Surfboard Shapers making kneeboards

[Beeline2.0]

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[Bill Stewart]

I agree with Ler. I have had my boards shaped by John Mel, Freeline Design, for the past nine years and I have never ridden better boards. From squash tails to full on swallows. It is all in the experience of the shaper and working with him to modify your existing quiver to get you to where you want to go.

I rode a few of Romo's boards when growing up in So Cal back in the late eighties. Stiff and straight. Moved to No. Cal. and hooked up with John Mel and have never regretted a board yet.

Bill

[Beeline2.0]

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[fooj]

Hey beeline,
What makes a style funky? jfooj

[eqKneelo]

For starters, Jon Mel is not a surfboard shaper. He shapes great surfboards, but he is a kneelo at heart and has made me dozens of awesome boards over the years, including several Aussie models that RIP. For my money, he is one of maybe 3 Mainland kneeboard shapers to consider because he truly cares and truly understands kneeboards.

And I agree with you Ler, all those guys ripped in the 80's....but then their shapers stagnated. There was no money in kneeboards, so there was no innovation. Meanwhile, the Aussies, Hawaiians, and South Africans were widening their templates, increasing their rockers, and moving up their fin placement.
The result; Americans have been getting their asses whooped for the last 15 years...and not just in contests, but in the free-surfing arena as well.

[Beeline2.0]

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[eqKneelo]

Not to mention the stoney Santa Cruz airbrushes.

[eqKneelo]

Hey beeline,
What makes a style funky? jfooj

Ummmm.....Falling on your face,

[Ler]

Beeline, Don't feel baited. You expressed how you feel, made some killer points. That can't be wrong. You put on table the way you see it. Props to you! . We will never all agree on shapes, design, or styles and I think thats freakin cool. Take care.

[Jack Beresford]

[The result; Americans have been getting their asses whooped for the last 15 years...and not just in contests, but in the free-surfing arena as well.]

OK, I've heard enough. I challenge this statement. I think the crux of our problem in competition has had more to do with the lack of competitive infrastructure here - not board design. Lots of other competitors around the world have had access to Aussie designs during this time - and with the exception of Giggs and a few others - they've been gobbled up by the Aussie competitive "machine." We need to rebuild our own machine (I believe we're on our way).

As for freesurfing - having seen the best the world has to offer both in person and on video - I think the US has riders capable of holding their own with anyone. Guys like Chris Anderson, Bill Learner, Chris Beresford, Dave Margullies, Tom Linn and Albert Munoz (among others) are capable of delivering breakthrough performances in surf from 3 foot Blacks to DOH Teapuu. Where we haven't done a good job is in documenting this and sharing it with others (something I hope to change soon).

Progression is a good thing and we should support greater exchanges between kneelos worldwide. But let's appologize for who we are - I certainly won't be anytime soon! Bring it on!

[Beeline2.0]

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[Ler]

Sounds like a chunk of kneeriders, probaly got a funky style, if those be the guidelines. Can't we just accept that each rider is going to be and have his/hers own defintion of style.

[Beeline2.0]

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[Ler]

All we can do is keep trying. Later