Surfer Profile: Ryan Butcher

Highlights:
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The thing that makes Ryan Butcher different to many other surfers, and big wave surfers, is that he is hungry. Whenever I see him he is keen, bubbling, full of energy. Always talking about a session, some new equipment, and the chances of getting into the event.

This year he has his chance.

In the pre event practise session Charles Reitz suffered a big wipeout, and in the process fractured one of his ribs. Out of the event on doctor’s orders for the Knysna surfer.

So Ryan, after much champing at the bit, gets his slot. The Umhlanga surfer has made the pilgrimage to Durban on every swell over the last two years, and has put in the yards at all the big wave spots, including Dungeons, whenever there has been a swell of note. He has charged Sunset, and The Factory, He has had a go at some slightly lesser known surf spots on the Kwazulu Natal coast and he has worked hard on his equipment and technique.

There was a photo in a recent copy of Zigzag of a surfer at the bottom of a very big wave at Dungeons. It was a real wave with a real lip feathering above the surfers head. That was Ryan, and it was the first glimpse to the public that Ryan had what it takes.

“So stoked to have a slot this year,” said Ryan on his inclusion to this year’s event. “Just hope I get some good ones.”

With the added impetus of a prize purse and all the accolades that run with an event of this status, there is no doubt that Ryan will step up to the plate.