By Amanda Blackwell – There’s nothing in a Kauai boy’s life that matters more than the ocean. It grooms every keiki that has the privilege of growing up in a slice of paradise. From kid, to adolescent, to adult living in Kauai– the ocean is the sun: everything else revolves around it. For Rylan Beavers, this was no exception. The ocean not only raised him in the same sense that his parents did, but it taught him about dreaming, about reaching. It taught him what could be possible.
Surfing wasn’t always the center of his life. It happened to be something he did and was good at. Rylan caught his first wave on Valentine’s Day when he was two years old, and it seems as if Cupid’s arrow struck that day—it’s been a love story ever since. Rylan started surfing consistently when he was 8, after his Dad stopped pushing him into waves. From there, without the training wheels, it only got better. He did his first contest when he was 9 which he won, and was subsequently 10 at his first Nationals, which he also won. From there, the fire was lit. “I realized surfing was my passion when I was playing other sports, especially soccer, and I started missing swells to play in games. I drew the line right there. It wasn’t going to happen anymore. I didn’t want to miss any more, and I went full-on after that.”
Born and raised on the North Shore of Kauai, the island not only molded him, but showed him the possibility of achieving a dream that had once felt far-fetched: qualify for the CT, become a pro. Unlike ‘Oahu, few surfers emerge from the Kauai lifestyle and make surfing a career. Rylan is an exception. Now his dreams aren’t only possible, but he’s gliding on the fringes of them.
Yet for Rylan possibility hasn’t meant an inflated ego. For Rylan, his successes have also translated into humility. His Dad attributes his calm demeanor and the challenges he’s overcome to his chill, humble nature. “I’d say his laid-back demeanor helps him reason things in his head without getting flustered, and that probably translates to situations in the water where he needs a score, or play defense, or select the right wave. I’m sure having that rational part in his head translates in contests.” Rylan’s disposition and a positive go-getter attitude has not only made it possible to overcome inevitable challenges that come with being an elite athlete, but to do so with modesty.
Things weren’t always easy for Rylan and his family. Rylan had a humble, normal upbringing, and two driven, working-class parents. It’s not easy for anyone to make a living on Kauai, and his parents had to work hard for their life in paradise. Originally from Colorado, Rylan’s Dad, Taylor, met his Mom, Mandy, a Kauai native. It was an easy decision for them to move to Kauai to start a life. They eventually had Rylan, and it was never in the cards to throw him into a career that involved surfing. Said Taylor, Rylan’s Dad: “For us, we just spent a lot of time going to the beach. All of our kids have been in the water since they were really young. We’d take the soft tops down and push them into waves at the pier. He took to it pretty good, but it wasn’t like I was trying to raise a pro-surfer. It was more about learning a solid skill set at a young age that they can have their whole life. It’s just sort of mutated into something competitive as he got good.”
A lot of Rylan’s success has come as an exciting surprise—from getting his first sponsor at 8 with a local company called Sandy Grom, to winning local contests, to winning Nationals at 11 years old in 2017. It wasn’t until Rylan began surfing with a family friend they call “Uncle Moose”, when things started to improve. “Uncle Moose (Mesijah Alani) would take me out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school and would drop me off at home. He played a little bit of a coach role until things picked up, but we always had the best time. He brought me out to all the lineups for the first time, especially gnarlier waves, bigger waves, and I always felt safe with him. He pushed me.” Uncle Moose also gave Rylan the idea that he could be successful. He saw something special in him, and did what he could to make sure he lived up to his potential. Taylor credits Uncle Moose for his mentorship, and says that Uncle Moose was the person to stoke the fire.
Things started to pick up when Rylan started taking trips to the North Shore of ‘Oahu, surfing with the guys who inspired him, and ultimately took him under their wing. He was 10 when he surfed with the RVCA manager on the North Shore of Oahu, who he was unaware of at the time. He called Rylan later to tell him RVCA wanted to sponsor him.
Rylan gave the QS a preview of what he was capable of after he finished 7th at Sunset this last year. He worked with Jason Shibata, who helped with Rylan’s mindset and heat strategy. “Sunset was the first time I believed I could be competitive on that level. We had a solid strategy for every heat, and that carried me all the way to the semis. I think the only thing that made me lose was that I was so surprised that I made it that far.”
Since Sunset, Rylan has been wrapping up the big events at the junior level. He just finished competing in El Salvador at the ISA World Championships, where he racked up some last-minute points for Team Hawai’i, but ultimately being edged out against the stacked Australians. Although disappointed he didn’t come out on top, it’s not over for Rylan. He still has the US Championships at Lowers this summer, where he hopes to make a redemption and win.
“Now that I know what’s possible, I’m hungry for it.”