One might have heard of Northeast Surfing, a surfing academy by the Hull shore in the quaint town of Hull in Massachusetts, USA. If you ever had the pleasure of learning to surf at this surfing school, you might have met the founder, Ronnie Lees. Lees started Northeast Surfing at a time when nothing else made sense for him.

After trying his hands at various careers, he finally landed on surfing. Thereafter, Ronnie Lees became a famous name amongst the locals. And recently, when Lees was severely injured in a skiing accident on February 20, 2023, many locals showcased their love and support for him.

The incident injured the surfing school founder tremendously

Ronnie Lees had gone skiing with his daughter and some other experienced skiers. According to a report published by The Hull Times, when they were at about 10,200 feet, fog, and high winds started to roll in. Lees’ daughter was able to ski down safely, however, Lees was thrown off the ski trail by the storm and he broke both of his legs and a kneecap as well. He told The Hull Times, “I’m grateful to be alive. It was a close call.”

Even though Ronnie Lees is an experienced skier himself, and has been indulging in the sport for 40 years, nature still got the best of him. The Northeast Surfing team sent out a PSA, asking people to provide encouragement for the skier and surfer, and the community answered in spades. People sent him several messages, especially on Facebook. The community has been worried about him, but the support that they have provided has been a huge encouragement.

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His son Matt revealed to The Hull Times that his father has been receiving “thousands of messages from the surf and ski communities” wishing him well. Lees’ brother-in-law has also been a motivation for Lees during his recovery. He said, “When I thought I was losing hope, he would be sitting on the couch in my room, silhouetted against the beautiful sunny view of a mountain range through the window, and just knowing he was there got me through another day.”

The Hull community adores Ronnie Lees

Lees became a popular figure in Hull when NortheastSurfing.com was launched. Millions of people started following the website every year, and as a result, Lees became famous. The Northeast Surfing school was established soon after. When the surf school started hosting summer programs, more than 2000 students enrolled every summer. Post that, Ronnie Lees appeared on various radio shows, television shows, newspapers, and local news channels.

Lees is known for his love of extreme sports. Not only do people regard him as a surf instructor, but also an avid skier. Ronnie Lees has been extremely grateful for his well-wishers in Hull. “I’ve given my life savings and my heart to the Town of Hull, and now the community is giving back to me through a show of support following my accident,” he said. “While I battle my injuries, I’m feeling the love I’ve given to the town returned.”

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