Idea: Fundraiser to send CA groms to Phillip Island!

[Beeline2.0]

l..

[rick mottola]

good luck to whoever gets over there

[Bintang Bob]

if you can take a step back and look at this thread.... the passion within is a wonder to behold.... if I might say, tongue in cheek, "should ballooning come back into vogue, this thread will get a fleet up"..... I do hope some kids make it to Aussie....

[SamC]

question:

when do you think we will find out who gets to go??

[Greg Little]

Martin,
You know who I am, and I'm not a bad person, and I'm not throwing stones. I am calling a spade a spade. Please don't put words in other peoples mouths. This is me reading a RANT and commenting on it. And I will not let a paranoid bias man ruin something that most on this web sight think is a good thing. I find it interesting that Bob had so much to say,(negative) yet he did not offer his so called expertise to the poor KSUSA, to help. He just criticized......
I agree that the groms should not have to see the dirt, but look at how many pages there are on the subject. That would be 9 pages, so far. They are all good except for around 3-4 post, Bobs being the worst of them.
Please put the blame were it needs to be. That would be Bob, for his 2 page rant. And I wont even go into the "my kids wont go" comment. I find it funny that there are people mad and attacking me, for 2 words. And why??? because I won't let Bob say what he wants without recourse?? Any of you out there want t attack me for calling a spade a spade, GREAT!!! I'll just call you a bunch of enablers.

I really hope you can back it up, when your not on a computer.
Bob is the one that started this, and he is the one to blame.
I'm sick of being P.C. You want to reward Bobs CRAP behavior/rant so be it.
And Matt, just beause RW put your name in the middle of his rant doesn't mean what he wrote is O.K. You want to go to P.I.???? GREAT.. It still does not diminish the fact that what Bob wrote, in my opinion was an inbread JOKE, and he is still a world class DOUCHE BAG!!!!
Greg Little
Oceanside, CA.

[fooj]

Kneeboarding sucks. Unfortunately, I still must do it. It is what I am. HAHA.

[Smokin Rock]

mr. fooj,
i think what is really unfortunate is all the folks reading this must think we are all world class douche bags.
many here are no doubt. myself....i confess to being a much more run of the mill, day to day, average douche bag.
i probably have a lot of work to do before i would consider myself "world class".
maybe we should call ourselves " doucheboarders"
like certain diseases it's pretty catchy!
maybe someday we can change it from "KSUSA Worldwide" to "Diseased Doucheboarders Internet Chat Hell"! Don......thoughts?
thats pretty catchy as well! heck...maybe i am more of a world class douche bag than i originally thought!
this is wayyyyyy better than actually surfing!

[Markem]

To all kneelos reading this thread, how about we focus on what we have in common and how very fortunate we are to able to kneeride. Most of the world never even gets to go in the ocean, let alone to be one with the face of a wave. Waves travel hundreds or thousands of miles only to crash on some coast somewhere and for a few moments we are able to ride the pulse of that which covers 3/4 of our earth, and it's soo fun and freeing.

To Shaun, Sam, Ska and the other "groms" I have been blessed to meet and share a few waves with " You're enthusiasm and maturity are an example to those of us who've been around the reef a few times."

I truly look forward to surfing with you when next we meet.
If I can offer a word of advise (I'm a grandpa now), "never take yourselves or your sport too seriously and try to remember how great it felt the first time you caught a wave."

To those who have the opportunity to go, may the best grom be selected. I know you'll represent your USA kneelo family with dignity, but most of all have a great time. OZ has much to offer.


Enjoy the glide.
M2 Out

[Jack Beresford]

All,

Yes, this subject has certainly generated some interest. Regardless of your opinion - I'll remind everyone of the ground rules for this Web site set down by Papa Don:

As a reminder, KSUSA is an organization founded on creating camaraderie in the kneeboard community. This community has grown world-wide. This website would not be here if it were not for you the contributors. Before you post, ask yourself if you are promoting camaraderie and treating people with respect. It's really very simple. We have managed to keep ourselves fairly well policed so all we ask is that you keep the content as positive and constructive as possible in the hope to build a better community. Thanks, Don

Input, opinion and feedback is welcome as long as it's offered in a constructive way. Anything else take offline if necessary. Thanks.

Jack

[Jack Beresford]

In answer to Shaun's question - we expect to notify those selected shortly after the deadline on Oct. 1.

Actions speak louder than words. Thanks to all who've donated to support this effort. At this point it looks like we've probably raised enough to send two groms over to PI. There is still time to contribute - the more we raise the more will get to go. Simple as that.

http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund

Alternately, you can send a check payable to Kneeboard Surfing USA to:

Mark Robertson
1313 Corte Maltera
Costa mesa, CA 92626

[wino]

Jack, thanks for putting this back on track. I've been away for a few days and this was first time I've seen this thread for a while. All I can say is WOW! Who are the children and who are the adults on here?

I hope the kids that get to go have a blast. This trip is about having fun and meeting new people. The contest is secondary to the experience as a whole. Nobody thinks the lucky ones will go far in the contest. But that does not matter they've already won.
To the detractors, PFFFT get a life.

[DarcyM]

I'll restate what I've been saying all along -- The idea is great, the execution was crap. Do the homework and make it good for next year.

RW is RW. Looks like he's stirred you and the others up as he intended.

So you can either use the wake up call to bash in heads or use it to prove "the big bad RW is wrong" and work to give the KSUSA organization a strong foundation, and not a by-product of a very nice website and clever marketing/PR.

