Standup Kneeboarding

[Bryan Jackson]

Everyone has their own perspective on this issue. It seems that most of those expressing their opinion on this topic thus far are not against 'mixing the medium' and that’s cool .

Obviously surfing/KBing is a highly subjective experience and some are going to like or accept one way of doing it and some won't. In that respect it is very much like art. I can tell you I like or don’t like a particular painting or musical band or whatever and may perhaps even be able to give you my reasons for not liking it/them. We may even have an intellectual discussion regarding the merits of that particular style of painting, music or whatever. But in the end if you happen to really like that style of painting or music then it is highly unlikely that I am going to change your mind .

Every KBer should experiment for his or her self and find out what they do and don’t like and why that works for them. I did and that is a large part of the reason for my opinions about stand up kneeboarding (BTW, isn’t the phrase ‘standup kneeboarding’ just a bit of an oxymoron !).

Anyway just to clear matters up, I am not at all against different manners of riding a wave when appropriate. I too have bodysurfed, body boarded, and stood up surf. I am also not prima facie against riding a kneeboard as a stand up board. As I said in an earlier post Jeff Ching was perhaps the first or at least most well known surfer to do this when he stood up on a Lis Fish (early 70’s?) and that opened up a whole new world of waveriding .

But taking off on a wave first in a kneeling position and then on the same wave getting to one’s feet just doesn’t cut it aesthetically for me . It really looks tacky and feels awkward . I also think that knee riding a long board, especially in waves that could otherwise power that LB in a proper fashion, is even more objectionable .

However, I am not suggesting that any one else should or should not ride waves in whatever manner they find fun or pleasing to themselves. Just as I would not suggest that because I don’t like some particular band no one else should listen to them either

[kripchik]

I was at Bendalong on the weekend, with some 60 other kneelos. There were heaps of them standing up on their kneeboards (free surfing). On the Sunday (the better swell came in) there were heaps of the kids having a go at standing up on their kneeboards, some were proficient at it and others were starting to get the hang of it. I just reckon it was great that they were out there having a go at a different aspect of surfing. It was all good!!!
I don't care how or what you ride, as long as you have a good time and respect everyone else out there.

Cheers
Sophia

[Jack Beresford]

Interesting discussion. Don't bag on Bryan for expressing his personal opinion - but you're certainly free to disagree (that's what this web site is all about)!

It seems like some Kneeriders feel a little vindicated explaining why they Kneeboard if they can say they stand up too (and even more so if they rip standing up). I know that's not the primary reason most of us stand up on occasion. Personally, I suck at standup surfing. It doesn't happen often but if you see me trying, get the hell out of the way! However, I've never felt like I had to stand up to justify what I do. Some may think you've got to master different forms of waveriding to be considered a true "waterman." Screw that! I do what I do because it makes me happy - not to satisfy someone else's notion of what's cool.

[Steeno]

I agree whole heartedly with what you said there jack, but, there is no trying to justify what your doing. Its like you said "Screw that! I do what I do because it makes me happy - not to satisfy someone else's notion of what's cool" thats exactly what we are talking about.

either way its all good

Sophia
I was in a heat on the sunday morning when the tide hit full and the swell stopped breaking on the outside bank and hitting the inside bank. I hardly got any decent waves in my heat, and on my paddle in I heard the beach hooting at you on an inside wave, you where in the next heat. When I got to the beach everyone said you got a screaming little barrel across the inside and it was one of the best all morning. Go girl and stoked to see you mexicans coming up for the comps.

[willli]

Well I know the US has become a PC society with all sorts of notions of what "correct" behavior is but the last place I expected to find it was a kneeboard forum. The problem with the "taught police"(pun) is sentences like this... " I am not at all against different manners of riding a wave when appropriate". Its never enough to say all manners of wave riding are OK, the little qualifier is always thrown in. So who determines what is appropriate? Surfer mag was probably right asserting that 'localism works', especially in some of the heavier breaks. Show respect and you receive same; Bring your A game or leave. The local crew will certainly let you know what behavior is appropriate. But that begs the question of wether a kneerider is "allowed" to stand without breaking the "rules" of surfing so we better make contact with the BB crowd and tell them that DK riding is out, prone only, and the longboarders that knee-paddle all over the place better get prone cause going from kneeling to standing is a no no. Now for the real problems of standing on a kneeboard ... board design .. specifically the skegs on modern kneeboards are too far forward generally to allow for real good off the tail standing surfing. You have to surf em more from the middle of the board and resist stomping tail plant types of moves. The older types of boards with skegs further back toward the tail will be much more forgiving when you're up on the dogs.

[Smokin Rock]

Bryan,
i hope you don't think i'm bagging on you. i'm not. you have strong opinions and you express them. thats cool.
it just seems so silly though that you have these notions of "proper" ways to ride certain craft. kneeriders can't stand up, longboarders can't get to their knees first.
i think it was Jeff Hakman (one of da bes evah!) used to belly ride his board all the way to the bottom of a macking sunset wave then initiate his bottom turn and stand up at the same time. probably plenty of guys saying that was'nt right but here 30-40 years later it's one of the things that stands out. how many breakthroughs in surfing would have been achieved without a "open to anything" mind set.
Mr. Greenough stated that the biggest barriers in surfing were mental not physical. in this regard we should be breaking down walls, not building them.
in a earliar post i called you a "fart smeller" (hawaiian for smart fella)
that was bagging.

