The talent pool of surfing in Hawaii is thick and competitive. It always has been. With fun to excellent surf almost 365 days a year kids in Hawaii get a leg up and get to practice their skills on a daily basis. You don’t need to look too far in the annals of surfing history to know that waveriders from Hawaii are a force to be reckoned with in the amateur and pro ranks. The kids making it to the finals in the local surf contests in Hawaii are typically very high level and if they are winning on a regular basis then they are basically on the short list of the “next generation.” One such young phenom is Ryder Proudy.
Ryder’s Instagram feed is littered with content of him charging Waimea or catching airs in the Mentawai’s, and he’s only 12 years old! Talented determined and consistent Ryder is a top-ranked surfer from his Maui age group and is now turning heads on Oahu and beyond. Let’s put it this way, the Haleiwa Menehune contest is probably the most infamous incubator of top-tier surfing talent on the planet. Young Mr. Prouty is a three time champion thus far! We’d have to double check, but I’m not even sure John John Florence got that title three times!?
When we asked him to talk about his very first wave, Ryder didn’t flinch in fast forwarding a bit. He recalled his first roundhouse cutback when he was 4 years old. Many kids are still riding tricycles at that age! Ryder likes his thruster.
He has quite the go-getter mentality, and even his dad says that’s one of his main personality traits. After making a solid run on the Maui surf scene, he’s visiting Oahu often to take things up a notch. Ryder’s family is super supportive of his surfing and has a house on Oahu’s Northshore and that enables them to take trips for worthwhile swells and plant themselves there for the majority of winter. Ryder welcomes the challenge of bigger and more powerful surf on Oahu, and he hopes to improve at Pipe and Backdoor in the next few years.
How old were you when you started surfing?
I was two years old and my dad says I was really determined. I was five when I really started to get into it.
What got you into surfing?
I would see my dad and my older sister surf and I wanted to go surfing with them too. After that I couldn’t really stop.
Was it your idea to start surfing, or was it your mom or dad’s?
We moved to Maui when I was two, and my dad started putting me on the front of his board. So I guess my dad.
What makes your surfing stand out?
Definitely surfing bigger waves and powerful surfing.
Is big wave surfing in your future?
I like surfing big waves but I don’t think that’s what I want. Professional surfing is my goal.
There’s a lot of fear involved when it comes to upping the ante, surfing bigger waves and stepping things up. How do you manage fear?
I manage my fear by having good breathing and thinking of funny things, so that way I laugh before I take off. That helps with the nerves. Before I paddled out to a break like Waimea, I surfed Sunset a lot. I like that wave.
Is there anyone that has influenced your surfing?
My coach Judd Lau and Kahea Hart. I started working with Jud when I was super young and at the end of every session he would read me an inspirational quote, which was really cool. For Kahea, I was always in his gym with him training, and he’s the one that pushed me to surf bigger waves. He yells at me to “go” and it helps.
What do you think your biggest obstacle is when it comes to your surfing?
There’s not a whole lot. I’m starting to play football so it’s balancing it all. Also I’m working on getting power and speed on smaller waves. I’m really working on that.
What are your long-term goals?
I really want to win Nationals or US Champs next year.
What sacrifices have you made for your surfing?
Probably missing out on hanging out with friends to go surf.
You’re from Maui, do you think that’s an advantage or disadvantage when comparing yourself to all the packed talent on Oahu?
I think it’s an advantage. There’s good waves and good vibes. It’s a great place to grow up.