60 Seconds With Ian Cairns - New USA Surf Team Head Coach

By Andrew Lewis

Team USA's new Head Coach Ian Cairns

Ian Cairns needs no introduction. The man has done more for competitive surfing than Tony Robbins has done for middle-aged housewives. Case in point: co-founder of the ASP and APSA (Australian Professional Surfing Association); former coach of the NSSA National team; member of the Western Australia Surfing Hall of Fame; organizer of the U.S. Open; and lifelong ambassador of the surf industry. Had enough? Well, he surfs good, too — he was ranked Number 2 in the world in 1976. So it’s only natural that the often-faltering Team USA came to him when Joey Buran stepped down as head coach after two years of service. Cairns obliged. And now its up to him to save the world — or at least get Team USA a gold medal one day. Is that still possible?

SURFING: WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH COACHING TEAM USA?

IAN CAIRNS: I just started getting back into coaching recently and I’ve found out I really like it. I find it really satisfying to see kids do well after I’ve helped them out. Before I knew about Joey leaving, I was thinking that I should continue to ramp up coaching and when he left, I got that opportunity.

WHERE DO YOU THINK WE’VE FALLEN SHORT IN THE PAST?

I’d rather be positive and say there’s a lot of untapped talent in the United State’s young surfers. Personally, I am more of a surf teacher than a coach; I teach good surfing. I want to figure out each kid’s strengths and weaknesses. But I also want to teach wave skills — good contest surfing is about finding the best waves in every break you go to.

HOW IS YOUR PROGRAM DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COACHES?

Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t ask other coaches exactly what they teach. I just know what worked for me as a competitor and what didn’t. I base my program on that and, so far, it’s been really successful with both the NSSA team and all the pros I’ve been working with. I think differently and thinking differently is a real asset.

DO YOU HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE TEAM RIGHT NOW?

I think so. Kids like Conner Coffin, Kolohe Andino and Evan Geiselman — they’re fundamentally good surfers. With a little bit of mentoring and teaching, I’m sure we’ll have an extremely competitive team.

WE NOTICED YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME A NATIONALS LAST WEEK. ARE YOU STILL SCOUTING?

No. I’ve just worked with a lot of the kids down there, so I was helping them. The fundamental level of competition down there was good, in my opinion. I’m a traditionalist: good positioning, good carves, good power. When you couple that with spectacular tricks, you’ve got Dane and Jordy. Those guys are the benchmark; they’re what I want my kids to become.

WHERE DO FREESURFERS LIKE, SAY, MITCH COLEBORN FIT INTO YOUR IDEA OF A BENCHMARK SURFER?

Again, Dane and Jordy are fundamentally strong surfers: carving, positioning, wave selection and spectacular moves…not just finishing maneuvers. I’m more of an advocate of guys that are competing on the ’QS and ’CT than I am of freesurfers.

SO YOU WOULD SAY DANE AND JORDY ARE ACCOMPLISHING BOTH?

Yes, but I would say Owen Wright is the prime example. The way he won at Bells was by doing big carving and flowing turns and the way he won the Maldives was by doing tricks and power maneuvers combined. He’s an example of the kind of surfer that I’d like to be producing from this young American group.

IN YOUR OPINION THEN, WE NEED SOME OWEN WRIGHTS TO WIN GOLD?

I just think that both Jordy and Owen have carving surfing, huge moves and sound competitive strategy and a passion to win. That last part — passion to win — is an essential ingredient to being the best surfer in the world. That’s what I’m trying to achieve with Team USA. My three things are skill, strategy and attitude. You have that, and you’re the best.

Reader Comments

Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 7:30 PM — By Interesting

Ok this is going to be interesting. I wonder if the kids are going to be able to deal with Ian's way's?

Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 8:49 PM — By Not Sold

Why Ian? Why not Beschen, Machado, Curren, Snips, Dino Andino? You know, guys who have already proven they can do it & are more close in age to these kids than Ian. If I'm not mistaken Simpo has not made the WCT yet with Ian as his coach. Simpo should hire Beschen or Machado instead of paying Ian.

Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 8:55 PM — By Neck Beard

Beschen would be a sick coach! Imagine him doing chalk talk and using the Slater/Beschen paddle interference (where Beschen did a air and shoulda won) as an example.

Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 10:19 PM — By wisdom

Ian C. must have a ton of wisdom. He's been watching the kids closely. Knows the drill regarding Worlds. Let's see what happens.

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 12:51 AM — By SOLD

Ok mr. not sold..who has Beschen, Machado, Snips, or Dino coached that have made the WCT? Yes all of those guys are amazing surfers and coaches! Do you know the list of people that Kanga has worked with? Barger, Kolohe, Gudangs, Reyes, Michel, Ware, Jordy...I could go on! But you get the picture. These guys trust him...so yeah. So do I!

