George Greenough ranked 19th greatest surfer of all time

RMcKnee · Post by **RMcKnee** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:56 pm

Thanks M.O.W for the list transcript. Without wanting to be controversial, I have to say that's a weird list. Some people on it, well, Fanning's a nice guy, but to say he's a greater surfer than Cheyne Horan, well, I don't feel comfortable with that. Occy (1 world title) at no. 6, while Layne Beachley (7 world titles) languishes at 48, err, even on the competitive achievement yardstick there's something awry there. Rabbit B at any ranking after his fervent support for the Tweed sand bypass scheme about 8 years ago and his fervent opposition to it now, well, hmmm. And then Bruce Irons ahead of Rell Sunn?

What were the criteria? A more useful exercise might be ... greatest contest surfer, greatest freesurfer, greatest shaper, greatest design contribution, best ambassador, etc etc.

That issue of Surfer should be on the shelves here eventually. I'll be buying it for sure; I think I need an explanation.

alfredo zavala · Post by **alfredo zavala** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:55 pm

While on the subject of kudos from stand ups towards kneeboarders. . . I would recommend navigating to The Surters Journal website, They have a new video section called POV, There is a very interesting video on Mr. Richard Kenvin. While he mostly ruminates on all things Simmons,(interesting in itself) he gives major cred to his upbringing in La Jolla and the GREAT influence of Kneeboarders to himself! Especially at big Rock. As well as Paipos too!
Maybe someone with more technical savvy than I can link it on here.
Definately worth a check.
Peace

RMcKnee · Post by **RMcKnee** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:01 am

Alfredo wrote:While he mostly ruminates on all things Simmons,(interesting in itself) he gives major cred to his upbringing in La Jolla and the GREAT influence of Kneeboarders to himself! Especially at big Rock. As well as Paipos too!

Captain? Captain?

Wherefore art thou, brave Captain?

Click here,

http://www.surfersjournal.com/surfer/pov.html

then scroll down to Kenvin.

Tony Wales · Post by **Tony Wales** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:54 am

Interestimg list and one that surprises me a bit because it tends to put aside the USA'centric bias that most SURFER/SURFING polls tend to suffer from.

Still a few surprises ... I just don't get the Shane Dorian and Bruce Irons worship and its probably a bit early to be putting Dane Reynolds so far up the list. Similarly the Taj Burrow rating seems generous when you consider guys like Gary Elkerton, Ian Cairns and Peter Townend fail to make the list.

Considering the competitive records of both Kanga and PT plus the work they did with the NSSA in the States, plus their industry involvement it is tantamount to incomprehensible how they fail to make the list. Similarly I reckon Rod Brooks should make the list - while unknown to the joe bloggs's in the USA Brooko is the backbone to big wave and competitive surfing in Australia - a man too modest for his own good (George Downing and Randy Rarrick rolled into one).

On the womens side Layne's multipile world titles probably deserves better than 48 but not ahead of Lisa Andersen. Lisa broke down the male/female barriers and then was at the forefront of womens surf marketing with Roxy which redefined womens surfing so she deserves the better rating ... and Rell Sunn ... there can never be too much Rell love!!

Greenough's ranking is deserved. Slater at number 1? Hands down!!

Tony Wales · Post by **Tony Wales** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:35 am

CaptKneemo wrote:really? lists? come on, being in the marketing biz, the tendency to make lists in mags is the easy way out. have you guys ever actually read the writing in these bloody rags? for the most part, its flippin crap! oh, you can find the nugget here and there but really, writing and reading about surfing is like watching porn, its fun for the moment but in the total scheme of things it doesnt rank near the actual participation, i digress, but the truth is, lists are created to take up space. errrr who's the best this or that, who freakin cares, really? its all subjective crap. i design this and i love it, the same design for say someone as great as say RMcKnee might be crap! this president or that, this car or that, this boat or that, this board or that...thats why they make toyotas, beauty is in the eye, the best is in the heart...personally, lip smacks on a kneeboard dont do much for me, a long tube ride i can make it out of, now we're talkin....theres a resurgence in paipo riding down, up here. kenvin is but one dude, everyone knows him, hes made a name for himself but, this kid Jeff McCallum is blowing my mind with his 4'5" standup paipos, he shreads them! he's made me a killer prone version and actually, just today, i meet with him to start carving out a 5'4" kneeriders version....lots of stuff going on down here, up here...like Kenvin says, theres a reason why these things keep resurging, BECAUSE THEY WORK! have fun, in the water...RMc glad you're on the mend my brother!

