SOUTH BAY SHAPERS--who make kneeboards

[kneelingBROTHA]

Hey guys! I just took out my 20" wide semi gun today (the only hardboard I have, 7'4", 20" wide, about 3" thick) and had a blast kneeboarding it. I was trying to stand up on it, but that was fruitless exercise in fultility because I am 6'1" now and still 250 lb. So, do you guys know any south bay shapers (redondo, torrance, porto, manhattan, etc!) that can make a kneeboard to be paddled WITHOUT flippers? I had no problem with my knees even though I didn't have a cushion pad, probably because I was wearing a wetsuit and the water is a cushion in of itself! I didn't think about that!

Anyhow, I was hoping for maybe a 6'5 to 7'0" that was 23.5-25" wide, and 3"+ thick, that I could goof around standup on small days and when it gets heavy lay down some serious kneeboarding tracks. I'm STARTING OUT without flippers, so I don't want a board that's a toothpick/patato chip so that I have no hopes of ever riding it in the next year.

I'm so stoked on this stuff now. I would rather surf, but I have related knee and feet problems, and my balance is excellent kneeling, so that would stoke me out on big days to be charging like that! Thanks guys for your time and consideration.

I don't have moola right now, but recommendations of shapers who could make a hybrid standup/kneeling fish or any other type of decent board that I could ride standup small days and kneeling medium-big HOLLOW days would be great! NO FLIPPERS! That's the reason I took the board out; I wanted to ditch the flippers for once!

Thanks fellas and gals!

--marc

PS...I appreciated all of the offers for boards and seshes I got from you guys in the south bay, right now I'm just looking at shaper options for my specific needs, I was stoked you guys offered me some test boards but my schedule is so tight right now I only get to ride once a week and that's always at a random day/time, I'll probably hit you guys up sometime when my schedule lightens (I'm in college) for a cool sesh, that would be rad. THANKS!

PS--if you guys, any of ya'll, know of honest, hardworking and skilled shapers around here that can do what I feel I need, then email me at:

marcsk8@verizon.net

THANKS AGAIN!

peace and have a good week....

[albert]

you seem to be getting pretty specific for just starting out... im sure there have to be people out there with boards similar enough to what you want... otherwise you will probably end up making a relatively large investment (a new board) from someone who probably wont really know what you want, and who in the end will probably make you something you are not going to like.

again, you should probably ask around, maybe some of the people that are in hawaii can find you something like what you are looking for and bring it back for you....

[joe]

Dean Cleary is in your area and shapes fish kneeboards and standup boards.
http://www.deanclearysurfboards.com/kneeboards.html

I'm sure you could find a good used fish that would work for someone your size. You probably don't need anything much longer than 6'.

[surfhorn]

I'm riding a 6'0"x22 3/4 5 fin and, when visiting Santa Monica, have been able to KB tiny Toapnga and standup on the thing at knee high Bay Street.
But I'm 5'8" and 180#.

For your size I would look at something in the 6'5" area but with a fins foward placement which would allow the longer length to turn more quickly.

The Dean Cleary advice is right on. I would also keep my eyes on this site for the next Gathering so you can actually take a look at some modern KBs and test ride a few. Definitely would be worth your time.

[WillP]

Hey there's lots of Southbay shapers out that can make you a kneeboard, but having spent lots of money on these guys throughout the years, I would recommend getting a board from a kneeboard shaper. I live in riviera village now and have plenty of kneeboards that you might be interested in that would work great for you. I used to be about the same size as you too. PM me if you're interested in a board or just a surf.

[eqKneelo]

Hey Bro-
I actually have a 6'7" 23" wide Blast Aussie Tri Gun that I have been meaning to put up for sale.
After watching NOW and THEN, I had Buddy shape me a superlight 6'2" small wave board, and it is incredible. I really want to lengthen my quiver. I have a 6'3" "real wave" board and a 6'3" F2K that I've been taking out when it's gets big, so I want to sell off a couple of older boards and get gun in the 6'10"-7'2" range. I thought I'd wait till after the NSG'05 and then ask Bud how all those Big Flashpoints worked in the Islands (They sure seem to RIP in the videos).

