Standup Kneeboarding

Birdie · Post by **Birdie** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:37 pm

The stand-up sponger in and around LA & Ventura County is named Bob. They call him "SpongeBob". Turns out he has been in a few surf films. Rides a bright yellow board, like those smiley faces over there.

Next time I see him, I'll see if he wants to try the Paipo. Jack stance.

stemple · Post by **stemple** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:39 pm

Hey Ler,

I recall at the PP contest you stood up at the end of ride. We lobbied the judges to subtract points from your ride!!!

albert · Post by **albert** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 4:54 am

Honestly after reading a lot of the posts in this topic in particular, I cant express how much I identify with so many of these situations... Especially being originally a standup surfer that turned to kneeboarding once he figured out how bad he sucked at it.

I have also been beaten in comps by stand ups that just happen to have had not only more contest knowledge than I, but better heats at that particular time which made me lose.

However, it seems that the only time I seem to stand up on my kneeboard and actually try to surf like a standup (as opposed to make the most extended headstand ever) is when the waves are really gutless and the turns that I would do would likely be very weak and uninteresting. Basically when it gets to the point where I know that the waves are so shitty that I know for a fact that I would have more fun standing up on a kneeboard than kneeboarding on it.

Birdie · Post by **Birdie** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 12:57 pm

The funny thing is that....

No matter what you are on....sponge, mat, bellyboard, KB, shortboard, gun, or longboard....or...how you are on it - prone, knee or stand-up.

Bottomline is you are on The Wave, riding The Wave.

Whatever is between you and it is...

Well, I'm sure there are some bodysurfers that would say anything between you and the wave is akin to a condom, but I digress....

For me, it is all about the wave and whatever it calls for and I feel like.

Nov · Post by **Nov** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:42 am

ohk wat an offtrack forum! anyway the local grommets see me standing on my kneelo and start trying to kneel on their standup boards, thing is they suck at it! but its still cool seeing them try.

gregw · Post by **gregw** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:29 am

i like to do both i ride twin keel swallowtale fishes between 5'8" and 6'2" and I would say I standup 60% of the time.The late takeoffs are great for staying in on your knees but I like the ability to do what I feel.I do have a couple of 5'6" 4 fin kneeboards that John Mel has shaped for me (with handles) that I can get very serious on.like to ride them like a bobsled.
gregw

barry · Post by **barry** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:16 pm

I have rode a kneeboard on my kneesand occasionally I have had to take a stand when someone gives some lip like "why dont you learn how to surf/ or stand" It's a good feeling to be able to take off due a lipper and even spray the ignorant and prejudiced masses. There is nothing wrong in my (humble) opinion with surfing a kneelo. Sometimes it has to happen with my flippers on and sometimes if the waves dont look to fun for kneeeriding then I will paddle out without the fins and stand up surf but if I see a good barrel I am not above kneeling in it. I just love to be in the ocean. thats what being a waterman is all about. by the way my kneeboard works fine while standing it just needs to be rode with more front foot and rail, riding the tail is too squirely Stand Back and watch the water fly!!!!! I may be standing or kneeling whats it matter? I will be smiling thats for sure...

Bryan Jackson · Post by **Bryan Jackson** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:55 pm

Steenos said: "I thought kneeboarders didn't care what people thought of them (wannabe surfers?) there are no rules."

Actually there are rules. If not there would be no such thing as contests

!

All of life is made up of rules, the only question is, how are you going to break them? (Hopefully with enough class and style that people will be wowed enough to try to emulate KBers

.)

It's just my personal opinion, of course, but I just don't think that KBers standing up during a ride shows any class or style. The only exception I would make here is if it is necessary to kick the board away at the end of the ride for safety's sake

.

I once saw this fellow kneeriding his longboard and, aside from being quite dangerous to others out that day (all he could do was take off on an angle and Lord save anyone in his way) I thought it was extremely pathetic to see him in action

.

When you standup surf you don't first struggle to your knees and then stand up. In fact, that is extremely bad technique to be avoided at all cost. You hop right to your feet, period, end of story!

KBers are only human, so of course they care what people think of them. We want to (and should) be accepted in the surfing world. It's only natural.

Regarding Kelly Slater, in the surfing world he is thought of as the innnovator of the 'dropknee backside rail grab in the barrel' move, although the truth is he only borrowed (stole) that idea from kneeboarding. I have had more than a few discussions (arguments) with standups about this. My position is basically that if you are going to drop-knee-rail-grab-in-the-backside-barrel you might as well be on be on a kneeboard! If you are going to basically do what amounts to KBing, then please just KB and and be done with it

! (and please don't give me any s*&^ about KBing when you are doing what basically amounts to the same thing

!).

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 8:23 am

Back in the mid 1970's, Shawn Tomson was credited with 'inventing' pumping his board while in the tube, thus opening up perfomance tube riding to the surfing world.