Martin -
I respectfully disagree that the execution of this project was crap. I think you'll find that the people involved (in the USA and Australia) have gone above and beyond the call. That in a very short time they've lined up the necessary sponsorships, accomodation, chaperones, and most importantly funds to send not one but two deserving young kneelos to the Phillip Island contest. Pretty much all that is left is to choose the lucky groms and send them on their way. The fact that the contest comes at a difficult time for us in the States (during the school year, at Thanksgiving, etc) isn't going to change this year or next ... that's when the contest has always been held. It's my opinion that it's even better we do this THIS year rather than in the fall of 2008, when it will be closer to the time when people are getting ready to go to NZ for 2009.

If the timing doesn't work out for you and your family, I'm truly sorry about that. But the enthusiasm from some of the other groms on this site is clear that they are ready and raring to go. More power to them!

The KSUSA already has a strong foundation. I was thinking back to when I first met you, and how stoked you were to meet all these new kneelos. I can see your huge smile even now. Your enthusiasm was infectious! How I was the same, not knowing that there were other kneelos in my area, or up and down the Cali coast, or in the UK, Europe, NZ, Oz, PR, East Coast ...! How cool and exciting it was to connect with those people. How the resources for boards, fins, flippers, designs ... all suddenly became available. And how grateful I was by the connections that had been so difficult before, were now right at my fingertips. Do you remember what it was like before? I sure do, I hope we never forget.

Is it a nice website? Sure, it's user friendly, has good pictures. Do I love everybody here? No ... I wouldn't expect to, any more than I'd expect to connect with everyone in a crowded room. Sure there are some weirdos. But there are good people here too. Is the website and KSUSA a product of "clever PR/Marketing"? I know where that idea comes from ... it's one I've heard before. I don't believe it, and it troubles me that you might.

There is a voice out there who is the voice of dissent for all things KSUSA, but I ask you to listen with a critical ear. What is the real reason for the dissent? Where does it come from? What agenda does it propose? Does it really offer something better? Does it offer a solution that is more elegant, more accessible, and a more positive experience for ALL kneeboarders? Or is it only for a select few? And is the divisiveness that dissent propogates really what's best for kneeboarders, and kneeboarding, here in the USA? Does it really have to be all or none, "my way or the highway"? Why? And why can't these entities live in the same world and work toward a common goal? Or is there an ego larger than both that's getting in the way?

These are my questions, rhetorical, because I know the answers.
The fact that RW appears out of the blue to stir up a hornet's nest of shouts and name calling, not surprising, really. If his intent is to contribute to a discussion, his execution inhibits it, because it's little more than a one sided rant. That's something a troll does. It's childish, and irresponsible. And sad, because I know that he has some good ideas, some worthy insights, that we could work together and learn and prosper.

And another thing, let me throw this out there for you to ponder. I heard from RW, many times, about how the KSUSA couldn't put on a world contest. That the KSUSA didn't have the expertise, or the resources, or the right kind of contacts, or the money, necessary to put on a World Contest. I know that I asked for his help, for help with whatever he thought he could do. And I know that he offered his advice to others in the contest organization (what that was and what it entailed or whether that advice was acted on, I don't know). Yet despite his protestations the World Contest did happen, and it was a success. And when the World came together in Santa Cruz in 2007, I asked RW to join us. I offered to drive him up there. I offered to help find accomodations. I hoped that he would come even if not to compete to represent, AKC, or even "His Kids" who were there competing. Whatever the reason, money, time ... those excuses we've heard him accusing us with for not participating in HIS events .... he chose not to come. In the end, all he had to offer kneeboarding was negativity.

Those who attended the Worlds know that the KSUSA put on a fine World Contest, represented by some of the finest kneeboarders I know.

So tell me this, what agenda does he support? And how can we really go forward, by going back so far?

[Steeno]

spot on darcy

I clap my hands together everytime i see KSUSA put on an event, gathering or BBQ......thats all positive contribution toward kneeboarding, comraderie and the general well being of people as a whole.

Here is an example

the Worlds, from what the crew have said......"world class"..wish i was there

from over here, to me, it looks like, as you quoted

"its my way or the highway"

in discussion's like this, is when like minded people should get together and blow positives up each others @$#& to make a postive contribution towards our chosen lifestyle.

I try and help in as many ways as my time allows me here in Australia, hence my pics, taking my mates to comps (when I can) and giving my mates as many tips and pointers to make them excell at what they love. they even lived in my lounge room for years

I hate negativity, it detracts from positive growth, and positive growth is what makes things excel.

Everything I can see the KSUSA has done.......has done very well, and is very positive towards our chosen sport.

Actually, more so than any other kneeboard organisation to date, on a world scale.

who cares if KSUSA is using a different medium to RW

its working....very well

Keep up the good work boys

very









if your not prepared to be positive towards KSUSA and its memebers, why even come to this site

[wino]

Darcy, that was the most insightful post on this thread. Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughts.

Steen, you are right, every KSUSA event I've participated in has been top notch. Don Harris, Tom Linn, Jack Beresford, Mark Robertson and many many others have dedicated hundreds of hours to making this all work and are the real force behind the re-imergance of Kneeboarding in the USA. Not one of them has asked nor expects anything in return and that says it all.


Get Tubed,
Dave.

[Tom Linn]

Not to beat a dead horse but I would like to point out the RW has no children that I know of and certainly none that knee ride. He is referring to other people's children who are not his responsiblity,