[kripchik]

Steen

Yeah I was pretty stoked (and lucky) to get that barrell. Sadly some heats were devoid of good set waves. Still lots of great surfing though!!

Cheers
Sophia

[Steeno]

the harder you work at it.............the luckier you will become

[Bryan Jackson]

Wow! It’s almost too funny to see everyone get so worked up over what is really an argument about aesthetic sensibilities that, in the bigger scheme of things, is fairly insignificant .

All I can say is go back and reread my earlier posts on this topic, only this time PLEASE PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO WHAT I ACTUALLY SAID AS OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU THINK I SAID !

As Jack mentioned, all I was doing was expressing my PERSONAL OPINION as to my view of standup kneeboarding (once again a rather OXYMORONIC term if ever there was one !). I never said that it should be banned or controlled or whatever you may think I said, only that I didn’t care for it (and gave my reasons why). I also added the CAVEAT that all interested KBers should EXPERIMENT and decide for themselves .

I could easily argue that a sort of reverse PC is in effect here. That is, because I don’t agree with everyone else that pretty much ‘anything goes there are no rules we should all just do whatever the hell we feel like doing’ that I am the one being criticized and chastised ! Oh well…

It seems to me that there is (once again) a weird kind of SCHIZOID attitude in the KB world as in, “we really don’t care what others think about us but every now and then we’re going to stand up and show them that yes, we too can do this, so there!” (and then complain about how the surfing world at large fails to take KB seriously !)

Regarding limitations, yes Virginia there really are limitations and rules both in terms of what can be done on a kneeboard and in particular wave conditions. For example, it’s one thing to stand up on your kneeboard in three foot fun waves and another to try the same thing in ten foot grinding tubes !

But not to worry as I don’t feel ‘bagged’ upon in the least even when, for example, FOOLS take digs at me for trying to bring some FACTS and have an INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION about Miki Dora among other things(in a different topic on this web site), hopefully enlightening/educating others in the process of doing so .

No, it’s all part of the game and to be expected when you take a position contrary to that of the majority and/or are dealing with an ADOLESCENT MIND SET !

[Smokin Rock]

lighten up BJ
do you mind if i call you BJ?

[Steeno]

well brian
I must admit, if you wanna live by imaginery structured rules that is your decision, and you are entitled to express your thoughts, just like the rest of us.

Brian "I could easily argue that a sort of reverse PC is in effect here. That is, because I don’t agree with everyone else that pretty much ‘anything goes there are no rules we should all just do whatever the hell we feel like doing’ that I am the one being criticized and chastised ! Oh well…"

There are enough rules in my life already, so in my chosen sport of kneeboarding, (the fun part of my life) there are no rules. The serious work side, runs by rules, and for me to be successfully self employed there has to be rules. But in my free time I do as I please, and I dont care what people think because it's my escape from the rules of traditional society.

Brian "It seems to me that there is (once again) a weird kind of SCHIZOID attitude in the KB world as in, “we really don’t care what others think about us but every now and then we’re going to stand up and show them that yes, we too can do this, so there!” (and then complain about how the surfing world at large fails to take KB seriously !) "

The International Surfing Association takes kneeboarding seriously, it is in its second round of supporting the World Kneeboard Titles in Tahiti. who is complaining?

Brian "No, it’s all part of the game and to be expected when you take a position contrary to that of the majority and/or are dealing with an ADOLESCENT MIND SET !"

I think, that maybe you just like stirring the pot, throw in some bait and see who will bite. I understand your points of view, and accept them, but whats this adolescent mind set business. Cant wait for your new book to come out "how to win friends and influence people"

gees

[Bryan Jackson]

Steenos wrote "I think, that maybe you just like stirring the pot, throw in some bait and see who will bite." You read me like a book .

Writing my iconoclastic and what seem to be subversive observations are a fun and entertaining way to pass the evening (hey everyone has to have a hobby ) . Plus I really enjoy using all those all those emoticons in so many creative ways and if I can irritate people at the same time, well as so many of you have so eloquently put it, "who cares what others think !"

And if you really must know, the attitudes and comments of certain unnamed individuals (not necessarily you Steenos) = adolescent mind set !

[Steeno]

Thankyou Brian
I am glad I have finally worked out where you are coming from

[willli]

Brian: "so there ... so there ... so there"
Honestly I was conflicted, I havn't heard that exclamatory since junior HS, and I was really wondering if I was reading the words of a child who sticks her tongue out at the end of an emphatic statement.
Which is it? On the one hand you rail on and on about serious discussion, the other you insist you are stirring the pot. Funny that it was you who initiated these exchanges, yet complain we are adolescent when we respond. So you want to dish out your philosophy and expect us to lap it up, grateful for your insight?