Now, how long had KBers been 'pumping in the tube' prior to this? Close to 10 years? Was Greenough riding an alien rocket sled for all those in-the-tube shots?

I've commented to my standup friends after a backside, rail-grab ride..."So, you're just a wannabe kneeboarder, eh?"

-Dan

farnzilla · Post by **farnzilla** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 11:16 am

kneeriding feels so natural, I've never thought of standing up. It sounds fun though, and i'm keen to have a crack at it the next time I hit the water.

Never having been a footboarder, what works best, going straight to your flippered feet, or catching the wave normally and then trying to stand up? - either way, i'm sure i'll provide plenty of laughs for anyone watching.

Cheers
MF

Steeno · Post by **Steeno** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:15 pm

There are no rules in freesurfing, and thats what we are talking about, not competition. If it makes you happy do it, who cares what people think.

try a headstand, or is that against the rule?

sit on your kneelo, against the rules?

take my flippers off? against the rules, no...there are no rules

and this is only my opinion, standup if you wanna-have a bigger periphial view, it wont harm you

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 10:35 pm

Bryan Jackson: It's just my personal opinion, of course, but I just don't think that KBers standing up during a ride shows any class or style. The only exception I would make here is if it is necessary to kick the board away at the end of the ride for safety's sake

I once saw this fellow kneeriding his longboard and, aside from being quite dangerous to others out that day (all he could do was take off on an angle and Lord save anyone in his way) I thought it was extremely pathetic to see him in action.

Steenos: If it makes you happy do it, who cares what people think.

We have to agree that surfing is primarily about the feelings we get from riding the wave. That supercedes "class" or "style"--in fact, the surfing with the best class or style is usually that which provides the most incredible feelings. That's what we take out of the water with us back to the office; it was that amazing tube ride, the way the board accelerated as the wave went vertical, or the free-fall we landed, etc. When I pull off a really primo cutback, I'm just laid over on the wave with my face almost touching the wave, and the speed just accelerates me back into this big foam ball. What a feeling! Then, how do I hit that ball? Just bounce back around with it or float it for a second then drop with the section? Again, what feelings!?

My point: if you stand-up you get one great set of feelings; if you bodyboard, you get another set; if you bodysurf, well there's an entirely different sensation. And if you combine them, you're combining those feelings in creative ways.

I used to footboard a lot when younger, before my kneelo days. I still try to reconnect with it from time to time. I went longboarding two weeks ago at a really long, well-shaped beach break south of Santa Cruz. Actually, it was on a short Challenger (7' 7") longboard--old single fin throwback with deep V-bottoms, totally hip in 1971. The noserides I got were such a kick. The way the board just took off across the section with five toes on the nose! Ahhhwooh! I'm sure Chris Anderson and other kneelos who've worked hard at their footboarding can attest to plenty of stoke when on their feet.

I was out at 4 Mile a few years ago and there was some guy on an 8' longboard who was alternately standing and kneeriding. At first, I was put off by it. But then I saw how well he did it. I couldn't figure out how he had so much manueverability on his knees on that board, but he did. He was very solid when he stood up, too. I gradually began to get into tryin' to predict if he would take his next wave on his feet or his knees.

Big deal if we combine styles on the same wave, kneeing and standing up. Obviously, we can't be out of control or dangerous to others, or miss out on the best parts of the waves while we schizo-surfing (that would truly violate any sense of class or style). It should be planned, effective and should give us more, not less, of that indescribable feeling that keeps us returning to the beach and has us...well, checking out this website almost every stinkin' day!

[/quote]

Steeno · Post by **Steeno** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:17 pm

Scott

very well put.........hopefully that clears the air

Smokin Rock · Post by **Smokin Rock** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:46 am

i have a circa 1969-70 Chuck Dent 10' huntington pier model. it's in pretty pristine condition. i only take it out if it's perfect and small and theres no way it can get hurt. which is like once every one or two years. riding that board takes me to another time and place. i learned to standup on this very board 20 some years ago at the San Gabriel rivermouth and it's been to Oahu, Kauai and now the Big Isle. it's big and heavy and can only be ridden in the classic style, drop knee, nose ride. for me, so much fun.
arguments over how to ride a wave are pointless. what scott said about the feelings we get from riding a wave, thats important. right on scott!

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:25 am

It seems that quite a few of us KBers also have other surfing talents but are rooted in KBing because of the feeling that it gives us. I love the glide of my 1966 9'10" Yater in dinky summer waves. Or the rush of bodysurfing a macker south swell in warm water. But I always come back to KBing - it just does it for me.

Yesterday, my wife was driving back home from Santa Monica and stopped at Refugio - one of our regular pit stops along the coast. It was barely knee high with a couple relics out longboarding. She calls on the cell, laughing heartily. It seems one of the LBers was taking off and KBing his LB on every wave.

Guess it must be something about the way it feels............

-Dan

Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

Standup Kneeboarding

standup

Kneestand????

Actually, there are rules...

The Never-Ending Thread