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 11:00 AM — By Look

look the situation is this Team USA has done a good job these last few years. Have they got Gold no. Can they get Gold yes and this is the goal and only time will tell if Ian can help to get us there. Lets give this guy a chance. We must also realize at the end of the day it all boils down to the kids. My guess is most will move on to the pro jr and QS and not focus on being part of a team format.

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 11:01 AM — By Look

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 11:39 AM — By Not Sold

Mr Sold- 1st answer: All of those guys have won at bpth the ameture level & in the pro ranks. 2nd answer:Kolohe is Dinos son & basically beschens nephew, so your dead wrong if you think Dino or Shane have not been coaching brother. As far as the other guys go, Jordy is not being coached by anyone at the momment. Ian might be offering advice down at contests and a few things here & there, but he asks for a fee from Simpo & Simpo aint cuttin the butter the last few years. As far as the team goes, who would be better: A guy that can get out there a beat these kids in a heat or a guys that can sit there and can watch from the beach? I'd take a video guy on the beach & a guy like Beschen in the water with the kids showing them how to compete! If they can beat Beschen (an agro competitor) and learn he's mental game in the water the U.S. team goes a long way! If you think besch can't coach check his son skate & surf on youtube. His name is Noah

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 2:59 PM — By Still Sold

Hey "not sold", dont get me wrong all of your alternatives are valid! Just a few points tho. 1. Dino hired Kanga earlier this year to do some heat strategy work with Brother. 2. Snips is one of the advisors for PacSun, so he helped choose Kanga. 3. the majority of coaches can't beat who they coach (phil/kobe, barton/owen, etc). 4. no way there is a more agro competitor than Kanga (ask anyone). 5. Pat-o points to kanga as a reason he made the tour. 6. I still havent heard about anyone Beschen has coached that has had excellent success in WCT/QS/NSSA/WSA/ISF. 7. history: Kanga founded the ASP, and started the NSSA so he knows competition. Who do you think came up with the whole scoring system? But I agree...Beschen, Dino, Snips are all very, very, very good choices. My point, so is Kanga. Give him a chance :)

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 3:55 PM — By sheen

anyone consider that beschen, dino, and snips probably didn't volunteer for the job?

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 3:49 PM — By Still Sold

Kanga is great, but Beschen would be a great pick if given the same chance. I would still love to see a coach that can get in the water with these kids, and actually beat them in heat, tune their hassling skills which seem to be an ongoing issue at these events & to fine tune their skills in the water. In my opinion, they are the most qualified for this type of a job; being they know how to do airs, reverses, floaters, lip slides...you name it they know it. But most of all, they have the competition knowledge of today’s surfer to put them in a situation to win..

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 5:11 PM — By ryan simmons

i was overlooked and i won on every major level out there nssa, west coast pro-am, psaa, psta, wqs, and even announce all the events and have been privatley coaching kids since 2004, some of my students: cortney conlogue, kanoa igarashi, holly beck, chase wilson and i even helped joey with the team until he fired me for calling him out on his discrepancies..its all political..good luck, and just for the info to all you snips and boothy probably picked kanga....

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 5:39 PM — By not sold 2

get a coach than can surf to or near the level of todays talent. thinK ian has any insight into completing an air with speed and flow, NO! The way surfing has progressed very few surfers have the ability or knowledge to take budding talent and bring them to a wct level. Simpo would be way better paying besch, lopez, even simmons to coach him. Ian has his brain frazzeled. biggest wasted talent in u.s. history so far.

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 5:51 PM — By us blows it

australia won in portugal and ecuador with far inferior talent. what is going on? us has the talent but the coaching is lacking and Ian aint the answer. gabe kling, simpo not killing it under ian. oz has had the coaching aspect of surfing down for years and it shows in the results both individualy and in team events. now we go to an australian who the australians wont go to for help. come on.

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 5:52 PM — By American Coach

Wow, the politics are shinning brighter than ever, I need my sunglasses at Night because the shine is too bright. Give a me a F#$@%^ Break, Joey Buran coulnd'nt do anything for us, and now we have hired Ian Cairns, Maybe Michael jackson will re-incarnate on the seventh day of his coaching position. You guys are lame who hired this AUSTRAILIAN, come on already, A OZZY COACHING OUR AMERICANS, and what are these young rippers of ours going to think, Oh, OK that's Ian Cairns he rips, let's listen to what he is telling us, YEAH RIGHT..... Our guys are gonna look at that has been and laugh...... I thought Beschen would of got this job, that is a all around Professional Surfer, He is just cruising and still rips most of the WCT..... Get it right in your minds all you butt kissing surf indistry Barneys..... Go Austrailia, Oh I meant USA.......

