ATA’s Ryan Leman: The World’s Fastest Stringer, And So Much More

ATA’s head stringer Ryan Leman recently claimed his spot as the fastest tennis racquet stringer in the world at the International Alliance of Racket Technicians (IART) symposium. He followed that up by captivating an audience of Little Mo Nationals families with a breathtaking fire-spinning performance last week. Next week, Ryan will host a Circadian Sound Meditation at a music festival in Austin.

“There are many things in the works right now, I don’t like to be bored,” Ryan said. “Things are happening, and it’s beautiful.”

While Ryan has been stringing at ATA for the past 4 years, he was introduced to the craft as a young tennis player in Flower Mound, TX. His coach also happened to be an extremely fast stringer, and Ryan was instantly fascinated.

“I would watch him anytime I could while asking a million questions,” Ryan said. “Eventually he let me get on the machine and immediately I was addicted to timing myself and getting faster.”

Eight years later, Ryan has strung over 20,000 racquets. Last month, he traveled to Florida to attend the IART symposium. The annual event brings together the worlds best stringers and pro shop owners for an array of professional development opportunities, while featuring a Speed Stringing Contest. Ryan took home the title this year with a time of 8 minutes, 45 seconds.

Ryan also recently earned his certification as a Master Racquet Technician – the highest possible certification in the United States.

“Stringing has become a meditative experience for me now,” Ryan said.

While he has a lot happening beyond stringing, it is a love of learning that is the common thread throughout. He channels this through his various passions, producing a fascinating mix of depth and creative expression.

Fire spinning, maybe the most dangerous of Ryan’s pursuits, involves baton-like sticks with wicks on either end that he uses to manipulate fire in ways that inspire awe in anyone watching.

“It is a very grounding and meditative experience, just like stringing, where you are in the moment right here, right now. If you mess up, you get burned. And it’s a great lesson for life: prepare yourself and your time will come with the staff. If you practice and know what moves you can do, when you light it on fire you have full confidence in the ability of your flow.”

While Ryan connects with stringing and fire spinning at a depth that reveals to him truths about life, he also strives to connect with people.

Ryan is also a massage therapist and recently got his License from The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School.

“I love this healing modality as it allows me to connect with my friends, clients, and just about every person,” Ryan said. “Because lets be honest, who couldn’t use a massage?”

Whether it is through massage, or driving for Uber, or producing a film called Underworld (yes, he’s also a film producer), Ryan is constantly learning, constantly making connections, and constantly expressing himself.

For much of his life, Ryan has found inspiration in a few key thoughts: first, Wayne Dyer: “Love what you do, do what you love.” Next, Abraham Lincoln: “I will prepare myself and my time will come.” Lastly, Michael Garfield: “Imagination is our greatest natural resource.”

“I have looked at these few quotes for the majority of my life and I feel it is exactly what ATA is about. Prepare yourself, let the coaches and people around you help with your process, and the right situation will manifest, so make sure you dream big. And if you aren’t doing what you love, then what are you doing?”

It is also the people that make ATA his top choice of all the places he’s worked.

“What makes ATA stand out is the rest are the staff members and their dedication to the players. We have an amazing team of resources. When you mix so much talent in one academy it makes for an incredible learning environment.”