The KSUSA 2019 US Kneeboard Titles and Festival returned to Huntington Beach Pier on Friday, February 15^th.  As with every US Titles held at The Pier, the waves and weather came together (barely!) for a full day of competition.  The day before was marked with heavy rain, the result of an Atmospheric River phenomenon, and very strong south winds.  We were watching the forecast carefully, with fingers crossed, hoping for a 1-day break in the weather so we could get the Titles in.  We awoke to light offshore winds and sunny skies along with a chunky, peaky leftover windswell.  There were many spitting barrels that became dangerous closeouts in knee-deep water as the tide drained out during the morning hours.  As the morning progressed the swell cleaned up with the dropping tide allowing the outside sandbars to start working, especially as a new NW wind swell joined the mix.  This made for very contestable conditions throughout the day.  The rain was forecast to return by ~2 PM but did not actually return until the Open Finalists were exiting the water at the day’s conclusion!  Overall, we had an outstanding day of surf with a great atmosphere for kneeboarders to reconnect with old friends and to meet new ones.  Everyone from friends and family, spectators on the pier or beach, and sponsors enjoyed the competition.

Congratulations to the 2019 US Kneeboard Titles Champion Jack Beresford from San Diego!  This was Jack’s 6^th US Title, extending his impressive record.  The only other surfer with more than one US Title is Huntington’s Tom Backer (2).  Jack’s Title was impressive given the strong field.  He was able to open the heat with a great, high-scoring wave that put him firmly in the lead and was able to back it up to secure the win.  First time Open Finalist Shaun Murphy edged out 2012 Champion Chris Beresford for second place while Eric Peterson, another first time Open Finalist took fourth.  Eric edged out former champions Tom Backer earlier in the Open and Bill Lerner in the semifinals to make the Final.

This was our second year of having a Pro Junior Division to allow those surfers 21-29 to gain additional competitive experience and compete against each other as many of them have been doing since the early days of the KSUSA US Titles.  Also, this lines up with the Kneeboard Surfing World Titles, which offers a Pro Junior Division.  Congratulations to Sam Coyne for taking home the 2019 Pro Junior Title!  With his charging style many feel Sam is a lock for an eventual Open Title.  Congratulations to Chris Linn for taking second (and for making the Open semifinals), and to Shaun Murphy-3^rd and Hunter Johnson-4^th.

Although Tom Backer lost his shot at another Open Title, he simply went on to win the AAA Division.  Congratulations to Tom on this victory!  The AAA Final could have been an Open Final with perennial standout surfers Ed Quinn, Max Bollinger, and Patrick Evans taking 2^nd through 4^th respectively. 

Congratulations to AA Champion Darren Kerr for taking the AA Title, and to Joe Coyne for the close second.  Tom Fish and Doug Cooper took 3^rd and 4^th to round out this competitive Final.    

It is important to recognize that the Finalists were surfing in their 5^th heat of the day, at least.  For Shaun Murphy, he surfed the Open semifinal and stayed in the water as he paddled from the Pier Area to the South Area for the 30-minute Pro Junior Final before he finally got a rest during the AAA Finals.  He then battled leg cramps during the Open Finals but still got the second-place finish.  Congratulations to Shaun and all these Ironmen!

We were fortunate to have Rockin Fig return to the microphone again this year and he was joined by HB legend Mike Butler for part of the day.  Fig does an outstanding job during this long, 10-hour day, with hardly any breaks, all the while maintaining energy, creativity, and humor.  Together, this duo provides great commentary for those on the beach. 

The Western Surfing Association (WSA) again collaborated with us for this year’s Titles and we thank them for helping to provide a smooth contest from start to finish.  Ed Dimick deserves recognition for organizing the overall contest schedule, heat progressions, and for working seamlessly with WSA to help them do their job efficiently and accurately.

We would like to thank those who entered the contest, and those who supported KSUSA with the Raffles and Live Auction.  Your participation and contributions are significant, appreciated by KSUSA, and help to keep US kneeboard surfing strong.  To those of you who wanted to enter but were unable to because of work or travel conflicts, or injury, we know you were with us in spirit and hope you can join us next time.  Special thanks to Greg Budgen (VIC, Australia) and Jose Maldonado (Puerto Rico) for keeping the US Kneeboard Titles and Festival an international event!

We really want to recognize and thank the Kneelo Cove Crew for coming out and supporting the US Titles and for hanging with the US kneeboard crew who showed up for the Contest.  You guys are the best and are always outstanding hosts.

