Dennis was born in Costa Rica. The youngest of six children with a single mom, Dennis grew up in Esterillos Oeste, a little beach town with a population of 350 people with only one church and five bars. His elementary school had two classrooms and two teachers, including the principal. Dennis graduated from high school at Jaco Technical Touristic School. He got an Associate Degree in Psychology at Santa Barbara City College. He will continue his education at the ESEPA SEMINARY in Costa Rica.

Dennis was the only one of his hometown friends of his age to go to high school, but he was so eager to learn that he worked weekends and vacations to pay for his education. Paying for all his expenses, including shoes, uniforms, books and supplies, he became so proficient in English that when he graduated, he was hired as a tour guide for Gray Line Fantasy Tours Costa Rica.

Excelling in sports, Dennis made the Costa Rica National Surf Team for three consecutive years, and was considered as the “Best Latin American Surfer of the event” at the Quick Silver International WQS (world qualifying series) contest in 2000 at Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. It was this accomplishment that got him his USA Visa.

Dennis came to California in 2001, to represent Costa Rica at the “US OPEN OF SURFING” in Huntington Beach, and with the dream of going back and start his own surf camp in Costa Rica. However God had a better plan for him, he married his beautiful wife Kyle Leon (yes, she has a boy’s name) in 2002, and in 2003 they re-started the Christian surfers Santa Barbara Chapter and planted Pura Vida Church Santa Barbara.

In March of 2009, the Leon family relocated to Dennis’ home country, not to start a surf camp but to serve his community trough mentoring of young kids and upcoming surfers.

Dennis Enjoying Creation