I have decided I want my next surfcraft to be a kneeboard. Currently I spend most of my time on a 6-0 19-3/4 2-3/4 single fin, 6-2 18-1/2 2-5/16 mx standard clone thruster, or a modern fish 6-0 19-3/4 2-3/16 twin w/ trailer. Also of note a 6-6 round pin and 7-0 pin when called for. Surf from encinitas to n. of concep whenever can. 23 years old, 6-2 155 lbs I want the kneeboard for bigger lowtide con or as a change of pace for OH t’s, etc. Good waves. I have contemplated a Blast 4 Fin Fish Hybrid 2K. Or possibly having Rich Pavel shape me something. Twin keel? Quad? Twinzer? Just want to hear your guys opinions on this. I am very ignorant on kneeboards, even with reading a bit, so any advice concerning this transition is greatly appreciated.
note: that last bit should read “expansion” not “transition”
l tried a kneeboard once that l had shaped for a friend, dam near ripped my knee out of its socket trying to turn the sucker, to learn to turn these puppies is an artform of its own, good luck and get ready for some heavy knee action. plus my mate has got the most hidious bpoard bumps on his knees, sorry Clembo KR http://groups.msn.com/MyKRSurf/krcomweb.msnw
Vaga- There are many directions one can go beyond the confines of conventional modern kneeboarding… Witness Troy Atkeson and his custom carbon graphite flex spoon Fish, split tail, twin keel fins… in heavy Mexican water. (Photos courtesy Greg Deets) 
One: why is your board so big? Geez, I’m six foot six and rode a bunch of 4’11" to 5’4" kneeboards in the late 70’s at Pipe, Off the Wall, Gas Chamber, Log Cabins. Even rode Pinballs and Sunset a time or two, and I weighed about 180 pounds then. Good to be able to sink that board when the surfers are getting set waves down their throats, and good to have the punch-out capability in close-outs. Bigger boards or with more flotation don’t duck dive worth a damn. Got my (unidentified) picture in Surfer once too, tubed on a glassy rare morning at Sandy Beach Half Point! I’ve not done knee surfing in a long time, and I’m heavier now, about 230, with much stiffer knees… Boards I made and used were about 5’ long, 22" wide, with 14" diamond tails measured corner to corner. They would have been 3" thick except that I used a deep knee well in each board (which made it a little uncomforable to paddle, got over that). Knee wells are a necessity if there’s chop. Bottoms were flat, used two 8 or nine inch fins parallel to the stringer, foiled both sides and could still spin them out once in a while. Used a glass loop on the nose to attach a short leash. Got started one Christmas holiday when I stepped on wana at Honolii Point - anyone recognize that break? Now, kneeboards this small (compared to my size then) won’t work well unless the wave is fairly steep and at least thigh high (standing up). But once underway, they haul.
Yeah Charlie, I recognize the point at Honoli’i. If I’m surfing there, the point is where I’m surfing. No wana experience for me, just reef damage on feet and hands. You still surf there? Just saw 2 kneeboarders recently down at Pohoiki. Couldn’t believe it - first I had seen since O’ahu… You still shape?
There’s seems to be two schools of thought on kneeboard designs you see in the water these days. One is the Aussie style which tend to be longer and wider with quads or thrusters set waaay up forward. At the Kneeboard Festival/Contest in Santa Cruz a month ago(60 plus competitors by the way) I saw some Parkes and others over 6 ft long and up to 25" wide!!! Swallow and round pins where the dominate tail designs. The California style, ala Romonosky, are mostly round pins in the 5’6’’ to 6’ range, 22-23.5’ wide(?) and swallow tails such as John Mel builds. Riding style of the Aussie boards seems to be more forward with alot of hip swivel action for turning where the Calif. style in more leaning into it. I ride a Romo 5’6" quad round pin which requires turning from the tail or risk breaking the fins loose. The Aussies turn further up on the board. Haven’t ridden a Aussie style yet but the guys who do swear by them. My Romo is a pocket rocket and handles most anything up to about 8 ft. After that it gets squirrely. I’m guessing the Aussies style boards would excel in big cranking surf.
yeah they do get a bit looose in the arse . i have . 1x5"6. 1x5"10. 2x5"9. 1 is a suburban (parkes). 1 is a hydrocool (rob morley). the other to are projects of my own . i dont like the suburban much feels like a bit of a pig . the hydrocool will do great 360 & good lip rides sits real deep in the keg as well . kool . dan