Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

g,day to all from down under, i have always had boards under 5'7" and they handled any surf i scored up to around 15 feet once, i see sparrows dvd s of people surfing longer boards and they look like they are very awkward to ride, all that space out front looks hard to control,
the boards on romanoskys site are short and the guys in thier photos are really ripping on large swells on really short boards,
are longer boards just a fad or the way of the future, personally i like to be close to the nose of the board and my present board at 5'7" same as my height, and i am about 80 kilo in weight maybe i'll go to a 5'9" and see how it goes, any opinions on this topic would help,
thanks chris

If it aint broke don't fix it.
You like your shorter boards, stick with em (especially if they are handling 15ft surf )
Honestly, I think if anyone is leaning toward getting new boards or trying something new. Look at the guys who are riding waves the way you want to ride em, take note of what they are riding and go and see the guy who made the bloody thing. Takes all the guess work out of it hey.

I'd be interested to know which guys you consider to be surfing awkwardly, I'd be willing to bet they aren't riding necessarily the ones riding the longest boards If you don't like they way guys are riding these longer boards what would posess you to go out and order one?

There is a misconception that guys are going to these longer lengths purely to enhance paddle speed. I choose the length of my board in direct relation to the lines i want be able to follow on the wave face, plain and simple. Some guys ride their shorter boards to great effect, but personally I would feel like Mr Squiggle on anything less than 5"10" ( I'm 6' and 92kg).

There are probably 10-15 guys in the world that ride kneeboards the way I like to see them ridden. But I have no interest in converting others to my way of thinking( unlike alot of others in "kneeboard world" ) each to his own as they say .

My choise of length of board is determained to the type of waves and the conditions. I always rode 5 ft 7 inch then started riding different length boards as i always seemed to be blowing my tail out of waves 6ft and above.

It took me a while to lurne to surf longer boards as I was trying to surf them like my shorter boards trying to turn them in smaller tighter arcks but once I lurned not to fight my longer boards and flow with them I realy enjoy the amount of wave they cover and the speed they travel.

I have a range of boards of widths and length to cover most conditions from 5ft 6 to 6 ft 5 and they are all great to ride in the conditions they were built for.

The hard thing to decide is which board you think is best for those conditions of the day it can realy be a strain on the brain so you realy must get to know your equipment.

I always go back to the analogy that you don't play a round of gold with just one club.

What is better than sinking your $ into a quiver of kneeboards?!

ross wrote:If it aint broke don't fix it.
You like your shorter boards, stick with em (especially if they are handling 15ft surf )

Ross is spot on.

One thing to consider regarding "length"...what you didn't mention is that while many "modern" boards are longer, they are also wider. The fact that boards are longer may have something to do with accomodating the newer width. How many guys here are riding a 5'6" X 24" board?

Yes. Short Kneeboards are easier to ride. Especially in big surf.
Smaller boards are slower and easier to control. Just kick in, get up, and go.

Boards have gotten longer because riders want to be able to do full rail turns, attack critical parts of the wave, and draw long lines. This requires speed... LOTS of speed... Longer boards have unparalleled speed to facilitate these maneuvers.
But it's not for everybody.
Also, guys like Gavin and Simon and Baden and Albert and Karl and Jaime and Barry (ect.ect) ride longer boards and never look "very awkward "... In fact, they are the most stylish riders in the world.
Check out the video from the World Titles, you too might just get inspired.

Longer boards have allowed kneeboarding to advance in substandard surf.
Kneeboarders were always rippers in good powerful waves, but short boards with fins on the tail were (are still?) really limited when the surf got crappy. Increasing length and simultaneously moving fins forward (and so further apart) was a solution that provided a stable and fast platform to cover fatter sections and move out of the pocket a bit.

But you decide how you want to surf, then pick a short/long (both) board(s) that lets you do it.

Interesting topic, I have just ordered a new quad from Niel Luke with no suggestion of length from me he advised a 6'6" as I wanted speed, speed, speed with loosness as it will be surfed mostly in Perth rubbish.

My usual boards have been 6' and 5'11"s, I'm 6 foot and weigh 105kg kneeled for 20 plus years.

kidrock wrote: How many guys here are riding a 5'6" X 24" board?

I know of one guy here who's riding a (from memory) 5'2" X 25" board, some of the time. I think he's from Bakersfield-By-The-Sea.

eqKneelo wrote:Boards have gotten longer because riders want to be able to do full rail turns, attack critical parts of the wave, and draw long lines.

The ability to do all these things is also dependent on wave quality and surfer ability. Look at old footage of GG from any of his films and you'll see him cover huge distances on a very short board. What he can do on a half-inflated mat is even more amazing.

Rocker has a lot to do with it too. There are lots of surfers even today achieving high speed on very short, flat-rockered boards.

malajusted wrote:the boards on romanoskys site are short and the guys in thier photos are really ripping on large swells on really short boards,
are longer boards just a fad or the way of the future

I recall reading back about 1969 or so how Wedge itself was a fad. I guess when the novelty wears off those guys ripping on Romo's short boards will maybe change their equipment.

Ross is pretty spot on. What's good for you is what's right. I'm a 5'8" to 6'2" guy normally, but that 5'2" I mentioned above sounds like a whole lot of fun, and one day I hope to be able to find out just how much. It's supposed to be about fun, ain't it?

Spalmz, thats an intersting call by Mr Luke for a 6'6 for Perth conditions (Guys I'm not doubting the call ) . Spalmz ,I'm simalar size and weight and ride 6'x 23 x 2 3/4 for local stuff but it also rides well bigger.
I gotta agree with Mcnee on this one, mine has a fairly flat rocker with shallow single into double (vee) concave.
It does every thing its supposed to, paddles well, fast and responsive. The only negative. Can be tricky on vertical drops in bigger stuff (could also be the operator ) but have another with a whole different rocker for those conditions

malajusted wrote:g,day to all from down under, i have always had boards under 5'7" and they handled any surf i scored up to around 15 feet once, i see sparrows dvd s of people surfing longer boards and they look like they are very awkward to ride, all that space out front looks hard to control,
the boards on romanoskys site are short and the guys in thier photos are really ripping on large swells on really short boards,
are longer boards just a fad or the way of the future, personally i like to be close to the nose of the board and my present board at 5'7" same as my height, and i am about 80 kilo in weight maybe i'll go to a 5'9" and see how it goes, any opinions on this topic would help,
thanks chris

Forget what everyone else is riding and ride what makes you happy, that is the bottom line. I see guys who are riding kneeboards that are 6'4", now to me that's a surfboard but if they like the ride more power to them because it works for them. I am from the old school, started kneeboarding in 1971, so I am very comfortable with my current quiver that ranges from 5-7 to my newer Romo that is 5-10. Personally I like my boards a little on the shorter side for better control and duck diving. There is no right answer, it's personal preference and stick to what you like.

Peace and Boat Drinks........

Great thing is everyone is right.

Kauaikneelo wrote:Great thing is everyone is right.

Now we can end this thread with one, gigantic group hug.

If memory serves me correctly, I believe it was Abraham Lincoln, when asked how long should a kneeboard be, responded " Long enough to get barreled on."

I remember it well. That was 7 score and 16 years ago.
Time flys.