Re: Whatever happened to kneeboarding?

Swaylocks Design Forum seems like the most unbiased/democratic place to ask this question: Just about everything else from the past 50 years has been resurrected from the shadows for re-analysis and another retro-go in the burgeoning nostalgic sales and collectors market. So, where is kneeboarding in the new millenium? Is this brief, influencial chapter of surfings history finally gone for good? Josh

Swaylocks Design Forum seems like the most unbiased/democratic place to > ask this question:>>> Just about everything else from the past 50 years has been resurrected > from the shadows for re-analysis and another retro-go in the burgeoning > nostalgic sales and collectors market. So, where is kneeboarding in the > new millenium? Is this brief, influencial chapter of surfings history > finally gone for good?>>> Josh I don’t know where you surf. But, at Lower’s their are three regular knee boarders.

Swaylocks Design Forum seems like the most unbiased/democratic place to > ask this question:>>> Just about everything else from the past 50 years has been resurrected > from the shadows for re-analysis and another retro-go in the burgeoning > nostalgic sales and collectors market. So, where is kneeboarding in the > new millenium? Is this brief, influencial chapter of surfings history > finally gone for good?>>> Josh Great piece in Surfer’s Journal not too far back about its demise.

I see a guy aout just about every morning at PP in SC

Bookies are probably the major reason for the decline of kneeboarding.Herb

Bookies are probably the major reason for the decline of kneeboarding.Herb Kneeboarding is far from dead I regularly surf with five different kneeboarders and do it myself and that number seems to be growing. Could kneeboarding be on the verge of a come back? Set to rock the sufing world again?

Kneeboarding is far from dead I regularly surf with five different > kneeboarders and do it myself and that number seems to be growing. Could > kneeboarding be on the verge of a come back? Set to rock the sufing world > again? If kneeboarding is actually far from dead, then what do you think that it has to offer (besides being another “alternative”) to the future of surfing? Hasnt just about everything physically possible already been done by people like Mike Stewart on bodyboards, Kelly Slater on surfboards, George Greenough on his surfmats (now theres an irony for kneeboarders to consider!), Merv Larson on his surfskis and Laird Hamilton on tow-in boards, etc.? Seriously, what is left for kneeboarders to discover and prove that will have any impact on design, performance and the general surfing population the way it did back in the late 1960s to early 1970s?? Josh

Josh, could there be people out there who aren’t thinking about pushing any envelopes, or blazing any new trails? maybe they just want to have fun on their own terms. it’s not like the bodies and bookies and mats and kneeboarders are some kind of primates, is it?>>> If kneeboarding is actually far from dead, then what do you think that it > has to offer (besides being another “alternative”) to the future > of surfing?>>> Hasnt just about everything physically possible already been done by > people like Mike Stewart on bodyboards, Kelly Slater on surfboards, George > Greenough on his surfmats (now theres an irony for kneeboarders to > consider!), Merv Larson on his surfskis and Laird Hamilton on tow-in > boards, etc.?>>> Seriously, what is left for kneeboarders to discover and prove that will > have any impact on design, performance and the general surfing population > the way it did back in the late 1960s to early 1970s??>>> Josh

If kneeboarding is actually far from dead, then what do you think that it > has to offer (besides being another “alternative”) to the future > of surfing?>>> Hasnt just about everything physically possible already been done by > people like Mike Stewart on bodyboards, Kelly Slater on surfboards, George > Greenough on his surfmats (now theres an irony for kneeboarders to > consider!), Merv Larson on his surfskis and Laird Hamilton on tow-in > boards, etc.?>>> Seriously, what is left for kneeboarders to discover and prove that will > have any impact on design, performance and the general surfing population > the way it did back in the late 1960s to early 1970s??>>> Josh Well, it seems to be progressing every were else except the US. I think this might be a reflection of why most of the surfers are riding what is “advertised” for them or more or less what everybody else is riding and not exploring other alternatives. As a kneeboarder and not american what I find in a kneeboard is something very special for me and it all comes down to the senses and I do ride stand up when it’s small and mushy. And as far as board design they are nothing like what most american kneelos are riding. If you want to see some progression check www.shoal.net.au/~rslater/ in Australia and you’ll see that they are doing everything from tube rides to airs. I think Greenough just started the fire that really caught up somewhere else. After checking this site for awhile I think Swaylocks is the best forum to discuss this part of surfing since most of the people seem to be very open minded and progressive (except for that Bonta guy hehe). Thanks Mike and keep up the good work.

