2017 World Titles – Somo Spain
Team KSUSA

Sam Coyne

Sam Coyne Surf Beach – photo by Steen Barnes

Sam Coyne is the youngest and top ranked member of Team USA travelling to Spain for the World Titles.  Currently ranked second in the USA and second place finisher in the Pro Juniors at the last World Titles.  Sam grew up surfing Blacks, but spent the past year in Orange County with the Kneelo Cove Crew.

Age Division: Pro Juniors

Contest Experience:

• 2004 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2005 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz – 2nd Juniors
• 2007 Phillip Island Classic – 2nd Juniors
• 2007 World Titles, Santa Cruz – 3rd Pro Juniors
• 2008 KSUSA Titles, Oceanside – 2nd Juniors
• 2008 KSUSA/WSA, Ventura – 4th
• 2009 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz – 2nd Juniors
• 2009 KSUSA/WSA, Salt Creek – 5th
• 2010 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach – 3rd Juniors
• 2011 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach
• 2011 World Titles, Phillip Island, Australia
• 2012 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach
• 2014 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach
• 2015 World Titles, Kiama, Australia – 2^nd Pro Juniors
• 2017 KSUSA Titles, Oceanside – 2nd Open 

Most Memorable Contest Experience:  In 2007 I got the chance to travel to Australia for the Phillip Island Kneeboard Classic.  I stayed with Gavin Colman and hung out with Jim Brown and family.  That was such an awesome experience made possible by all who donated to the KSUSA grom fund.

What boards are you taking:  I’m taking a brand new SD Kneeboard made especially for this contest.

Sponsors: SD Surf Boards (Joe Taylor, Mark Sweeny), Surf Systems/Cove Pads (Casey Patelsky), KneeloNation (Tom Fish), Pure Glass

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain: Pulpo y Jamon

Brad Colwell

Brad Colwell

Brad Colwell is the current KSUSA President and long time member of the KSUSA contest committee. He is the goodwill ambassador for kneeboarding.  Always smiling, always positive.  Don’t let that smile fool you, he is a serious competitor.  Brad is a Blacks Beach regular.

Age Division: Legends

Contest Experience:

• All KSUSA Titles 2004-2017
• 2005 KSUSA Titles AA Division 4th
• 2011 KSUSA Titles AA Division Champion
• 2014 KSUSA Titles AAA Division Champion
• 2007 World Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2009 World Titles, New Zealand
• 2011 World Titles, Phillip Island, Australia
• 2015 World Titles, Kiama, Australia – Kahunas 3rd
• NSSA in 2013-14
• Wildcoast Dempey Holder Ocean Festival 2012-2017
  2012, 2013, 2015 – Champion

Most Memorable Contest Experience: KSUSA Titles in 2011 at Huntington Pier, winning the AA Division after 30 minutes of non-stop paddling and getting a buzzer beater that was my highest scoring wave. My first time to win a division.

What boards are you taking: Just one this time, my newest Flashpoint. It’s a 5’7″ rounded square tail thruster. Bruce Hart has created another beauty for me!

Sponsors: None personally, but I’m stoked for the generosity of the kneeboard shapers who have supported, and continue to support KSUSA and kneeboarding around the world.

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain: Being able to share the experience with my family, and to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

Matt Cunningham

Matt Cunningham is a long time Blacks Kneelo Crew member.  Matt recently returned to competition with an impressive podium finish in 2014 and a semifinals appearance in the Open division at this year’s KSUSA Titles.

Age Division: Kahuna

Contest Experience:

• 1978 Lowenbrau Contest at Blacks Beach
• 2014 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach – AAA 2^nd
• 2017 KSUSA Titles, Oceanside

Most Memorable Contest Experience:  I finish second in the AAA in Huntington two years ago but my most memorable experience was this year with a close third in a semifinal with Tom Linn, Mike Butler, and Tom Backer.  What a pleasure to surf with three people whose surfing I have known and followed and I consider outstanding contributors to the sport and community.

What boards are you taking:  Two Blast Kneeboards.  1.) A 6 foot Fish F2K.  2.) A new Blast board being glassed today that is a modified stub vector swallowtail with wings made for a beach break.  It’s secret!!!

Sponsors:  My wife and kids.

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain:  The brotherhood of kneelos and the country.  I love Spain.  I’ve ridden my bike through the area we are surfing and it is a remarkable culture with remarkable people.

Tom Linn

Tom Linn is a long time member of the KSUSA executive team and contest organizer.  Tom is the most experienced competitor representing Team USA.  Tom is a Salt Creek local.

Age Division:  Legend

Contest Experience:

• 1986 Amateur World Titles – 4th
• 2002 World Titles, AUS, Masters – 3rd
• 2003 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2004 USSF US Championships, Oceanside – 4th
• 2004 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz, Open – 3rd
• 2005 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2007 World Titles, Santa Cruz, Grandmasters – Champion
• 2008 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2009 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2009 World Titles, Opunake, New Zealand – 3rd Veterans
• 2010 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach, AAA – 2nd
• 2011 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach

Most Memorable Contest Experience:  Competing in the 1986 Amateur World Titles in Newquay, England along with Michael Novakov ( 1st place) who did a barrel roll in the grand final and Simon Farrer ( 2nd place). My teammate on the US Team was a young Kelly Slater.

