The DarkHorse....

Mark Ramirez · Post by **Mark Ramirez** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:29 pm

Wetsand.com has a link set up with the SC Sentinel telling about the fact that Lloyd Mahoney has not kneeboarded for 20 years, or has never even entered a contest before, yet he's doing great! :D

Steeno · Post by **Steeno** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:03 pm

cool story......but.......

john - · Post by **john -** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:02 pm

I think im with steenos

great first round then bombed second round in the main event

great surfers are great surfers but great contest surfers like any contest performers are consistent

but good on him

and thanks to all reporters...its been great reading from the different sites.

Jon Manss · Post by **Jon Manss** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:42 am

Steens and Dorje are right about Lloyd's contest savy. Having no contest experience reduces your chances to move forward. But what he did in his brief appearence was fantastic. Lloyd was the only contestant to find a tube out there, not once but three times in the same heat. He also is a complete foreigner to the Lane. He has surfed there just a few times in his life even though he lives maybe 5 miles away. This is just one of the fun stories that have occurred this week. I can safely say we, our whole kneeboard community, are having great time together. If you ever have a contest with Gigs in it give him the chance to color commentate the event. The swell dropped as much as the temp. We might have to get a snow machine and finish this on some hill.

KAVA · Post by **KAVA** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:21 am

no worries OB1 (john) the models say your gonna have better swell this afternoon. And tomorow? well how do you like double overhead for the finals?

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:34 pm

Jon hit the nail on the head. There is a big difference between a contest surfer and a soul surfer. Many of us rarely surf small waves and to do well in contests one would have to spend a lot of time in smaller surf.

Lloyd and his lovely wife Vawna (sp?), have had a blast meeting the members of the international kneeboarding community; surfing in the contest has been a fun and unique experience.

Before sites such as KSUSA.ORG appeared on the web, many of us thought that we were the last kneeboarder on earth. Using a contest setting as an opportunity to meet (and drink a few pints) with our KBing brothers and sisters from around the world is what this contest is really about.

And the media coverage has been excellent. KBers and kneeboarding on a whole will come away looking great in the eyes of the public

First, second, third, fourth or dead last....we are all winners.

Bryn · Post by **Bryn** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:20 pm

Steenos wrote:cool story......but.......

Agreed...

Seems a bit wrong that the World knows that a guy that hasn't ridden a kneeboard for 20 years is doing great but not the results from the last round of those that have dedicated themselves to the cause... stoked for the guy...but...back to the novelty act

No doubting kneelos have the biggest hearts in the surf community though

Steeno · Post by **Steeno** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:21 am

Bryn.....spot on the money..

....its a world title....he rocked up and and entered a world ISA rated event after not riding a kneelo for twenty years....

....dont get me wrong either......i really did think it was a cool story...

that was to easy...going back to riding my mal now

its all good...just confusing...

chasinglefts · Post by **chasinglefts** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:30 am

To add a personal touch to this story. Lloyd was playing guitar in front of Rockview one morning just after christmas when myself and mark miller were having a mat surfing session in 3ft glassy peelers. we were the only two in the water for nearly 2 hours. great session.
anyway, Steve Neal was down on the rocks watching us surf and laugh like little kids, when he started talking to Lloyd. After we got out of the water, Mark and I talked with those two for a bit, then Mark, Steve, and myself walked back to the house on Anchorage. Turns out Lloyd was so inspired by the conversation he had with Steve (i doubt it had anything to do with our mat surfing) that he found Manss and got a board. The very next day Lloyd is out killing the lefts at Sewers, with his gym socks under his swimfins. What a classic guy. Definitely one of the nicest locals i met while in Santa Cruz. He was even generous enough to offer a camping spot on his parcel of land, and use of the outdoor shower, for a future return to california.
No matter what the hyper-competetive international guys say, Lloyd is quality people, and makes for a fun story.
and Lloyd, if you're reading this, see you next winter with my camping gear!
Jamie

Richard Hewitt · Post by **Richard Hewitt** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:33 am

Got to agree, I can see why it's newsworthy and good on Lloyd turning up and getting some nice shacks when few were to be had, but.....

It can read like world class competative kneeboarding is on the same level (or lower!) in difficulty than 'average' stand-up surfing

Overall, the local coverage I've seen has looked pretty positive

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:43 am

He was having fun.....you can take it anyway you want .

Bryn · Post by **Bryn** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:01 pm

Richard Hewitt wrote:Got to agree, I can see why it's newsworthy and good on Lloyd turning up and getting some nice shacks when few were to be had, but.....

It can read like world class competative kneeboarding is on the same level (or lower!) in difficulty than 'average' stand-up surfing

Overall, the local coverage I've seen has looked pretty positive

Exactly.

Nothing to do with being hyper-competitive or wanting to take stoke away from the guy at all. It IS a great story! But...

ezak · Post by **ezak** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:17 pm

But....
as kneeboarding grows in popularity there will be more dark horses to come.

Now I got George Harrison songs running through my head again (Dark Horses, guitars weeping.....).
Different songs but just like I did when I first started kneeboarding!

Here Comes the Sun!!

ezak · Post by **ezak** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:23 pm

And congratulations Lloyd!!

I'm stoked for you and from the stories.