In the 70’s and 80’s Joey Buran was known as the trailblazer for California surfing and was tagged by the surf media with the nickname “The California Kid”. After 7 years on the world tour, which included: 5 finishes in the Top 16, he concluded his career by winning the 1984 Pipeline Masters. Over the next two years, he was the director of the US Pro Surfing Tour. By 1987, all of his experience in the sport of surfing began to carry over into the realm of mentoring and coaching top up and coming surfers.

By the early 90’s Joey was often sought out by top up and coming surfers as a coach. Because of his primary responsibilities as a Christian minister, he limited himself in regards to these opportunities. However, by the late 90’s, he had more time available for this field. Eventually he became the coach of Surfride Boardshop’s team in North San Diego County. During this time he worked with future women’s WCT surfer, Julia Christian, as well as, future WQS standouts, Che Stang and Dane Johnson. He also coached top body boarder, Rusty Friesen.

By 1999 Joey was working for Billabong and was asked to oversee the entire national junior team development program. It was at this time that he worked with top future surfers like Brian Conley, Tanino Benson, Jeremy Johnston, and TJ Barron. In 2000, after serving as contest director for the Billabong WCT event in California, Joey stepped back from the Billabong position to focus on the ministry opportunities presented to him at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

In the summer of 2007, Joey sensed that a new door would be opening to him with surf coaching. A few months later he was approached by Mike Gerrard, CEO of Surfing America, and offered the position of head coach of the USA Surf Team. During the next two years, he oversaw the entire national training program while leading three different teams to medal results at ISA World Champion Events. The highlight of this time was the USA team finishing 2nd overall, lead by CJ Hobgood’s individual gold, at the 2008 ISA World Games in Costa da Caprica, Portugal.

He resigned this position in June of 2009 to travel the world premiering his life story surf movie, “Beyond the Dream”. During this time he did coaching clinics in England, Wales, and South Africa. It was through the England coaching clinics that the door would eventually open to become the head coach of the Great Britain Junior Surf Team. The position he still holds at this time.

It has been quite a long and varied journey for Joey as a surf coach and this journey has allowed him the opportunity to be continually involved in the sport of surfing. This ongoing involvement has allowed him the opportunity to encourage and equip future top surfers from his wealth of experience and to go forward in the pursuit of their dreams and goals in the sport of surfing.