Best yet, stands down...

[El Nino]

What's goin on everyone? I'm brand new to this site and just wanted to get acquainted. I'm a student at the University of Florida and, as some of you may know me, M.O.W's son.
I was out at the "Santa Cruz mat/spoon convention" this past December and fortunately came away from it with a completely new view on wave riding. I've been a standup since I was 10 and never thought twice about trying out my dads boards. I just loved the standup feel (and LOOK I guess) and never thought about looking anywhere else. This past December in Santa Cruz, fate pulled some strings and left me with no other option but riding my uncles Blast. I planned on riding it standup but my first wave at Suicides was mushy so I made it halfway and started riding. I made a few bottom turns and was shocked by how "into the wave" I felt. I could see every angle and felt like that gave me an opportunity to make decisions quicker and more accurately. I stayed out for the rest of the evening, even paddling about a hundred yards over to little Wind-and-Sea and getting some fun barrels on the shallow sandbar. BY the time I got out I had not even tried to standup surf it once and was COMPLETELY stoked at what I had experienced. It was a side of surfing that I had never seen before (besides bodysurfing or sponging shorebreak on a really high tide). I was squeezing into barrels and getting speed like I have never felt before. Some of the local kneelos like Steve, Jamie, Derrick, Mark M, and my pops urged me into trying it out more. I have had a lot of fun and I agree that kneeboaRDING gives a look into something more than merely the look of the wave.
I look forwRD TO HEaring and seeing more from this "family" that seemed to except m e so graciously at Santa Cruz. Thanks again to all at the gathering. TRULY INSPIRING! Keep it up.
EL NinO

[Jon Manss]

Nino, may the Force be with you!

[Bryn]

Quite something isn't it? And its only those that are open on that level that will ever truly get it. Welcome to the fold!

[rick mottola]

hey luke, it's rick from UCF, welcome to the club!

[Man O' War]

[Scott]

Nice pic, MOW! I believe I saw that somewhere in the past... That is "El Nino", of course, dreamin' on his Florida bed.

It was on my rounded pin Blast that he got those great rides.

But the real kicker was at the end of the week with El Nino when Steve Neal, a guy with a HUGE heart, turned around and freely gave him his own Blast rounded pin, in beautiful condition, to take back to Florida and keep up the stoke. Amazing gesture!

[lowrider]

TRULY INSPIRING!
EL NinO

and it's inspiring to hear you feel that way

[Eric Carson]

First let me just say, wow Luke, I never saw it coming!!
I've surfed with Luke and his Pops plenty of times, occasionally asking him when he was going to try kneeboarding, but never expecting any kind of responce.
Second, Steve Neal is WAY COOL for hookin' a brother up!!!
Welcome to the fold.

[Man O' War]

free at last, free at last...

[surfhorn]

Its what we say here in Santa Cruz....

All it takes is the inside reef at Suicides to make one get religion.

[gene west]

I'll say it again....obviously the progeny of superior parenting skills!!!!Luke, welcome aboard. Mark, you must be a very proud Papa!!!

[Man O' War]

Very proud, geno, but I have to let the Papa thing go. Luke said that without a doubt the high point of the gathering for him was when everyone was in the living room and he was snacking and I said, "Hey stop, you're going to spoil your dinner."

[El Nino]

Yea... it was between that one and "Luke, remember to jump off the cliff in between sets". Funny, because I usually enjoy a jagged cliff pummeling before I paddle over to middle peak. MOW had people watching out for him too though. I remember Jaime, Derrick, and Mark M constantly reminding him to strap his personal floating device (PFD) on carefully. What a thoughtful bunch of blokes.

[gene west]

Luke...there is nothing like a good rock dance to let you know your alive!!!!

[Mike Fernandez]

Awesome
I like the name "El Nino" also.