Joey Buran, the California Kid, Goes Deep in Revealing New Memoir

Joey Buran, the 1984 Pipeline Master champ, just debuted his new autobiography "Beyond the Dream: From the King of Pipeline to a Life of Serving and Inspiring Others." The much-anticipated memoir of Buran's journey from the California Kid who won the Pipe Masters to a highly respected minister nationwide, the unveiling took place at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside.

Buran, a great storyteller, spent nearly an hour sharing is tales from the tube, as well as his win at Pipeline , which is the singular achievement that launched his life’s career.

“There has never been anyone or anything even close to the surfing, the brand and the legacy of Gerry Lopez . The skill, the style, the influence, King of the Pipeline, beginning of the Pipeline Masters and the birth of modern pro surfing … he profoundly shaped and influenced it all,” Buran told SURFER.

“It was my purpose and dream to be like Gerry Lopez and become King of the Pipeline! There had to be a dream and a big one at that! And…there had to be something even greater beyond the dream. This is my story," he continued.

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So, how is the story? I know Buran won’t take offense when I say I was pleasantly surprised at how compelling the story of his life actually is. After all, I am a writer who loves to surf and loves to tell surf stories. Buran is a top tier former pro who loves to surf and likes to tell surf stories. So, if he saw me take a wave at Pipe and actually make the drop and get to the end of the wave unscathed, he’d probably give me a high five. I’ve never done that at Pipe, but Buran has successfully dropped in, carved some great lines, and even a few tense turns and funny flourishes.

Credit should be given to Bob Yehling, a surfer and professional writer and book editor who guided Buran’s structure to make it a good read for anybody. From the opening chapter confronting his deepest anxiety about leading a pack of pros as their coach, Buran shares his approach to dealing with his career-defining victory at Pipeline, creating the United States' first professional surfing tour—then hitting a low period of doubt and confusion dark enough to nearly cost him his life.

Bottom line: Joey’s story is a lot more compelling and his telling of the tales is a lot more interesting than most pro surfers – and a lot more inspirational too. Self-published and available for under $20, it’s a bargain and a page-turner all in one.

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