MAGAZINE
MARMAR B
He who speaks does not know, He who knows does not speak.
Bro Diplock interview:
THE UN-SUNG HERO...
UK TEAM PROFILE / KOLD WATER KLASSIC AND MORE...
March 2009 // Issue *1
MAGAZINE
The view us kneelos know and love... Pic: Ollie Howe
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contents: issue *1 E
P.06 NEWS.
Profile on the UK team heading to New zealand.
P.16 MARBLES.
Kneelos at a new spot...
P.20 BRO DIPLOCK.
Up close with one of kneeboardings top shaper/surfers.
P.26 KOLD WATER.
A brief look at the first round of the series.
Graphic Design: Bryn Dampney
Advertising Contact: Nick Barkham nick@kernowkneelo.co.uk
Editorial: Duncan Jones, Bryn Dampney Contributing Photographers: Ollie Howe www.pbase.com/olliehowe Duncan Jones Hannah Crox Cover pic: Hannah Rider: Karl Ward
Submissions and Contributions Contact: Nick Barkham nick@kernowkneelo.co.uk www.kernowkneelo.co.uk www.kneelo.org
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COMING SOON...
apparel 4 KneeBoarderS by KneeBoarderS
...exclusively at www.kernowkneelo.co.uk
Karl Ward off the top. Pic: Hannah
welcome...
K
neeboarding. The way we choose to ride waves puzzles most ