Randy
Aloha, my name is Randy Strunk. With my lifelong commitment to the San Diego surf community, I have created deep connections to its history, positioning me as a mentor to the San Diego surf culture. As surfer/waterman, I have a great reputation in California and in Hawaii for my aloha spirit, friendliness, and dedication to environmental causes.
PB Surf Shop was originally established in 1962, I took over as owner in 1993 after seeing the need to create a safe and satisfying opportunity for San Diegans and visitors to learn how to enjoy surfing. My background as an expert surfer became the basis for pioneering the how-to-surf curriculum and safety standards you experience at the shop.
Chad
I started surfing later than most, I was already an adult, and it was like starting a new life. The gratitude I have for surfing is so overwhelming that I can’t imagine my life without it. I surf every morning no matter how cold it is and the moment my feet hit the water the magic begins and anything undesirable slips away. There is no better place to watch the sunrise than from the ocean. I am complete because of it; it’s my higher power and surfing is how I pray.
Some fun facts about me are: I saw Jaws as a kid and it made me extremely afraid of being in the water, any body of water, until my parents enrolled me in SCUBA lessons. Diving and Jacques Cousteau documentaries solidified my love for the ocean. Now the only love that rivals it is my bulldog Swayze and my son Canyon.
Aura
I began getting in the ocean as a kid in the small waves of my home country Venezuela. In my early 20’s, I traveled to Panama and Puerto Rico, where I started falling in love with big wave surfing and barrel riding. I worked a non-profit doing environmental education in poor costal communities of Venezuela and teaching low resource kids about ecology through surfing. During that time, I worked hard, trained hard, and sold bathing suits to travel to higher quality waves every year.
That brought me around the world, surfing amazing waves, living and working with high level surf athletes in the Canary Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It heightened my personal surfing, as well my abilities to teach surfing at different levels. I have been extremely blessed.
My love for surfing comes from the connection it brings to nature, water, and myself. It has brought me to amazing places, given me great friendships and keeps me healthy and stoked.
Ian
There’s a lot of reasons I love surfing, the zen you can find in an empty lineup, the adrenaline rush of a big wave or barrel, the community aspect of making friends in the lineup… Though I think my favorite thing about it is how it can provide an escape from anything negative that’s going on in life.
When you’re riding a wave, you literally can’t think about anything other than that wave. You’re living completely in the moment, you’re completely free.
Chris Kiely
I grew up obsessed with the ocean and would spend countless hours each summer riding waves on the beaches of New Jersey. That made for a seamless transition into the world of surfing once I finally got myself a board about 18 years ago. Not long after that, I spent 12 seasons as an ocean lifeguard, including one in Australia. This exposed me to so much more time in the ocean and the knowledge that allowed me to become a better waterman and surfer.
After college, I became a High School English Teacher in New York and with summers off could continue my “teach and beach” lifestyle. I moved to San Diego two years ago and decided to combine these two passions. I love teaching surfing because I give people the foundation to start their own surf adventure, and where they go from there is up to them.
Kevin O'Leary
I am the youngest of three boys that all love to surf. I grew up on the east coast of Florida where some of the best surfers in the world come from! I learned to surf at the age of 7 and it has been a passion of mine ever since! I have been teaching for over 15 years, starting my surf education journey teaching autistic kids! I’ve taught everybody from people that have never seen the ocean to kids doing competitive competitions. I really love what I do so book a lesson with me today and let’s share the stoke!
Robby
My father surfed the west coast from Imperial beach to Northern California and taught me to surf at a very young age I have loved it ever since my first wave! 41 years surf experience!
Dylan ``Dylmund`` Byrd
Board and water sports have always caught my interest growing up. When my father and I moved back to San Diego, he started to teach me about this highly addictive activity called surfing right away. Of course I immediately got hooked and for roughly 10 years I started my long learning curve through this sport. There are many reasons why so many, including myself, love surfing. In its roots, surfing has a somewhat spiritual side. When you finally make it out to the lineup and are waiting for those sets to roll in, you feel… at peace. As soon as you catch that wave, for a small moment all your worries and stress is left behind you, and all you have to do is react to that beautiful energy created under your feet.
Sam Bleu
Being from San Diego, it’s not a surprise I found myself surfing at am early age. I’ve grown up a local in PB and fell in love with surfing at a young age thanks to my dad, who first put me on a board when I was 3!
My favorite spot to surf is Tower 23 and my favorite surfer is Dane Reynolds the goat. When I’m not working you can find me in the water or at the gym trying to get massive. Fav board – two happy Fav food – buffalo fries G status – up there
Tanner
I love surfing because of the health and joy I derive from it.
I love teaching surf lessons to people so I can pass along the stoke!
I’ve been surfing for 15 years and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Everybody can have fun out there surfing because it feels like playing in the world’s biggest water park. Stay psyched and keep spreading the aloha! Yewww!
Raphael ``Rafa`` Ponde
I am from Bahia, Brazil and I’ve been surfing for 25 years. Surfing is good for my health and my spirit. I love to be in touch with the ocean. I feel great pleasure in teaching surfing. Surfing has also helped me with healing and being in touch with myself.
Max
Growing up in San Diego means surf culture has always been around me. My Father worked at a surf shop when he was younger and surfed up until his 50’s. My sister surfed and worked for PB surf shop at its old location when she was a teenager and all my uncles surfed back in the 1970’s and 80’s. Though I’ll admit, I didn’t really surf until this year, I have since fallen in love with it and go out as much as possible. Learning how to surf has been a great way to relieve stress in my life. It gives me an outlet. It also goes hand in hand with skateboarding, something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.
I hope to keep getting better and to travel the world to surf as many different breaks as possible.
Some fun facts about me are: I love to play music with my friends, shoot photos, attend concerts and shows, go skateboarding and cook new dishes with my awesome girlfriend.
Gabe
I began surfing as a young teenager and instantly fell in love with it. I grew up in Los Angeles surfing heavy beach breaks and First Point Malibu, but I have traveled all over the west coast and some of Europe surfing as many waves as I could.
I have participated in many sports but none rivals surfing. Once I’m in the ocean I forget about most else and just live in the moment. The ocean is my second home, every wave is different and the ocean is always changing and awe inspiring.
Only a few years after I began surfing I started teaching it, in hopes of bringing the stoke of surfing to others. I like teaching because of the excitement it can bring others as they find the same joy in surfing that I did.
Daniel Tchiprout
I was raised in Ventura, CA where I spent as much time at the beach as I could. I started surfing around 10 years old and have been in the water ever since. I love surfing because of how much it brings to my life. It’s fun, healthy, and is by far my favorite thing to do. It is exhilarating and peaceful at the same time, and I always feel better after being in the ocean. I’m stoked to be a part of the PB Surf Shop team!
Burke ``Bork`` Beatty
Hailing from the landlocked town of Chapel Hill, NC, surfing was not accessible to me growing up. After spending four years in Maine for college I decided that I never wanted to live in a cold place ever again, so I moved down to Roatan, Honduras and began my career as a scuba diving professional. I traveled all over, but my homebase ended up being the island of Oahu.
Being on Oahu, surfing was everywhere I looked, so it made sense that eventually I would give it a try. At the ripe old age of 23, I grabbed a 10ft log and paddled out for the first time. It took me nearly two hours, but once I caught that first wave I was hooked for life. Now I live in sunny San Diego and get to share my passion for the water with you! Surfing has changed my life in countless ways, but the mindfulness that it brings is probably the most impactful.
