Whassup?

Is this one of those “surfboards only” places? It looks pretty cool. Ive been around. Lately over there looking at the Harbour Surfboards website- a heavy tribe vibe. Ingrown status quo or whatever, theyre all just totally fucked up. A bunch of fag cheerleader types. No retro kneeboards or anything else thats cool or different. So what the word, do you guys seriously think about kneeboarding? Are kneeboards a drag? Or still a valid slide to ride? Ive never seen anyone use one except in old flicks and zines. Pretty weird how they all just faded away. Thanks, Chon

I NEVER THINK ABOUT KNEEBOARDING. I would have to say that it is just a step above a sponger and way below a surfer.

“I NEVER THINK ABOUT KNEEBOARDING. I would have to say that it is just a step above a sponger and way below a surfer.” This has to be one of the most idiotic statements ever made in swaylocks. What is up? this forum use to be an avenue of experimentation and expression in which most of the contributors were open to “thinking outside the box.” It seems like every day it creeps lower and lower toward all the other weak forums on the web. I know many of the original guys who kept this thing interesting are still out there. Hopefully they have not left for good. To all the newbies and youngsters; “Open your mind, and your quiver will follow.”

Obviously you never think of anything that is not being pushed towards you in a glossy mag, dont you? By the way this is where you’ll find us: www.blasthawaii.com Usually disrespect towards other forms of waveriding comes from less than average “surfers”. If you are out surfing (real) big waves it does not matter to me what you ride or how you ride it, you deserve respect from just being out. BTW check Alan McCray’s bio maybe you’ll learn something about character.

there are a number of kneeboarders where I surf and I have a great deal of respect for them – I have seen them make late drops on huge waves and get barreled like you would not believe. If you are so closed-minded that you don’t think this is a legitimate form of surfing, I truly feel sorry for you.

He asked a simple question,I gave him a simple honest answer. I NEVER THINK ABOUT KNEEBOARDING!!! Do you! Be honest! I have a big sponge in my kitchen I use to wipe up the grease, but I would never try to surf it!

Your so-called “simple, honest answer” also said “I would have to say that it is just a step above a sponger and way below a surfer.” That’s an insult to a LOT of people, and if you were a real surfer you would apologize to them. Do you think Buff insults kneeboarders & bodyboarders? Did the Duke? How about Derrick, Laird, Titus, Kelly, Occy, or anybody you might have heard of??? As for me, yes, I think of kneeboarding, I’ve even tried it. It’s not for me (I’ve had knee surgery and found it uncomfortable) but it’s not a lower form of anything. You just have a closed mind. Grow up.

Adam, Why are you so angry? Chill out… Pau

…You must ride one of those funky Harbors.I got one in my backyard,it makes a good BB gun target.

Chon, Thankfully, its been my experience that Swaylocks is not a "surfboards only" place. In contrast to Harbours “Surf Talk”, this is an open forum. There are plenty of people lurking around here who enjoy riding and building all sorts of things in addition to conventional equipment. Thats one of the signs of a healthy, progressive surfing community. Yes, kneeboarding and kneeboards are still around, and have always represented a functional and valid means of riding waves. If comparisons are to be made, kneeboarders have the potential for a more intimate surfing experience just by virtue of being so much lower to the water. But theres more… A few other advantages of kneeboarding are a lower center of gravity, the potential for more overall sensation, larger contact area with the board, improved line of sight down the wave face, the opportunity to ride deeper in the tube, and generally higher speeds and performance if the waves are clean and have enough power. Youre right... the medias eye has become increasingly myopic in regards to anything that doesnt march in step to the surfing mainstream. Conformity always has the loudest group of narrow-minded cheerleaders. But that shouldnt stop anyone from discovering what feels good, what works and what doesnt. One of the best things about surfing is its natural appeal to individuality, which is ironically the exact opposite of mainstream corporate consumerism. Real surfing is all about discovery, finding and learning to play you personal song on a wave. Dale

Still some knee riders here in Santa Cruz, all of them older with insane wave judgement- My son stand-up surfs kneeboards to good effect, we have 4 of 'em. When i was having back problems a few years ago I got into belly riding a midlength- really fun and different. As to the fella talking trash about not riding his kitchen sponge- I was watching a group of boys using lunch trays and frisbees on the last big south at the base of the wharf- laughing, having fun getting barreled over and over. Those kids were the best surfers in the world at that moment. Doc Scott came by while I was watching and said he’d seen kids riding Real Estate Signs in hawaii really well.I saw Johnny Rice out today- after his recent back surgery getting to his feet is difficult- if he rides on his knees is he less of a surfer than you? I dont think so.If you wanna see the best surfers in the world check WWW.RideAWave.ORG-those participants are braver than any of us. Surf fascism is its own punishment- please don’t spread it.

oh yeah Chon- If you really interested in kneeboards John Mel at Freeline Surf Design in Santa Cruz still makes 'em and usually has one or two new and used in the racks.

Bend over ass in the air ride on knees was an embarrassing wrong turn in the history of surfing. A genetic goof that couldnt reproduce. Cha-ching! One more dead end idea that bit the dust. Darwins theory of de-volution strikes again!

Trevor, From what you say I should stop having fun and start doing whatever most of the people are doing to achieve the same. Not. Sorry but I love what I do and hope you do too. Last post on this subject for me.

trevor- if it wasn’t for one of those bend-over-ass-in-air knee guys(Greenoough-by the way look at some photos/footage of him surfing.you might find he rips without his ass in the air.)the shortboard, as we know it, probably wouldn’t exist.

or the fish!thanks Steve Lis!

I just got into kneeboarding after riding bodyboards, bellyboards, and paipos for years. A kneeboarder south of me just gave me a board, a nice John Mel – free! Steiny (see above) gave me (also free, a big chunk of a longboard to reshape into a kneeboard). Both guys I had never met before. I just glassed it last weekend by the way, I was able to because of the accumulated wisdom made available here, free. For me those guys are the real thing. As are most of the people I meet while surfing. This is beginning to sound a little like “we are the world” of surfing, but that’s what I like – longboards, shortboards, geezers, groms, spongers, kneelos, what a gas!

There’s probably couple thousand kneelos (me included)in Oz, Hawaii, Calif,UK, etc.that are ripping on a “dead end idea”. Romo, Parkes, Mel, McCray and more keeping busy building primo “dead end idea” kneeboards.

If you still have my number or email get in touch-we have picked up some neat boards lately. 5’2" Brewer Bat Tail, 5’8" Bing Bonzer,5’5" Joey Thomas and a 5’9’’ no name Lis style fish. Fun!

word fellas- i have used my fish AS KNEEBOARD on late and very critical drops, that quite frankly, there was no way i wouldve made the drop by trying to stand. i have also witnessed an older gentleman here at sunset cliffs who will take off paddling on his fish, as he begins to make the drop, pushes the board out in front of himself, transmogifying his 7ft fish into a 7FT HANDBOARD- thats right and this old feller in gettin FREAKING TUBED in the process. ANYTHING goes, so long as you make the wave AND have fun in the process.