The website should be http://www.shaol.net.au/~rslater/, sorry about that.

I see a handful of guys doing it regularly at Ocean Beach – even on bigger & badder days.

If kneeboarding is actually far from dead, then what do you think that it > has to offer (besides being another “alternative”) to the future > of surfing?>>> Hasnt just about everything physically possible already been done by > people like Mike Stewart on bodyboards, Kelly Slater on surfboards, George > Greenough on his surfmats (now theres an irony for kneeboarders to > consider!), Merv Larson on his surfskis and Laird Hamilton on tow-in > boards, etc.?>>> Seriously, what is left for kneeboarders to discover and prove that will > have any impact on design, performance and the general surfing population > the way it did back in the late 1960s to early 1970s??>>> Josh Josh, I don’t think everything physcially possible has been done in surfing. People like Mike Stewart, Kelly Slater and George Greenough are able to do the things they do precisely because they don’t put limits on themselves. Surfing is a constant learning process. There is no end point to the mental and physical growth. As you improve in surfing, it doesn’t limit the possibilites but rather opens up new doors and opportunities. That’s what’s so fun about the whole damn thing! What’s left for kneeboarders to discover and prove? I think the most interesting answer could be something that we can’t even imagine. Keep an open mind. You never know where the next source of inspiration will come from. Maybe the way an olympic speed-skater drags his hand through a turn could be applied to cutbacks? Perhaps the shape of the spoiler on the back of a car can be used on the deck of a longboard to keep the tail down and allow for longer noserides?

Let’s face it.Kneeboarding pales in numbers compared to sponges or stand-ups. I still kneeboard and have done so since 1970.I still use my 70’s duckfeet(and prefer to use only one flipper).You can really get away with alot of gnarly stuff(air drop ins,tight tubes,slipply stuff),but when you eat it kneeboarding you usually get worked. It’s all part of being a waterman,homeys.Herb

i still laugh when people call kneeboarders cripples(i know its horrible) but aren’t all these modern Lis fish descendents derived from kneeboards? also isn’t kelly slaters modern take on backside tuberiding one step(literally) away from kneeboarding? i don’t kneeboard but often it’s the unexamined/overlooked/dismissed which provides the insiration for amazing breakthroughs. actually i was checking out a site a while ago called blast kneeboards and tripping out on their wide tailed 4 fin rounded pintails. if you’re gonna shape the future you better keep a wide open mind.

If kneeboarding is actually far from dead, then what do you think that it > has to offer (besides being another “alternative”) to the future > of surfing?>>> Hasnt just about everything physically possible already been done by > people like Mike Stewart on bodyboards, Kelly Slater on surfboards, George > Greenough on his surfmats (now theres an irony for kneeboarders to > consider!), Merv Larson on his surfskis and Laird Hamilton on tow-in > boards, etc.?>>> Seriously, what is left for kneeboarders to discover and prove that will > have any impact on design, performance and the general surfing population > the way it did back in the late 1960s to early 1970s??>>> Josh Kneeboarding could be the future of bodyboarding. Rob DiStephano applied cutting edge bodyboard materials to kneeboard construction years ago. Bodyboards seem to be s-l-o-w-l-y evolving in the direction of kneeboards as far as stiffer, straighter materials and fins go. The Rusty website FAQ makes vague reference to a traditional hard foam glass bodyboard coming soon. Dropknee bodyboarding has always seemed funky - many surfers have aquired serious hamstring injuries just looking at pictures of dropknee bodyboarders and wondering why why why… But like everything else, it will take leaders to make something happen. It will take some kind of forum for word to get out. Don’t look to the magazines (except maybe Surfer’s Journal).

