Ryan was born 15 August 1956 in Overhalla of forester Arvid Ryan and nurse Irene Opdal. He attended Øysletta School from 1963 to 1969. At the age of eight, he started the association Tiger to establish a ski jump. He attended Overhalla Lower Secondary School from 1969 to 1972, and was during the period active in orienteering and association football as a goalie. He attended Namdal Upper Secondary School from 1972 to 1975, where he took general academics. During secondary school, his best subject was history.