Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

I have a quick question for everyone- where do you see kneeboarding in 20-30 years time?

It will likely be gone. Most people see it as antiquated when compared to dropknee/prone sponging or standup surfing. In reality, its an amazing experience, but I don't think with the current lack of interest in the sport that people are going to realize that soon enough to keep it from vanishing.

Even if that is what happens, does it really matter? The only thing that matters is how much fun one has in the water, and if kneeling toots one's horn, than keep doing it. And, do not worry about where it will be 20-30 years from now, though that is an interesting question.

Agreed, mostly likely will be gone in 30 years

There will always be progressive Kneelos... at it's roots, the sport has always been about progression... Greenough, Lis, Romo, Crawford, Whiteman, Crozier, Novo, Sparrow, McCray, Hart, Parkes, Luke, Mel, Slats, Steeno Harris, the Simpsons, are all visionaries who push the boundaries in their era.
Their spirit will live on, and the Kneelo's will live on, due to ther dedication to all facets of the sport... but most importantly: performance.

The nostalgia Kneelo... the "I'm different for difference's sake " Kneelo... the "Everything is Groovy" Kneelo... will probably be extinct.

I don't see how ideologies that work counter to the sports evolution can sustain themselves without an influx of like-minded surfers... and I don't see many up and coming surfers these days who are not concerned with performance.

Long Live The Kneelo.

Yeah, I'm really surprised that more people aren't turning on to kneeboarding.

Especially with the whole "retro" thing goin on in the stand up world.

I regularly have stand ups comment at my boards in a really interested and positive way, This never happened a few years back.

There will always be a remnant.

where do you see kneeboarding in 20-30 years time?

Judging from the responses I guess that means all you guys will be giving it up by the time you're 70-80. What are you going to do for excercise?

If this is a trend and I can hang on for another 30 years, the lineup might clear out a little bit

God will have come back by then. For all of those not on there knees there will be punishment.

OR

Global warming will cause the ice melt and it will be some were in the 909.

OR

I will be in my 60's and still the only kneeboarder at old mans

CaptKneemo wrote:it'll be gone in 10-15 years

I very much doubt it! The lines are so different and I don't believe there aren't any younger guys out there that which wouldn't have their minds blown by a Simpson top turn or farrer barrel enough to take more than a passing interest! I did!! I think the scene in oz and NZ is proof that there's some very stoked youngsters coming through the ranks with some hugely inspirational kneelos to blow their minds. Look how much it's progressed in the last 20 years regardless of numbers!

Our (UK) top riders here are late 20's to mid 30's and I can't see them slowing up in the next 10 years

All this 'it'll be gone in...' stuff, well if you wish hard enough maybe it will but i'm pretty sure there will still be plenty out there going deeper and burying more rail. Getting the fins out and torquing in to the hardest turns possible while the rest of the pack sit there doing mediocre bottom turns and half ass top turns wondering what it feels like from a kneelos point of view If you can't tell i'm pretty passionate about it and all the negative talk gets my back up!!

20 - 30 years time? Don't be surprised if a kneelo is responsible for another different way of approaching riding a wave that the rest can only follow, it's happened more than once before!! I know i'll still be at it, shaping boards and giving as much encouragement to the next generation as possible

As eq said, kneeboarding has a deep seated root in progression that I doubt is going to fade away.

(On a slightly negative note this is assuming the sea is still clean enough to surf in )

alfredo zavala wrote:Yeah, I'm really surprised that more people aren't turning on to kneeboarding.

Especially with the whole "retro" thing goin on in the stand up world.

I regularly have stand ups comment at my boards in a really interested and positive way, This never happened a few years back.

There will always be a remnant.

Yes, there will ALWAYS be a remnant.

Interesting also that Fredo would touch on the "retro thing" within the stand up world. Why? Because most waveriders that have been around the sport will testify to the fact that the Surfing world, more than any other Sport / Art, has a strong and defined history of being Cyclical...in other words, we have often reached back into our roots in order to make the next "progressive" step. Hence, the affectionate reattachment to the longboard in the mid-1990's, and the standup world's current reinvolvement and intrigue with the Fish and other kneeriding vehicles.

To make the statement that the old style is "not progressive" and will become extinct is plausible. It is presumptuous to say that kneeriding will NEVER look back on it's roots to make the next jump into the future.

This website testifies to this fact. Everyone involved in this Sport/Art well remembers "The Dead Years", when KB'ing was almost nonexistent. It is only in the last few years that kneeriding has began it's Phoenix-like rise from the ashes. And the most damning evidence is, the fact that the resurgence is being led by the guys that have been doing it since the 1970's and 1980's. Not exactly a claim for the torch by the young-un's.

Yes, we're progressing. But it can die without notice. And, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the kneeriding world could be left (again) in the shadows, where only a small pocket of dedicated watermen will be plying their trade on old-school fishes with black wetsuits and no leashes near some obscure reef break slab.

None of us are Nostradamus

I cant belive you all think we'll go extinct.....il still be kneeboarding in 30 years . probably because i have pads on my boards and flippers with a floaty hard board is just unfair...(there will always be cheaters) and simply because nothing works in the pit quite like a kneeboard....

surfers notice how kneelos can dominate the line up when there out there.. how we can totally shred the wave or just glide effortlessly totally tuned in... ......i hear it all the time , "you look like your having fun" , and I always am..


its different , its groovy and there will always be hippies(or alternative surfers) as long as there is government(or surf industry)....


in fact , i think the bubbles about to burst, with the progressive kneeloing going on, pics and video on popular surf websites and international knee-contests being set-up and advertised in surf magazines...

bodyboardings on its way out and i think in 10 years, MAYBE 12:roll: kneeboarding can have its own world tour

So when you old dudes decide to hang up your flippers and donate your boards to a museum, instead lay em out on the beach so some gromet can enjoy the kneelo experience and pass it on...

Nov wrote:I have a quick question for everyone- where do you see kneeboarding in 20-30 years time?

Nov, It's going to go wherever you, the Simpsons, Matt, Seabass and the other young guys around the world take it.

skansand, I agree 100% with you, and I actually liked part of captkneemos chat too!!!!! EQ all the way (except for the part of doing it because its different.....I still get off on the fact that it is different and dont think that part of our culture will ever change or lack of interest in that aspect) Kneelos are not going anywhere except up, the perception and respect is so different in the water now compared with say 10 years ago, and with the media, exposure to worldwide shapers and kneelos its only going to get better.....Probably, more than likely, never Kelley Slater status...hopefully never. I think the kneelo status on all levels is very healthy. KEL

No other wave riding vehicle has the potential to tap G forces to the fullest extent as we do brothers. Those stand-ups who look in envy or respect know as well as we do; and if your sponging, you've got no rudder. Low ball of mass laid out in full comitment as our top riders do can not be equaled. We will not die.

Who cares? If it's gone in 30 years then it will because it was no longer relevant/fun and deserved to go. However, looking at those latest pics of Simon (taken by Steen), I think the sport is as kick-ass and awe-inspiring as ever!

I'm 22 yrs old and kneeriding better than ever.

I'm sure as hell going to be kneeriding in 30 years!! So it sure as hell aint dead!!!

There's plenty of young guys kneeriding out there, just because they aren't posting videos or posting on KSUSA, trust me there are some impressive riders in SoCal well under the age of 30...

And they do it cuz they love it.