Where is kneeboarding going?

quadfin · Post by **quadfin** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:44 am

Good surfing will always attract some level of a "following", no matter the craft.

I know that personally my stoke and surfing has advanced in the last 5 years due to better equipment, feedback from the internet, competition, and media showing other styles of kneeboarding. I haven't seen any converts yet but have seen some oldtimers come back to the sport with new stoke. I think the bleeding has been stopped but don't see a mass migration to hybrids or an emerging generation of kneelos....not here at least.

Personally, I think Masters Comps with SUP, LB, SB, and Kneeboard included would be the way to showcase our sport and not be lost in the "market" events.

Kauaikneelo · Post by **Kauaikneelo** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:44 am

Where are we....

I watched some videos of the Iron boyz lately, and noted they both tube ribe backside (either way)with a drop knee/rail grab. The young open minded need only to see da bestis and take the logical step (kneel) to get some real tube rides.

PS: Congrads to the youngest female national champ, 14 yrs, eastside wahine. Kealea queen! That funky break makes for some good wave riders.

Jack Beresford · Post by **Jack Beresford** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:54 am

I like the idea of an "ironman" event - in the old days it was cool to see those stand-up and LB guys really going for it on their knees (some were pretty good).

Perhaps we add a special division at our events for those who compete both standup and kneeboard. The winner would be based on results in both categories. It would be interesting to see how the results turned out...I suck at standup but my brother and a lot of other kneelos rip. My bet is they'd finish ahead than the top standup guys in a combined event. To make it interesting, you could require that competitors use the same board for both division - or even requires guys to ride a wave standup and one wave kneeboard in their heat!

Mike Fernandez · Post by **Mike Fernandez** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:33 pm

Extra points if you standup with flippers on.

wino · Post by **wino** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:41 pm

Jack, instead of an Ironman event we need to resurect the beverage open

More of an iron stomach event than a surf contest though.

Ah, good times.

wino · Post by **wino** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:09 pm

Oh, I forgot to add:
Kneeboarding is going to go where you want it to go young Novo.
Your Pop almost brought it to the mainstream on his own. If we had a guy over here at the time to fuel the rivalry on an consistant international level things would be different. But we did not and it is what it is.
In our little part of the world we are respected but not copied.

One thing I thought of while I read this thread is that you have to get people hooked when they are starting out. Most of the kneeboarders I surf with do nt frequent beginner breaks. There are very few spongers and most of the standup guys that come down have to have some type of ability to deal. The guys that do not have the skills to deal are to busy trying to stay alive to notice that there is something different going on.

So where is halfmanning going? who knows.

stevea · Post by **stevea** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:24 pm

This is a great thought provoking post ,i wish i had the answer ,the fact that so many people have responded and that we have this site where we are able to express our thoughts and opinions tells me we are not terminal
Where would i like to see kneeboard surfing go
1 the top 12 compete on an elite circuit as part of wqs , wct, womens or other satelite events in waves of consequence
2 earn enough money through prizemoney ,sponsorships and endorsements to sustain a living and secure a future
We were on the cusp back in the 70s of being accepted into pro events before the bean counters sexist as they were saw the marketing potential of the women as a far better choice regardless of the skill level of the time
Pure and simply where is our marketability what is it about kneeboard surfing that is going to sell merchandise to the herds
Hang on i think i have an answer

Maybe if we pimp Mike to Paris and he donates some of the proceeds of his encounters to running a tour ,would you do that for kneeboard surfing
Mike

Bumps · Post by **Bumps** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:57 pm

Steve,

Food for thought... Mike gets what he wants as does Paris and we benefit!

Are you using a new keyboard? The comma, tab and capitals have appeared.

Hope Indo and life is treating you well.

DYdamo · Post by **DYdamo** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:31 am

Nov,
Mate ,Don't sweat it
With the majority of us in our 40's /50's just wait another decade or so and there might be another Novakov with a world title.......the question is which one

Mike Fernandez · Post by **Mike Fernandez** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:25 am

Steve mate, are you kidding, I am there brother ,and I will have the pics to prove it.

Tom Linn · Post by **Tom Linn** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:07 pm

At our local beach, Salt Creek, we have a committed crew of 5-6 kneelos all of age 15-16. I know that the same is true in San Diego. A local Bro, Rob (can't remember his last name) donated four of his old boards to the groms recently of which I have distributed 3 so far. In this very small way we are promoting our sport at our beach. Are you doing the same at your home break?

Here's a few quesitons- When Greenough was the only kneelo in the world was the sport dead?? Or was it the coolest, most progressive, most independent thinking process in surfing world?? What will be different if there is only one kneelo left 20 years from now (likely from Salt Creek or San Diego) who rips and designs amazing, unique boards??

I loved this sport when I thought I was the last kneelo on the planet several years ago. Since discovering my long lost brothers 7 years ago I have come to believe that this is the golden age of kneeboarding. The boards are better, the surfing is better, the camaraderie is better, the contests are better. I remember the old days well. At contests we were relegated to the worse waves. In the water we were occasionally harassed. Our boards were too short, too narrow and didn't turn well.. Sometimes the "good old days" are not as good as living in the moment.

stevea · Post by **stevea** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:57 pm

Mike your the man i will have my people call her people call your people
Bumps lifes a bitch here looking for investors in retirment home for kneelos
Tom i think your right this is the golden age for kneelos the board i surfed at 50 would run rings around the one i surfed at 25
Im hoping to get another 20 years in and i dont expect to be the last man kneeling im in the process of designing a jet propulsed board that that will eliminate paddling stay tuned to be launched sometime in the distant future

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:13 am

Caveman & I were KBing on Friday and while we were back on the beach -lo and behold - a younger KBer kicked out and started getting barreled. A kid we had never seen before!

Santa Cruz will always have a contingent of KBers. We have the quality barrels that will keep KBing afloat.

albert · Post by **albert** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:13 pm

red wrote: How about devising a kneelo/standup contest format?
I'd be happy to support it at the Coopers Cup at the Island in November (but last year most observers ended up legless)

Hey Red, you could always give away a tinnie for the best stand-up/kneelo combo wave!

red · Post by **red** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:54 pm

Done - a six pack of the finest Red to the best combo surf (remember, the Coopers Cup is all about the hottest surfer in the water on the day in the opinion of the onllokers - no judges, scoresheets or sirens). Unlike normal contests, one or two waves does not make for a winner.

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