What boards are you taking:

• 5’7′ squash tail Infinity Kneeboard
• 5’10” Parkes Round Pin
• 6′ Infinity Kneeboard Round Pin

Sponsors:  Infinity Kneeboards/ Infinity Surfboards

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain:  Catching up with old friends and meeting new friends in the world kneeboard community. (And, hoping to score Mundaka!!)

Roger Hughes

Roger Hughes

Roger Hughes represents the surf Mecca of Santa Cruz for Team USA.  Roger has been a strong competitor in KSUSA contests since 2004.

Age Division: Veteran

Contest Experience:

• 2004 US Titles Santa Cruz: Second place AA division and Most Radical Maneuver trophy, which to this day is the trophy I’m most proud to own. This contest was at Pleasure Point.
• 2005 US Titles Santa Cruz: 2nd Place, in the open. This contest was at Steamer Lane.
• 2009 US Titles Santa Cruz: First place AA division, which by far were the best waves I have ever surfed at Steamer Lane.
• 2014 US Titles Huntington Pier: Third place AAA. The difference between this contest and the other contests was everyone was surfing at their prime. It seemed to me the common denominator was Bruce Hart’s Flashpoint surfboards, I was sold.
• 2017 US Titles Oceanside: Third place AAA Division.

What boards are you taking:  I will be taking two Flashpoints to Spain. 6-0 chop tail and a 6-0 rounded pintail

My sponsor is O’Neil Surf Shop.  They have been taking care of me for over 30 years.  I’m on the local team, not international, which is a couple of free suits a year and a decent discount.  Rest In Peace Jack O’Neil.

I am really looking forward to getting together with a lot of other Knee-boarders, some I’ve met and some I have not. I sure hope mother nature is on our side, and joins us.  I would love to see great kneeboarding on good waves, it looks like a perfect venue for kneeboarding.

Joe Coyne

Joe Coyne

Joe Coyne is the web master for KSUSA and member of the team that organizes KSUSA contests.  Joe is a regular at Blacks.

Age Division:  Kahuna

Contest Experience:

• KSUSA US Titles 2004 through 2017
• Kneeboard Surfing World Titles 2007 Santa Cruz
• Kneeboard Surfing World Titles 2011 Phillip Island, Australia
• Kneeboard Surfing World Titles 2015 Kiama, Australia

Most Memorable Contest Experience:

What boards are you taking: Flashpoint 5’8” chop tail, and Flashpoint 5’10” rounded pin tail

Sponsors:  As an active member of KSUSA, I feel like I’m supported by all of the generous sponsors that support KSUSA.  Special thanks to the long term support from kneeboard shapers Bruce Hart – Flashpoint/Hart Design, John Mel – Freeline, David Parkes – Parkes Kneeboards, and Bud McCray – Blast.

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain:  Good times with good friend, old and new.  Surfing with the world’s top kneeboarders.  Tapas and Vino.  Exploring the Spanish countryside.

Bob Gove

Bob Gove at Todos Santos

Bob Gove is the senior member of Team USA and a fierce competitor.  Always a threat in the Open and Age Divisions.  Bob is a regular at Blacks and secret spots in Baja.

Age Division: Immortals

Contest Experience:

• 2003 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2004 World Titles, Tahiti
• 2004 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2005 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2007 World Titles, Santa Cruz, ROBs – 2nd
• 2008 KSUSA Titles, Oceanside
• 2009 KSUSA Titles, Santa Cruz
• 2009 World Titles, Opunake, New Zealand
• 2010 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach, Open – 4th
• 2011 KSUSA Titles, Huntington Beach, AAA – Champion
• 2011 World Titles, Phillip Island, Australia

Most Memorable Contest Experience:  Getting into the open finals at the nationals in
Huntington and going up against against Jack Beresford. Never thought that
would happen.

Shaper:  James Mangano, K58

What boards are you taking:  The Orange one

Dave Grgas

Dave Grgas

Dave Grgas joined Team USA for the last World Titles event in Australia.  We’re looking forward to meeting up with Dave again in Spain.

Age Group: Veterans

Contest Experience:

• Cantabria Kneeboard Festival 2014, 2016.
• Kneeboard Surfing World Titles Kiama, Australia 2015

What boards are you taking: 6’3″ Parkes quad

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain:  Looking forward to good times with friends old and new.

Robb Massar – Team Photographer

Robb Massar

Robb Massar is a long time member of the KSUSA contest committee.  He has volunteered countless hours and creative services (graphic design, photography, video and more) to help support KSUSA and the sport of kneeboarding.  We are honored to have Robb join us in Spain for the World Titles.

What are you looking forward to the most in Spain: