Surfboard Shapers making kneeboards

eqKneelo · Post by **eqKneelo** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 4:08 pm

Jack.
If you are going to disagree with me, don't use examples that strengthen my case.
I believe you, your brother, David M., and Chris A., all ride Eric Sholkoff's (spelling?) boards. He is a great kneelo and a great shaper.
Albert, Tom, and Don all ride...HELLO!....PARKES!!!! Do you think this is just some random coincidence?

The point of this whole forum was to get our USA kneelo community off these obsolete boards and into the 21st century. Could you imagine if Kelly Slater was still surfing a 1985 square tail? He would be ten steps behind the rest of the Pro's.
I stand by my "Getting our asses whooped" statement because it is true, figuratively and literally. I am not talking talent. You are every bit the talent that Simon Farrer is. Yet pound for pound, turn for turn, the rest of us are somehow WAY behind.
Are you going to tell me that the Maldives footage in "Sparrow with Friends" would have been as amazing if he were riding a 5'9" swallow with the fins at 6" and 12"?!
Would Gigs have won all those titles with a "Rusty" Lis Fish knockoff?!
Could Jamie have come over here last January and beat you, me, Albert, Randy, and Bob, in VERY contestable surf, if he had'nt borrowed MR's Island Tri?!...............Please.
And I am not even going to go to the "Bud McCray on a Spoon" card.

I am not contesting your friends charging crazy Blacks...or any of the kneelos doing amazing stuff up and down the coast. I'm saying we have to bridge the gap between talents like you and the novices with dedication. We need to pump new blood and enthusiasam into the sport, in both the free surf and contest arenas. I feel that the way to do this is to continue to upgrade our equipment, push the limits, AND PUSH THE DEDICATED SHAPERS TO SHAPE KNEEBOARDS DEDICATED TO OUR FUTURE.
Otherwise, who cares?

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 4:19 pm

Dunc · Post by **Dunc** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 2:07 am

Here is a British prospective on this debate. Over here a surfboard shaper offering you a kneeboard usually has there own 'perfect kneeboard' design thats been stored in their head since the seventies and it probably was not a good design then. Yet no sap has come along and ordered a kneeboard from them in that long or they've shaped a few and had limited feedback and there design has not progressed. In short their kneeboards will pick up waves and go along, but will not be easy to generate speed or turn on let alone hit the lip or launch on.
We have been lucky in Britain because Chris Diplock spent time with Albert Whiteman, David Parkes and Simon Farrer. While he was with the first two he learned to shape kneeboards and for the last ten years or so has been shaping excellent kneeboards. You can read his history on http://www.kneeboardsurfing.co.uk. Boards that pick up speed yet are still loose enough to turn. Boards that help your surfing to develop.
I am not saying a surfboard shaper could not shape a kneeboard a few kneeboard customers and a willingness to listen to feedback (I find many are not) could easily bring their design knowledge upto scratch. However I would say this is a rare situation.
As for funky style: Not getting speed, catching rails, not making sections, knees close together, sitting back on your feet heres a few things that I think constitutes a funky style I am sure we all do these things from time to time. I am as guilty as the next person, but am also trying to progress my style and riding kneeboards from a kneeboard shaper to help me.
Dunc [/url]

Tom Linn · Post by **Tom Linn** » Thu Jun 12, 2003 4:38 pm

There are only a few stand up shapers that can shape kneeboards. They are: Tom Balestar, Carl Hayward.

However, it is important that we support our own community, the kneelo community. For this reason it is best to support Bud McCray, David Parkes, Eric Scholkoff, Dean Cleary and other shapers who specialize in kneeboards. Buy their boards to help perpetuate our sport.

Tom Linn · Post by **Tom Linn** » Thu Jun 12, 2003 4:56 pm

[quote="beeline"]What style of boards does Eric Shoelkopf shape??[/quote]

Eric lives in Vista, CA and is a fixture in the Oceanside surf scene. He rips on a kneeboard and surfs Lower Trestles and Oceanside regularly. He shapes and glasses all of his boards. His shapes recently have focused on round pin and fish designs. He is independent and very creative. He has independently devleoped boards that resemble Aussie style boards although he denies that he has been influenced by them. His latest disign is a fin forward round pin design which evloved from his experimenting with five different fin placements on the same round pin hull. The result is a fin forward four fin placement. Width ranges from 22 to 23 inches, slightly narrower than Aussie boards.

One very cool feature in his boards is the integrated and recessed knee pads. He builds a foam kneepad into his boards such that they are flush with the rest of the deck. Very Cool.

Eric is severly Internet challenged and computer retarded. However, he does know how to use a telephone. You can call him at 760-941-8339. He's a good guy who still very excited about kneeboards, shaping kneeboards and riding kneeboards.

Landlocked · Post by **Landlocked** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 7:16 am

Oh-oh, I think I've got a funky style.
Can I still post on this forum?

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:42 am

Landlocked · Post by **Landlocked** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 10:55 am

No thanks Mr. beeline. I'll try the Blast you already sold me.
Back on topic: When I tried Ausie style tri-fins, it really helped me alot. The standard American shapes were just too stiff for me. I may not surf well but I sure have fun!

LL

Tom Linn · Post by **Tom Linn** » Sat Jun 14, 2003 3:32 pm

In my book, having fun is more important than style. Funky or otherwise!

Dunc · Post by **Dunc** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 1:08 pm

Next to Simon Farrer I think most of us probably have a funky style. I know I do. My point was riding good boards helps us to surf better (what ever you personally consider better to be). Although some people seem to be able to get on an ironing board and still rip.

Flexman · Post by **Flexman** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:10 am

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:37 am

hart · Post by **hart** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 12:13 am

headwax,

Always remember the passive approach..like a six-pack of Coopers Ale or for our American cousins..should that be Coors?

But mate..make sure they stay in the fridge when he's cutting.

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Surfboard Shapers making kneeboards

Re: Stand up shapers

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