I would like to thank my friends on the KSUSA Team, Joe Coyne, Jack Beresford, Tom Linn, Ed Dimick, Robb Masser, and Casey Patelski who are all are talented, hardworking, and dedicated to KSUSA’s success.  Also, Amanda Faddis (Big Idea Events) joined us this year and spearheaded our social media outreach and offered many useful suggestions for our Awards Ceremony program.  Thanks to Randy Morris for stepping up to the mic to MC the awards ceremony and raffle/auction.  Many conference calls and much behinds-the-scenes effort is involved in making the US Titles happen.  Together, we are stoked to support kneeboard surfing and look forward to this event as much as you do! 

A special and overdue thank you to Robb for the incredible work he does on the graphic design for the Titles T-shirt and Poster.  For every event throughout the year he is able to come up with fresh, creative art that encompasses the spirit and stoke of kneeboard surfing. Robb also spent the entire day on the beach capturing video of the contest and the evening documenting the awards ceremony.  Thank you, Robb!

For the 2018 Titles we were blown away with the medals that Curtis Odom and Sam Coyne (Trimco Hardware) designed, fabricated, and engraved. Medals were awarded to the Finalists again and are truly One-Of-A-Kind; beautiful, creative, and distinctive. Thank you, Trimco Hardware, for this generous donation of the medals, and the time that was allotted for Curtis and Sam to complete this project!

The 2019 Titles were dedicated to Will Perez whose recent untimely passing deeply moved the KSUSA Community.  We are thankful to Ed Quinn for sharing some personal stories about Will and his influence in his and other’s lives, and to Randy Morris for sharing some words and leading us in a moment of silence.  Will had ordered an SD Kneeboard that he never saw, unfortunately, but Joe Taylor brought it to the beach and to the Awards Ceremony for everyone to sign.  He will then present it to Will’s children. Thank you Joe!

Our sponsors are incredible and were essential to the overwhelming success of the 2019 Titles.  We had many faithful sponsors return this year and were able to partner with several new ones, some who reached out to KSUSA directly to support the Titles.  We did our best to recognize and promote these generous sponsors in the weeks leading up to the Titles.  We encourage you to visit their websites for more information about their products and services, and to support them as you need new boards and gear, or if you are considering a surf trip to Nicaragua.  As you interact with our sponsors please express your appreciation for their support of the KSUSA Titles.  “Support those who support our Sport!”

OFFICIAL SURF SHOP AND PREMIER SPONSOR – TK’s Frog House

PREMIER SPONSORS

Bird’s Surf Shed-Bird Huffman, DMC Fins-Don McCredie, Freeline Design-John Mel, Parkes Kneeboards- David Parkes, SD Kneeboards- Joe Taylor/Mark Sweeney, Sea Craft Supply Co-Yucca Fins, Sean “Starky” Williams, Sirena Surf Lodge, Nicaragua-Greg Chrisman, True Wetsuits-Matt Miller

EVENT SPONSORS

56 Cutz, Barz Optics, Big Idea Events, Block Surf, Bolsa Clothing, BruSurf, Churchill, Cobian Footwear, Dangerclose Products GoPro Handles, Disorderly Images, Hanalei Fins, Hawaiian Line International, Jeff Wallis Photography, Jeffrey Ommen Photography, Kai Shots, Kneelo Nation, Mario’s Mexican Food and Cantina, Romanosky Kneeboards, Smith Optics, Stay Covered, Stonefish Skegs, Sumatra Charters, Surf Systems-Cove Pads, Tide Has Turned, Tidelines Tide Calendars, Trimco Hardware, Victory Koredry, Viper Surfing Fins

Winning the Parkes custom shape kneeboard certificate was Joanna (and Danny) Robertson; the highest bidder for the Freeline custom shape kneeboard certificate was Mark Robertson; Roger Hughes won the beautiful SD kneeboard package; Casey Patelski was the highest bidder for the Casa Sirena Surf Lodge-Nicaragua surf trip.   

To our generous sponsors, we hope you can partner with us again in 2020!

Final thanks to all who attended the KSUSA US Kneeboard Titles and Kneeboard Festival either as a competitor, family member, or friend.  The camaraderie and stoke are real, and we have new Champion!

RESULTS-2019:

Open Division
1. Jack Beresford,  2. Shaun Murphy, 3. Chris Beresford,  4. Eric Peterson 

AAA Division
1. Tom Backer, 2. Ed Quinn, 3. Max Bollinger, 4. Patrick Evans

AA Division
1. Darren Kerr, 2. Joe Coyne, 3. Tom Fish, 4. Doug Cooper

Pro Junior
1. Sam Coyne, 2. Chris Linn, 3. Shaun Murphy, 4. Hunter Johnson