Funny thing is, I have been riding the 6'7" as standup board for a the last couple of years. It catches waves like a longboard, but then darts around like a fish..... until it get huge. That board saved my life in Tahiti and at Cloudbreak.... never let me down.
I am in El Segundo if you want to take a look.
Ed

[hart]

I thought I'd wait till after the NSG'05 and then ask Bud how all those Big Flashpoints worked in the Islands

(They sure seem to RIP in the videos).

Ed

Hey Ed..

Bud may not be the one to ask..



hart

PS

don't hold back on length if that's what you choose..

just remember keep the curve up to it as well and all will be good..

[Willy Kelly]

Hey bro,
You might want to check out Pat Ryan at ET/Just Longboards. He shaped my knee boards over the years but he also shapes anything you need from long boards to knee boards.
Ex South Bay boy,
Willy

[eqKneelo]

Dear Mr. Conflict Of Intrest:

Buddy is the ONLY one I'M gonna ask.

Seriously though, one of the best aspects of our Kneelo community is the fact that we have such incredible talent in such concentrated # of shapers. You guys are always pushing and exploring the boundries, learning and evolving as you go.
That's why I can't wait to hear Buddy's feedback on the Bigger boards... and then ride one of his inspirations.
Take Care Hart... Look forward to meeting you one day.
EQ

[kneelingBROTHA]

Hey, I'm going to get a cleary stick when I save up enough money. I'm actually making moola off of photo shoots right now, doing group sessions and then doing prints for them is a good way to make a little extra coin. Yeah, cleary looks rad. Thanks guys. And the guy who sent me the email--sorry for forgetting your name--yup, that looks like a nice board, I know I'm getting really specific here, but I already have a type of gun already and I just want to start off with something that will ride a little bit more like a smaller wave board.

AND TO THE GUY WHO SAID PAT RYAN/ET....I never knew that! I'll have to check that out because ET is right up my alley! Either Cleary or Ryan. I'll have to decide, if Pat Ryan can make me the fins forward/standup-kneelo hybrid, then I'm down for sure!

Thanks again, all.

Marc

[hart]

Buddy is the ONLY one I'M gonna ask.

So even that your wink may suggest otherwise..I support your call. Totally.

Bud's opinion will and should be valued. Always.

hart

but just so that your feedback isn't slanted in any particular direction, particularly mine, why don't you run your query by Farrer?

Simon is a man..(of all of us)..that will surf the way he chooses.

Its not as if he has to put up his hand and like..?



ps

if its a conflict?..then I have no interest

australians aren't that competitive

.wink.

[john -]

[quote="hart"][quote="eqKneelo"]

I thought I'd wait till after the NSG'05 and then ask Bud how all those Big Flashpoints worked in the Islands

(They sure seem to RIP in the videos).

Ed




hey eq....how do?

given Bud reakons a good surfer could surf a door id be thinkin that from a particular point of view (perhaps Bud's) its not how the flashies went in Hawaii, its how the surfers on them went

im thinking Simon would look good on most things within reason

the relationship with the shaper helps of course - as you seem to have one with Bud


it was an interesting exchange but

dorje

[Steeno]

cha ching.............

[eqKneelo]

Wow! We got some touchy Aussies.

Listen, I was JOKING with Hart. We were kidding about "WHO" to ask for feedback. This site is FULL of board design discourse, all of it insightfull, which is why I was "taking the piss" in this instance. Just having fun, guys... Pithy for the sake of being pithy. Crack a VB and relax... and read my last paragragh carefully.

As for Simon... he's a FREAK! I've tried to copy his boards in the past (against Bud's recommendations) and I could not get them to work. Crazy rocker.... crazy fin placement. I am probably Simon's biggest supporter in the US (read all of my posts concerning him and board design) but what I want is for my world renowned shaper to watch Simon murder the North Shore, and then shape me the board that inspires him.... and suits me.

It can only make our sport better.
EQ

PS. "Not competitive"?! Please... "How do you keep an Aussie off the Dawn Patrol???... Challenge them to a drinking contest the night before."
Thank God I'm Irish.

[Smokin Rock]

can't we all just get along?
really enjoyed the line about aussies not being competitive. very informative.
other misconceptions about our antipodean brothers.
they enjoy a beer now and then. not true! a very sober bunch.
they have no surfing fashion sense. again wrong. they practically invented the springsuit and booties look.
they have no sense of humor i hope this is'nt true cuz i'm just pokin a little fun.

" an Irishman must converse with God to find his equal in conversation"
being of irish descent i just loved that line from Braveheart. no hidden meanings.