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:05 PM — By ryan simmons

the americans have always been individuals, brazilians sing songs and dance around, aussies drink and be merry and what do the americans do.....well they are all overpaid little groms who are spoon fed and don't really care to win a gold medal for other competitors..thats what i thought i could bring to the table..im friends with all these super groms and they respect me..thought maybe i was the guy to gell the attitudes together....its always been the usa problem

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:04 PM — By American Coach

Hey LOOK, It seems you are really trying to sell the rest of us bloggers, WELL LOOK, YOUR NOT.... and stop hiding your name behind LOOK, Who are you? An Austrailian that is rooting for a coach that can not really surf anymore and when he did, the standards were way different than then. Or are you an industry insider that had something to do with the hiring of IAN????? Yes maybe he has somewhat of a brain, but for Slater's Sake, he is not the right coach for us...... Beschen next year or we will look like FAGS for a long time..........

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:16 PM — By American Coach

Hey Still Sold..... Beschen has not even marketed himself yet as a full blown coach, but as far as a comparison goes to what we just hired, my money is on Beschen.... Oh actually he has been coaching his son Noah for the past 4 years and what NOT SOLD said is right on the bullseye, Noah Beschen is a young ripper and has all the right parts to go a far way...... Quit sticking up for Ian Cairns because he won a title in 1867 and Pat O said he helped him make the tour..... WOW WEEEEEEEEEE

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:24 PM — By wow weeeeee

pat O made the ct so did gabe kling. not more than a handful of wct heat wins between the two of 'em. he cant even get simpo on the wct. closest simpo came was like 6 years ago, before Ian coached him. pat O, his boss messed that chance up for him.

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:32 PM — By Not Sold

American coach is right on the money. Sorry Ian, the American people have spoken. Hopefully "the committee" will listen next time. Anyone wanting to be coach by Besch with the talent to make it (simpo) needs to contact him directly. If you’re ready to win, he's ready to teach!

Posted Thu Jul 2, 2009, 6:36 PM — By American Coach

Thanks Not Sold.... I hope this blanket of bullshit is lifted and cleaned for a new chapter in American Surfing......

Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 8:45 AM — By Kiss of Death

Pat O did not mess up Simpo's chances of making the tour it was Hurley. Being part of Hurley is the kiss of death. You want to go away quick go put a Hurley sticker on your board. Rob has been the one guy then again Rob could ride for Costco and be cool.

Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 12:27 PM — By Be sensible

A coach shouldn't have to have the ability to beat those they coach! Do you think Gally could beat CJ or Damo in a heat? And being a good competitor does not mean you are a great coach. MJ and magic...great basketball players, terrible coaches! And requiring the coach to be an american...can we get anymore limiting. Search the world of sports...the best coaches are, well, the best coaches, no matter what country they come from! What does country origin have to do with coaching ability? Simmons has some great points...he has seen the workings up close, he knows the kids. The individualism, the need for cohesiveness are valid objections. Country of origin, past or present competitive ability doesnt seem like the best way to choose a coach. The choice is made...now as a country supporting, the kids positively seems like the best course of action!

Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 12:37 PM — By Be sensible

How about the american professionals also help out with the trainings! Besch should come and do some trainings with the team. Heck, bring Kelly, AI, and Rob in also! I'm sure Kanga would welcome such greatness!

Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 6:15 PM — By gally da man

gally can do an air, get 2nd to luke egan at gland, shape a sick board, and make you laugh till you cry. now thats a coach! alot more variables in surfing at the highest level than coming off a pick and roll or making a free throw. be sensible, mr. sensible you r a clown who dont now squat. if beschen or gally wanted this job i'd hate to hear that ian was chosen over them. the insight someone who competes at the wct level and surfs at such a high level still is priceless. all american all the time. It's the USA team for crying out loud!

Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 6:20 PM — By cj3 damo 10

gally has cj at world number 3 and damo at 10th. looks like the top level surfer as a coach works pretty well.

Posted Sat Jul 4, 2009, 2:49 AM — By Not Sold

Gally Da Man is right! Beschen would have taken the job, but the same BS that has always gone in the surf industry, still has a hostage hold on the surf industry. It's all games! Everyone is just trying to stay relevant in the surf industry in the election committee. I would take Gally too! Great competitor. Beschen is the perfect choice in my opinion though. He loves kids and can identify with them well. If the kids get outta line with him, trust me it will be one time & one time only. If Beschen gave his time it would be too win, nothing else...including money.

Posted Sat Jul 4, 2009, 7:08 PM — By Be Sensible

Wow...I completely agree! Gally is AMAZING! Beschen is also an amazing competitor, I just have no knowledge of his coaching abililty. So please refrain from reading into these replies as if I were against either of these accomplished gents. My point: I dont think Gally would beat Cj or Damo in a heat (in reply to the demand the the coach have the ability to beat the kids in a heat)...now, just a stat: 37% of the coaches for the US Olympic teams are not US born and raised! No one has been ranting for change and saying "dang-it, we are an American team" because we just want to win. As for Beaschen giving his time! I sure hope that is a possibility. the US has many untapped resources and Beschen's expertise would only improve our program.