... but as human beings lists are what we do, it's not an issue of surfing magazine marketing, because every day of our life we prioritise and rank items and issues and make decisions based on the rankings. Lists like this help us to preserve history, educate the next generation and stimulate critical review of the values of our sport.

Sometimes our critisism should be leveled not at the results of the rankings but at the criteria or lack of definition thereof.

As for surfing magazines ... well after 40 years of surfing I have to admit they are pretty damm boring - these days only the occasional issue or article raises the stoke level to somewhere near the grommet stoke of years gone by. 99% of the time I read a mag its like reading the same thing I read the first time back in the late 60s, then the early 70s, then the late 70s, then the early 80s, then the mid 80s, then the late 80s, then the early 90s, etc, etc, etc ....... (yawn).

kidrock · Post by **kidrock** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:45 am

#25: Dane Reynolds.

whatever.

alfredo zavala · Post by **alfredo zavala** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:52 am

I want to thank you Mr. Mc Knee for adding the link for the Surfers Journal vid.
I agree that some of the choices especially the current crop of surfers may be a bit pre mature for the "greatest surfers" list. I have a subscription to Surfer, so I have been methodically reading thru the list. There is a good intro by Drew Kampion explaining the rationale behind it - FYI.
Definately P.T. should be on the list instead of Taj Burrow or Dane!!

KneeBumps · Post by **KneeBumps** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:15 pm

I'm just pleased to see a kneeboarder included in a list from a mag that hasn't paid attention to kneeboarding for decades.

It's apparent that most of the surfers are on the list for surfing ability, style and influence, not shaping or promotion.

Nuuhiwa #31 is a travesty! Very influential soul surfer, and fish rider....

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:53 pm

alfredo zavala wrote:While on the subject of kudos from stand ups towards kneeboarders. . . I would recommend navigating to The Surters Journal website, They have a new video section called POV, There is a very interesting video on Mr. Richard Kenvin. While he mostly ruminates on all things Simmons,(interesting in itself) he gives major cred to his upbringing in La Jolla and the GREAT influence of Kneeboarders to himself! Especially at big Rock. As well as Paipos too!
Maybe someone with more technical savvy than I can link it on here.
Definately worth a check.
Peace

Check out RK's Hydrodynamica blog for Fri July 3 2009 T Rex for a feature on Rex Huffman. www.hydrodynamica.blogspot.com

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:57 pm

kidrock wrote:#25: Dane Reynolds.

whatever.

Who's Dane Reynolds?

Tony Wales · Post by **Tony Wales** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:34 pm

KenM wrote:
kidrock wrote:#25: Dane Reynolds.

whatever.
Who's Dane Reynolds?

A Jordy Smith clone ....

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:02 pm

Tony Wales wrote:
KenM wrote:
kidrock wrote:#25: Dane Reynolds.

whatever.
Who's Dane Reynolds?
A Jordy Smith clone ....

Who's Jordy Smith?

Tony Wales · Post by **Tony Wales** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:46 pm

KenM wrote:
Tony Wales wrote:
KenM wrote: Who's Dane Reynolds?
A Jordy Smith clone ....
Who's Jordy Smith?

Rejected sperm from the "Bertelman" gene pool ....

RMcKnee · Post by **RMcKnee** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:23 am

Tony. you're doing Mr Smith far too big a favour by critcising him in that way. I'd have been more direct. I gave up on the fleeting notion I had of kinda absentmindedly following the course of his career a few years ago when I came across a Surfheroworshipmagazine interview with him in which he said he was not signing with any Big Surf Co. just yet as they were all after him and he was waiting to see which threw the biggest lump of cash at him; the biggest incoming wadge would buy his services until next contract negotiation season. On the subject of boards, his thoughts were along the lines of ... "well they're all the same anyway, I'll just go with whoever gives me the biggest incentive". I believe he'd just turned 18 at the time.

I found nothing admirable in the sentiments he expressed in the piece, plus in terms of self-expression, he displayed the articulation skills, incisive wit and insight of a self-centred low IQ juvenile delinquent.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Man O' War · Post by **Man O' War** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:47 am

Hey capt, sounds like sour grapes to me. those guys are having a blast, so are we. they aren't changing, neither are we. "live and let live." i think george greenough said that.

Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

George Greenough ranked 19th greatest surfer of all time

no more controversy.

awapt

maybe he grew up while I wasn't watching ...