A BIG THANKS

[skansand]

i had such a great time in Santa Cruz, on AND off the contest site...i just had to give a big thanks to all those who helped me out up there...

a Big thanks to Tom Backer who not only invited me to camp with them but introduced me to Paul Doyle who ended up driving me up...Its always been inspiring to watch you surf Tom, hope we can do it again soon...

Paul, It was a great riding up with you and getting to hear your epic stories,i wish you the best with your new baby..

HUGE thanks to Scott Hayward who brewed Bad A$$ coffee everyday, sheltered us in his warm trailor and made sure everyday we crawled into a warm dry wetsuit, also Scott drove us to the surf spots,market,Red woods and didnt even charge me gas money,,,verry cool..scott we'll have to surf again soon,either here or cabo..

thanks to Big Fred for having my parents and i over for your b-day party..i had a great time drinking beers and chillin with the boys...im sure ill see your girls at golden west and we'll all get together for a surf...

To john Mans, thanks for having me in your beutiful home and feeding me a feast of kings,and for showing me where to jump off at steamers...that helped alot..

mike fernandez, youll have to trip over to HB AFTER you get your new custom DRIFT board...il have no problem trading boards for a few waves...
...and what was the tobbacco called again?.

Bruce Hart, your enthusiasm after each of my heats really stoked me out.....thanks for understanding me copying your shapes and contours..

and greg little and willy kelly, you guys helped me relax in my heat where i placed 2nd!!!...it felt like a walk in the park..

.......cant wait for the next contest ....its been a blast

[Beeline2.0]

..

[Shelfbreak]

That's a nice post Skansand. I'm sure the folks you thanked will really appreciate reading it.

[Jon Manss]

So that's who skandsand is! Matt you are more than welcome and now I have a new face to a post. Hey didn't you knock me out of the open? I had to scratch through two repecharge heats to get back. Yes, it was you! Good job.

[mutiny]

matt your a great kid, I'm glad you took us up on the offer. your positive attitude and stoke for kneeboarding was infectious. You made us laugh more than a few times
09' could be your year in the open event in New Zealand
hope to see out more often at the pier in HB.
tom

[RT]

I also now have a face to go with a name. Great meeting you at the titles. Sounds like you had a killer time. Great post.

I was the "kneelo at the point" that day you and Beeline came north to VTA awhile back.

RT

[KAVA]

hey matt! I was stoked for you even though I wasnt there to see it. seems i missed the best gathering of the next 2 years how about your brother did he get in the water up north also?

[skansand]

thanks kava, it was definitly a world class gathering...alex hasnt surfed in a while for lack of wetsuit/swim fins.....but i just bought a new Oneil Mutant and duckfeet that dont fit me... ....so he has my old HEAt wetsuit and the new ducks...so hell be surfing alonside me in the near future..hes always been more competitive then me so i can only guess what the futures may bring....

[twinfinfish]

Matt, you are VERY welcome. Had a great time meeting you and surfing with you. You were ripping all week ! Hope to see you in the water again soon.

Paul Doyle

[Mike Fernandez]

Matt it was a pleasure hanging with you. I should thank you for teaching me that White Stripes ditty for the guitar, which I played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over which I think Tom and Scott were glad to listen to on the seven hour drive home. The tobacco was Maravilla, try sticking that in yer hookah

[ropes]

To every body that I met I really must say a huge " Guh Rugh Mur Agat, Irish, Kia Ora Koutou, Maori, Thanks heaps, English". It was really a pleasure and the memories will go into that book in my head to join all the other world titles. Mike thanks for the use of the guitar to keep my fingers and mind at peace. Scott Wessling please come to NZ so that I can show you the same hospitality. Brad you are a saint. John and Kim Mel God will give you the thanks when you open the next door. I am sure that Kenny won't mind me lending you all a few words of the song.

I'M PROUD TO BE A KNEEBOARDERWITH FLOWERS IN MY HAIR
FROM 63 TO 69 GEORGE GREENOUGH WAS EVERYWHERE
I WAS BORN TO LATE, TO A WORLD THAT DOSEN'T CARE
I'M PROUD TO BE A KNEEBOARDER WITH FLOWERS IN MY HAIR

WHEN LEG ROPES DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL
AND THE MEDIA COULDN'T BUY YOUR SOUL
WHEN COMPUTERS WERE STILL SCARY AND WE DIDN'I KNOW EVERYTHING
WHEN KNEEPADS WERE STILL A MYTH
AND RIDING SPOONS COULD STILL BE BLISS
WHEN BELLYBOARDS WERE STILL ON TOP AND SLABS WERE HARD TO STOP

I'M PROUD TO BE A KNEEBOARDER WITH FLOWERS IN MY HAIR
FROM 63 TO 69 GEORGE GREENOUGH WAS EVERYWHERE
I WAS BORN TO LATE TO A WORLD THAT DOSEN'T CARE
I'M PROUD TO BE A KNEEBOARDER WITH FLOWERS IN MY HAIR

Hope to see you all in NZ
Ropes

[skansand]

wheres the tab ropes?..i need chords!!!...it was good meeting you too....grow dem dreads

[surfhorn]

Give me the basics and I'll arrange it for symphonic wind ensemble!

[Tom Linn]

Ropes- can you post all the song. I would love to have it. Maybe it will become the kneelo anthem.

[HALFMANRIPS/MIKE GARRETT]

HEY MY BROTHER !
YOUR A CLASS ACT AND JUST ONE HECK OF A GUY
HAD A BLAST HANGIN WITH YOU AND ALL THE FELLOWS FROM DOWN UNDER

YOUR WELCOME UP HERE IN GODS COUNTRY ANY TIME !!

GOD BLESS MIKE GARRETT/ HALFMANDIDNOTRIP THIS YEAR