Founder

About Our Founder

Cary Ortiz, a lifelong surfer who spent over 50 years riding waves across the globe, established the Learn2Rip Surfing and Ocean Academy in 2000. Growing up in Seal Beach, CA, his love for the ocean was rivaled only by his adoration for his daughter, Alix, and grandson, Raiden. Cary’s dedication to teaching and fostering a tight-knit surfing community was evident throughout his life. His legacy lives on through the countless surfers he taught and the thriving community he built around his beloved sport. Cary’s personality was larger-than life and is lovingly remembered for phrases like “fwhaaaa-pah,” when students did anything notable and calling little surfers “bug-a-boos.” He is forever in our hearts and the waves we ride!