Swaylocks Design Forum seems like the most unbiased/democratic place to > ask this question:>>> Just about everything else from the past 50 years has been resurrected > from the shadows for re-analysis and another retro-go in the burgeoning > nostalgic sales and collectors market. So, where is kneeboarding in the > new millenium? Is this brief, influencial chapter of surfings history > finally gone for good?>>> Josh I hate to think about it, but I may soon become a kneeboarder.One year ago I had surgery on my right shoulder and am getting ready to have my left one done.To be sure the surgery has alleviated the daily pain and limitations of movement,however,the strength and endurance pales in comparison to what it use to be.(and I do stretching and strength routines everyday.)One hour is about my limit in the water,any more than that and I pay the price.So the point being I may have to start kickin’ and do less paddling, in order to prolong my years in the water.I don’t mind though 'cause I have a really nice Greenough spoon to see me through…

Matt…right-on…surf for fun…surf for life…if I had no arms and only had one leg I would have someone put my one fin on my one leg, then strap a sponge on my stomach and picth me into the lineup…it would still be bitch’n…

Matt…right-on…surf for fun…surf for life…if I had no arms and > only had one leg I would have someone put my one fin on my one leg, then > strap a sponge on my stomach and picth me into the lineup…it would > still be bitch’n… or pitch’n… Depends on the thrill. And if you lost that last leg, I guess that would make you Sandy … or Mat t Soorry

Matt…right-on…surf for fun…surf for life…if I had no arms and > only had one leg I would have someone put my one fin on my one leg, then > strap a sponge on my stomach and picth me into the lineup…it would > still be bitch’n… I got a DeStephano soft kneeboard just to give kneeboarding a try (bored with longboard at that time), only to discover my right knee was shot when it came to kneeling on it (or much of anything else). Took the fins out and rode it like a long bookie, which was fun. Left the fins in a couple of times and rode it like a paipo/bellyboard, and discovered how thoroughly lame the 30 year old bodyboard design has become. Another glory for the surf world - an interesting, environmentaly semi-pure material left to languish except by lonesome craftsmen in the hinterlands.

I got a DeStephano soft kneeboard just to give kneeboarding a try (bored > with longboard at that time), only to discover my right knee was shot when > it came to kneeling on it (or much of anything else). Took the fins out > and rode it like a long bookie, which was fun. Left the fins in a couple > of times and rode it like a paipo/bellyboard, and discovered how > thoroughly lame the 30 year old bodyboard design has become. Another glory > for the surf world - an interesting, environmentaly semi-pure material > left to languish except by lonesome craftsmen in the hinterlands. A radical kneelo revolution in the new millenium? Most doubtful: standup rider pigdogging the tube, bodyboarder in dropknee slashback? In a single photo, at any given moment, sometimes its hard to tell whos morphing into a standup, kneelo or bodyboarder. For 30 years theres been so many big clues borrowed from kneeboarding, that maybe now theres nothing left that hasnt already been taken. Three of surf historys stellar kneelo legends: George Greenough, Steve Lis, Peter Crawford: Greenough sold Velo to a guy in another country and just rides his surfmats, Stevie quit while both his knees still worked and rips standing up. Peter? More a core airmat rider than a kneelo in the last few years before his final waves. That damn surfmat thing again. Anyway, Peters in a better place now. One day a hybrid may emerge, the best of each, the worse of none? Maybe the endless quest for better boards has been nothing more than a search in the wrong direction. Maybe the ultimate answer to those finicky little design problems waits within us, the riders? Maybe generations from now, itll all just be called surfing.