Team news

Ryan Helm to Represent East Coast at ESPN X Games

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 June, 2006 : - - Cory & Shea Lopez to Lead E.C. Team in Bid for 4th Gold Medal. East Coast X Games Team Head Coach, Matt Kechele is pleased to announce the Official 2006 East Coast Team roster that will compete for an unprecedented 4th Gold Medal in X Games XII as the East Coast is going for its 4th consecutive gold medal. Cory Lopez is the lone 'CT rider for East Coast team.

"Ryan Helm's Puerto and mainland Mex experience will add strength to the over-all team. Ryan brings a lot of versatility... his natural ability with Tube riding along with his incredible flexibility will allow him to squeak out the deepest of Doggy Door's. I'm real happy to have him representing the Right Coast! " said  Matt Kechele -East Coast Team Captain/Head Coach.

Ryan Helm Jupiter Beach (FL) sensation and X Games rookie, Ryan Helm, is one of the newest additions to be named to the East Coast 'A Team' by Head Coach, Matt Kechele. Over the Past Three (+) years, Ryan has consistently placed in the Quarter-Finals (or higher) of nearly every professional tournament entered in the United States.

An athletic record that is rarely achieved in the world of professional sports. Helm has consistently enjoyed the podium spotlight by taking out the ESM AIR SHOW at the Quiksilver King of the Peak Contest; winning for the consecutive third year running.

While competing on the World Qualifying Series, Helm is consistently known for his repertoire of high flying, slashing maneuvers. While working to qualify for the World Championship Tour, Ryan Helm has recently been named to represent the Gold Medal winning East Coast U.S. Team at the 2006 ESPN X Games to be held in Puerto Escondido Mexico, July 2nd thru 6th.

The highly acclaimed, prestigious event will receive widespread TV coverage on both ESPN and ABC Sports networks. Many regard the X GAMES to be equal in prestige to winning an Olympic medal; especially the action sports crazed 'GEN X' and 'GEN Y' youth brigade. Helm returned to the U.S. and full time professional competition in 2005 after spending 5 years of his life living and surfing in mainland Mexico where he met his beautiful wife Paola.

When not touring the globe in search of valuable ratings points, Ryan resides in South Florida with his wife and 4 year old little boy Leon. The "Puerto Specialist" is looking forward to representing the E.C. in their bid to take a 4th Consecutive X Games Gold Medal this Summer. Ryan's younger brother Drew is a rising MLS Soccer star on the L.A. Chivas franchise (team).

Cory Lopez Hailing from the Gulf Coast of Florida, Cory Lopez has risen above the miniscule conditions that prevail in the region to become the incredible talent that he is today. Splitting his teenage years between Florida (w/ frequent trips to the East Coast with his Father, Pete and brother Shea) and California (as well as other globe-trotting sojourns), Lopez became one of the first to bring a new school "aerial" approach to the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT).

Constantly pushing the boundaries of progressive surfing, Lopez also receives regular notoriety for his hard-charging efforts at Tahiti’s treacherous Teahupoo. Showing incredible consistency he has been a regular fixture in the top 10-15 for the past 5+ years. Incredible to watch in any conditions Lopez, with good friend Andy Irons as his sparring partner, is certainly capable of big results in any conditions.

The City of Indian Rocks Beach (Cory's Home Town) will be dedicating Official "signs" at designated locations throughout the city, commemorating & saluting the achievements of the World Famous "Lopez Brothers" (Cory & Shea) in the sport of surfing and the X Games. The sign unveiling will coincide with the Official Grand Opening of Cory's new Surf Shop in IRB later this year (TBA).

Shea Lopez has enjoyed a stellar career that includes 4 East Coast Championships, U.S. Champion, #1 NSSA National Champion, the 1999 US Open of Surfing Title and a #1 Surfing America year-end ranking in 2000. He has had numerous accomplishments and top WCT event and year end finishes, including 3 consecutive X Games Gold Medals (2003-2005). Shea is a media magnet and has been dubbed by Surfing Magazine as the "Hardest Working Surfer in Pro Biz".

It is no secret that Shea has worked hard to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the 2003 Pipe Masters quarter-finals, when he launched (and almost landed) a clutch, free-fall "Death Floater" at BackDoor Pipeline. 2005 was his first year back on tour and Shea put out a great effort to get his surfing in competitive sync with some close finishes and a respectable 17th place at Tahiti's notorious Teahupoo.

He later went on to help lead the East Coast to an unprecedented, consecutive 3rd X Games Gold Medal victory in some heavy Puerto Escondido (Mexico) barrels. Completely re-habbed, Shea believes his surfing is now 100% and is looking forward to helping lead the East Coast to their 4th consecutive ESPN X Games Gold Medal this summer. Shea and wife (Dawn) were recently blessed by the arrival of their first child - a baby girl named "Lina Shea".

Shea has been taking a sabbatical from WCT competition while surfing and training with his family at their 2nd home in Costa Rica. One of the most respected and photographed surfers to ever come out of Florida, (Surfer Magazine and ESM recently ran feature stories on Shea); he has enjoyed numerous media accolades and his athletic, "model" good looks have graced the covers of magazines around the world.

Part of the new school "Kelly Slater" generation (along with younger brother Cory), Shea has all the moves from barrel riding to aerial surfing. His comfort level above or below the lip of the wave is well suited for the Grinding Barrels of Puerto Escondido, Mexico - the venue for X Games XII.

East Coast A-Team

Shea Lopez
Peter Mendia
Cory Lopez
Barron Knowlton
Kyle Garson
Ryan Helm
Todd Morcom
Jamie O'Brien (Wild Card - Hawaii)

Reserves
Carlos Cabero
Sam Hammer

www.RyanHelm.com
www.LopezBrothers.com 

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Mark Hartman

Team news - Surfersvillage