Food for thought on length

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:35 am

Freeline (John M) makes a tow in Knee board for a KBer from N. Cal who tows into big Mavricks. no straps

STiLL a GRoM !

willli · Post by **willli** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:59 am

The strap used in kneeboarding behind a boat is more so you don't just get yanked off the board by the tow rope. (I've used em) In a situation where your intent is to let go of the rope the strap becomes a hinderance limiting your ability move and change trim. Towed behind a boat its not an issue, everything you need is supplied by the boat. This form of waterskii'n has largely been replaced by wakeboards. Standing is superior at these speeds cause you can control the re-entry of the board, always avoiding the nose hitting first. watch Laird on his jumps to see what I mean.

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 7:22 am

I rode a Paipo behind our boat back in 1965 or so. One time I lost the rope out of my hand as we were taking off and I about took off the nose of the board. Really ugly ding.

Tow-ins have no place in today's crowded line up. Tow-ins should be relegated to remote sites where there are no paddlers or the waves are so big that human-powered paddling is not possible.

On an environmental note, I made a concious decision to try and not participate in activities and sports that use non-renewable resources. Unfortunately, a surfboard is one of the worst users of petrochemical compounds so I treat each and every one of my boards with respect and the utmost of care.

PWCs are just another gas-guzzling pollution - both emmisions and noise - disaster. While they do serve a purpose as a safety/rescue vehicle in a world of diminishing resources and growing pollution, I can't believe there are companies out there still pushing this form of 'recreation'.

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:16 pm

I'm pretty anti-PWC myself though have heard they are no mostly making 4 stroke powered ones that don't spew oil and gas into the water (or at least less so). Rescue work they are great. Also maybe for the few desperados that simply must ride 50 foot Jaws and Cortez. I'll watch, if I don't have to pay a lot of $ to do it.

splashy · Post by **splashy** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 4:14 pm

Just a comment on length which only just came to mind when reading some ofthe earlier comments on this topic....

....when surfing Desert Point in Indo at 10 foot (give or take - it all just seems really big to me when it gets up over 8 foot) I paddled out on my 6' 3" board - and prompty got freight-trained and smashed all over the place.

Went back to the yacht, got my 5'11" and went out and flew. (Go figure!!!)

I sold the 6'3" as soon as I got back to Oz, but still have the 5'11"

The boards were similar shapes - designed as Indo guns - but I just couldn't get the bigger board to work. Maybe it was because it was SO much longer than my usual 5'8" that I ride here so I couldn't work out the leverage? Dunno. But it scared the be-jesus out of me at the time.

Marky V · Post by **Marky V** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 1:33 pm

surfhorn
here here, I only wish that more people cared as much as you obviously do about their environment. It does seem at odds with our love of the ocean and surfing for PWC to have any part of our world.

Duane Bosch · Post by **Duane Bosch** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 11:31 pm

I reckon if you wanty to ride strapped then the best thing to do is to have the strap behing your knee joint. This would allow you to be strapped while having all you normal manouverability.

Paddleskiers use a strap with a quick release buckle which I am sure could be modified for kneeboards.