No Pads?

Nov · Post by **Nov** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:45 pm

Pads are absolutely essential. I've tried surfing without them and just did not do anything the entire surf, it was just go straight and throw a weak turn in here and there. It was just too uncomfortable.

ross · Post by **ross** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:55 am

I was actually discussing this with young DY Damo the other day. A man who happily chooses to go padless.
During my time as a scabby long term unemployed youth i spent a few years not using pads due to being a tight arse. The truth is i prefer the grip that wax gives. After Experiencing a searing pain in the upper part of my shin bone. I had torn my Patella Tendon. Turns out your Patella Tendon is anchored to the shin bone.Youch.
As Steeno was saying going padless is not conducive to doing lots of whoopdi-do's and whirli- giggers.(or words to that effect)

So pads it is, for me. But jeez i miss the feel of wax

On the subject of pads that you wear on your legs, i reckon your probably increasing the compression on the joint. Because all that material wedge behind the back of your knee is bunching up, causing the kneejoint to open up(spread). Bit like stuffing a three inch nail into a door hinge and shutting it( sorry carpenters analogy there

)

Something worth mentioning is that your board is always gonna feel as hard as the knobs of hell if you are already used to pads. just like your fingers feel rooted when you learn to play guitar

Mike Fernandez · Post by **Mike Fernandez** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:49 am

Never surfed without either a wetsuit over my knees, or the legs cut off the wetsuit to put over my knees. The only regret I have about pads, and I say this while I slap my head with my hand, is that I didn't invent them back in the day

Kauaikneelo · Post by **Kauaikneelo** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:08 am

Love the pads from Ed, especially in warm water, but kinda miss pulling the wax off my belly button hair !

I wax in front of the pads and along the rails for some grab, but mostly because I LOVE the smell of surf wax. mmmmmmm

NIUHI GRIPS · Post by **NIUHI GRIPS** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:11 pm

PADS, PADS, PADS.....!!!!
DOES GOOD TO YOUR KNEES!!!

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:13 pm

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:30 pm

i like pads

BillL · Post by **BillL** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:36 pm

Well, back in the day..... When my boards did'nt have pads they would last 6-8 months and they were glassed 6&4 oz deck with a 6 oz patch. They would soon delaminate and would either snap or get heavy and I'd have to wear a v-ball knee pad to surf. To me, pads are a wonderful thing after you get used to them. The boards now last for years, my knees are happy and I feel like I'm on a magic carpet ride. FYI, one of the reasons Steve Lis quit kneeriding is because his "knees couldn't take the punishment anymore".

albert · Post by **albert** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:22 pm

BillL wrote: FYI, one of the reasons Steve Lis quit kneeriding is because his "knees couldn't take the punishment anymore".

Well at least he never put pads on his boards... what would Geno say then??

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:23 pm

I guess Lis still drops in on knees on no paddle takeoffs.He said," he wants to be able to walk when he's fifty" , well passed fifty now ...I have been kneeriding for 38 yrs now and been using pads for twenty of those yrs. Also, been working on my knees on Yachts for 32 yrs.So......my knees are Gnarly!! You could hit my monkey knee's with a hammer and I would laugh!

I have to admit I feel bad putting a pad on a beautiful new Lis

I use real thin pad too. I like the low center of gravity feel. That is why I kneeride.

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:34 pm

W.G., I'm with you, I like that low center too. When I get a new board I will ride it without pads long enough to get some decent depressions in the deck and then put the pads on. I actually prefer not using them but have found what Bill said to be true, it increases the life of the board.

----------------------
Shoulder huggin' chicken

Mark Ramirez · Post by **Mark Ramirez** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:18 pm

I've only had pads on a couple of my boards in my 36 years of kneeboarding, opting to go with no pads most of the time. It seems that by wearing my full wetsuit is enough padding on my knees. (4mil.) I don't kneeboard that much in the summertime for my knees to start hurting.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:33 pm

Inlaid flush deck pad, best of both worlds

sTilL a gROm

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:15 pm

craig said it!... i think eric shoelkopf is the best person to go to for this....

dont know what the operation would cost...but its soooo worth it if you dont like being 1/2" off the board.....

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:49 pm

Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

No Pads?

miss the wax