Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

Anybody reading this ride a Freeline Kneeboard? I have had several of his standup boards in my career and loved every one of them.

I am looking for a new Kneeboard and am seeking opinons--

thanks,

flojo

I've had dozens, and you couldn't be in better hands.
I suggest you try his Aussie-Tri. They are light, quick, and very user friendly. I'll post some pics of one that I will never let go of.
EQ

Flojo - I've been riding for John since 1971 and used to work in the shop & factory; ridden everything from 4'10" up to my present 6'0" five fin KB and various stand-up boards. EQ has been on many Freelines and knows his stuff also.

Since you're in Pacifica, its just a short jaunt down the coast for some in-the-water testing.

Picture is in the Photos/Boards section.
EQ

I just got a board made by Jon Manss under the Freeline logo. I've only had the opertunity to ride it once, but it really rips!!! Jon shaped me a rounded pin - quad finned shape. It has a major concave thur the front half which flattens out to two concaves flowing out the tail. I will post some pictures of the board soon (need to get the ditgital camera working again). I've never had a board with this much concave in it. When I set the board to race through a fast section, it felt like I was riding a roller coaster - kind of like I was flying on tracks. I also found that Jon's designs are really good at carving high off the lip and not catching a rail on the reentery drop. I really wanted to get another session under my belt before I raved about it. But since the question was asked, I would STRONGLY suggest you contact Jon about getting him to shape you one. Also, the Freeline glass job is top rate and Jon used the Future Fin System. And for those who remember my earlier thread (How do you convince the wife that three boards are necessary?), we just finished remodeling the bathrooms.

Mike

To Mike and Jon..

Too bloody cool guys.

To Mike alone : mate, I so hope you don't run out of bathrooms..



hart

to Jon..stoked



you'll have to get back in there again mate..I'm sure

Flojo,
Mike hit it right on the head...I own one of Johns 6'0" round pin Aussie Quad's. It's a great addtion to the quiver



STiLL a GroM !

John worked with Skip back in the mid-1960's when they were ghost shapers on G&S's graveyard shift, cranking out 9'10" aircraft carriers for the SoCal Beach Boys masses.

My first Freeline was a 1971 twin fin with more of a scalloped tail - what would later become a fish/swallow tail. The fish experience is well established at Freeline. The current popularity of standups riding fishes came about when Tom Curren was featured in a major surf mag riding a 5'6" Freeline KB fish a few years ago.

I had the opportunity to check out the KB that Jon Manss made for Mike. Really nice board. No wonder it rides high and tight - Jon's experience is from pioneering The Harbor and dominating The Lane. That old dog has all the tricks down pat!

I walked into the Freeline shop,sometime 70-71, saw a rack of new kneeboards, and not knowing what they were, had to ask.Left, with a single fin, narrow swallowtail shaped for the Islands, rode it in El Salvador, CR, and later explored Oregon and Washington with it.The legendary Otis rode Westport Jetty for years with a quiver of Freelines, while living in a garage! Currently, there are no Freelines in N.W. waters that I am aware of.

I have a 5'8" John Mel quad fish and I love it. John makes great boards. If you liked his stand up boards you will love his knee boards. Cheers TC

John Mel has made kneeboards for me since the late 70's. I've always found him to be an excellent shaper and a 100% quality human being. I currently own 3 Freeline thruster shapes varying from 5'6" to 5'9". My 5'9" is channeled and rides well in hollow OB type waves. My other 2 boards were better suited to La Selva, where I lived for 14 years. John will produce what you need according to break ability etc.

I'm now riding a Blast quad 5'11" which took some getting used to. No complaints there either.

I still use the templates [shapes]that I got from freeline back about 91.
They're tweaked slightly,a bit more nose rocker,that's it.Turned one of my twinzers into a quad and now it goes even better!These boards work from knee to head and are really fun,especially at OB when it's like it was yesterday.He's doing something right-these shapes are ageless.

i would love to try some of john's boards