Ultimate Boarder – Dean Randazzo

DEAN RANDAZZO – THE WARRIOR

Photo By Aaron Goulding

DOB:  11/24/1969
Titles: 1995 WQS OP pro Puerto Escondido, Former WCT competitor, MVP and Gold medal XGames, 4 time cancer survivor.
Sponsors:  Hyperflex wetsuits, Da Kine, 7th street surf shop, Bull Taco, Sambazon, Randazzo surfboards

RIS: Dean, so glad to have you on the Team. Seriously stoked that you’re back again, healthy and surfing as well as you are. We just had a great photoshoot with you the other day. Aaron Goulding got some great shots including our cover this month. I guess a lot of people know your story now after the feature in Surfer Magazine. Your story as an accomplished surfer and most recently a Cancer survivor is an inspirational one to say the least. Since your diagnosis with Hodgkin’s disease in 2001, you’ve been there and back, battled the odds and won!  We think you definitely have the ‘warrior spirit’ and we’re proud to have you on our team. Besides that…you’re a ripping surfer too.  So, Can we talk a bit about your foundation? What is the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation? Tell us where people can check it out & how they can get involved.
DR: The foundation was founded in 2001 shortly after my diagnosis.  I wanted to take a bad thing and make it positive. So, the foundation was formed to to help others dealing with cancer.  I had health insurance at the time, luckily, so I was thinking what if I had not had it?  So, at the beginning it was to raise awareness to the importance of health insurance and to assist those dealing with cancer who did not have insurance to cover some of the bills. Today, we help people dealing with the disease who have no where else to turn for assistance, we help with mortgage, food, medical bills etc.. the last thing you want to worry about when you are fighting cancer are your financial obligations. We are very proud to have raised over $250.000.00 and have helped many dealing with this terrible disease.  The foundation started with a big amateur surf event in Margate NJ, today we are on our 11th annual “Surf for a Cause” and we also have a “Freeze for a Cause” “Golf for a Cause” and 22 mile “Paddle for a Cause”. We make our events fun and bring the community together all for a great cause.  For more info please check out the foundation at www.Deanrandazzocancerfoundation.org

RIS:What is this we hear about your new surf company? Tell us what that’s all about.
DR: Well, its more of a brand and not just a surf company. I launched Randazzo industries last fall.  It encompasses Randazzo surfboards, camp ZZO (surf camp and advanced surf training/coaching) public speaking, apparel and accessories.  I started the boards with a guy named “Ninja” using my design concepts and knowledge of boards  and combined with his shaping skills forming a great synergy for our board shapes.  I’m really stoked the boards are working really well and we’re getting great feed back on the different models we offer.  Part of starting this brand was that I wanted to give back so, a percentage of sales will be donated back to non profit cancer foundations to aid in the fight against cancer.  More info at Randazzoindustries.com

RIS: This is your first year competing in the Ultimate Boarder Championship. What are your thoughts on the competition? Who are you looking out for? What about those youngsters?

DR: I really like the concept. Skating and snowboarding evolved from surfing, so…only natural to have an event like this to bring all three together.  I’ll be look’n out for Steve Caballero take’n it to the youngsters in the skate park after I took it to ‘em in the surf!  Ha ha!

RIS: Now that you are back in top shape and surfing well, what’s next? Competitions? Travel? Mt Everest?
DR: Well, its tough without any major backing or sponsorship but I’m trying to do the cancer advocacy thing, sort of a mini Lance Armstrong type thing.   I feel like I have a responsibility to sort of carry the flag for people dealing with cancer after all that I’ve been through fighting this and now back to feeling good again.  I want to inspire, give hope and show those people that they can get through it to, never give up and get back to life and doing what they love after the illness.  Now that I am feeling good I want to keep training hard and get back out there and do some photo/video trips and compete in some select events.  No Mt Everest I would like to go to Mammoth for some boarding though.

RIS:Where is your favorite break in the US – East or West coast? Favorite break on the planet?
DR:Probably Margate pier NJ thats where it all started.  On the planet cant decide between G-land or J-bay so sick!

RIS: What are you surfing on now?
DR: My board of choice right now is my CT model 6’0 18.32 x 2.32 very high performance board.

RIS: Are we gonna see you this summer in the Revolt Summer Surf Series?
DR: Yes!  I was out of the water last summer so I missed the contest but am ready for this years.

RIS; Any last words? Shout out to anyone in particular?
DR; I want to thank everyone for there support and prayers during my cancer bouts.  I want to thank everyone at the the DRCF for all of there hard work and efforts running the foundation and the events making it possible to help others.  And, of course my friends and family; Mom, Joe, Denise, Barbara and Dean Jr.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. You are truly an inspiration. I look forward to seeing you destroy the competition at Seaside Reef! Team Revolt!