Posted Sun Jul 5, 2009, 12:52 PM — By kb

Allright Mr Simmons! Im glad to see you put the truth out there in the open. Good for you! Anyone who is genuinely familar with our current amateur scene knows just how accurate your comments are ("spoon fed"). I hope a days comes soon when you will get your chance at the helm. Until then its going to be very interesting to watch and see what Ian is able to accomplish with our youngsters. It would be wonderful if he can develop some deep hunger in em. The talent is already there. Go USA!

Posted Sun Jul 5, 2009, 1:04 PM — By Brutus

I think the days of spoon fed groms is coming to an end. There are going to be some shocked groms and parents when the surf industry pulls the plug on many of the kids they sponsor when contracts get renegotiated this fall. I see the younger kids aspiring more to surf on the US Team than ever before. I think Kanga will continue to raise the profile of the team and the kids will be striving to be a part of it.

Posted Mon Jul 6, 2009, 11:08 AM — By Kook

I could use some coaching! Glad to see the U.S. going for an Aussie! Aussies are intense, articulate and keep it real. Some of the best coaches in the world were not necessarily the best athletes so saying the Machado's are a good pick is makes no sense unless we know he is proven as a communicator, someone who can constantly inspire, educate and motivate.

Posted Mon Jul 6, 2009, 11:10 PM — By olymics r dumb

37% of olympic sports have no following in the U.S. thus the need for foreign coaches. heck only a handful of olympic sports are worth following. surfing is and there is plenty of U.S. talent in the surf and coaching to draw from. machado's not gonna cut it though sorry. go to real competitors kelly and beschen are the two that stick out the most. simmons was/is a heck of a competitor also. kids shouldn't make a dime till they turn pro. pro juniors should go away. better amatuer events are needed. the best amatuers should just compete against the pros not just under 20 pro junior events. get rid of pro junior events at pro contests and you have more room for pro entries. so many pros cant even get into pro events now.

Posted Tue Jul 7, 2009, 4:16 PM — By American Coach

Hey kb, What's the matter with telling truth as MR. SIMMONS did????? Rumor has it that MR. KANGA got the job, because hhe had the finances.... Sounds like like more political BULLSHIT..... The truth hurts huh kb?????? NOBODY KNOWS and NOBODY CARES......

Posted Tue Jul 7, 2009, 6:25 PM — By JRM

I competed on the US Surf Team in 2001-2002.Quailifed thru a series of three comps.USSF Oside champs.US team trails at kewalos on the south shore.US team trails at 1st VA Beach VA.got 2nd overall in open mens...went to margarita island for the pan-am games with the 16 member team...steve newton won a gold medal in longboard...albert munoz won a gold in kneeboard..we got 4th as a team.I got 7th in open mens..justin mcbride got 5th..Paul West was the coach...I was a member and the captain/asst coach...you have probably never heard of me...thats OK.what I need to say is...if you arent apart of the solution...your apart of the problem...all you kooks who are questioning Kanga's experience and ability...are F#*King idiots...Kanga is ONE of the GODFATHERs of professional surfing...without guys like Kanga...there would be NO pro surfing...To compete for my country abroad,was the greatest thing I have ever done in surfing...means more to me than my 2nd reef pipe bombs..or 20ft Mav's bowls.thanks Paul West!Kan

Posted Wed Jul 8, 2009, 9:33 AM — By American Coach

Well OK JRM..... You go with your 2nd reef pipe bombs and 20ft mavs..... But all us bloggers who actually surf better than you all have valid points, and your fourth place finish as a team sucks.... Your explanation sucks and you suck..... Beat it kook....

Posted Thu Jul30, 2009, 2:40 AM — By USA Divided

Representing USA in world comp....should mean a lot, should mean everything. Sounds like USA is divided with surfers who don't give a shit except for themselves and their own surfing. 2009,...are we still stuck back there? No support toward a National Team and its athletes. Damn we have everything and we're the country who can't support a National Team. Did Kanga coach the 2 US Open winners, Conlogue and Simpson?

Posted Sun Aug 9, 2009, 2:53 AM — By Definitely Sold

Ok, "not sold" and "american coach". What do have to say now? Team USA takes the gold in Costa Rica...Its been how long...13 years since America won the gold in the world games. Ian is coach for 1 month and viola! Gold medal...Please give me something to laugh at (meaning I'm laughing at you). Great job Kanga, Awesome job team USA!

Posted Thu Aug13, 2009, 1:32 AM — By Hugh B