Frother of the Month – Ryan ‘Whippet’ Clark

By Brad Malyon on August 4, 2011 in People

Ryan ‘Whippet’ Clark is quiet possibly the most famous bloke getting around the Eastern Beaches these days. Having spent a large part of his childhood portraying Summer Bay’s Sam Marshall in Home & Away, and appearing regularly on Bondi Rescue and in more recent times due to his day job as a Waverley lifeguard, it is fair to say he’s not afraid of the spotlight. But he’s not just a pretty face. As it turns out, Whippet handles himself with aplomb on a surfboard. We caught up with the man in question during the month…

Name: Ryan Clark
Age: 28
Goofy or natural: Natural
Board shaper: Albert Fox from FOX surfboards in Angourie
Board dimensions: 6’1” x 18 5/8” x 2 ¼”

Where’s your local break?
Bronte

Where’s your favourite break?
Nias (an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia)

Bronte is quite a localised surfing community; what was it like growing up as a Bronte boy?
It was the best. Being a grommet down there was a lot of fun. We used to run amuck and get away with most things. It was always good knowing the older boys were there to look out for you in and out of the water, so for me it was a great place to grow up.

A lot of your mates work with you on the beach as lifeguards; what is the best thing about your job?
The best thing is bringing someone back to life. That’s the most rewarding thing about our job but in general, spending all day at the beach with 35 other lunatics is pretty fun.

You’ve been on our television screens for most of your life; do people ever stop you in the streets for an autograph?
Occasionally it happens but I’m sure it would happen a lot more to more famous people like Rod Kerr.

You have a new gig at the moment for One HD, can you tell us a bit about that?
I’ve been hosting an action sports block for a few months, which has been a lot of fun. It’s something I’d love to do a lot more of.

Along with surfing, do you partake in any other sports?
I ski a lot and try to play golf but I’m pretty average.

You’ve been out of the water with an injury for quite some time; do you have any recovery surf trips planned?
I’m just back in the water after six weeks out with a hamstring injury and an ear operation so I’ve missed a few swells, which has been tough. I’ve got no trips planned just yet but hopefully I’ll get away some time soon.