZ.
Thu Jul 2, 2009, 7:40 PM
I am sure Mike Beschen is not who the dbomg was talking about? SHANE BESCHEN! Hello? Do you guys actualy believe Mr Beschen wants to coach again? And by the way, he does not live on the north shore.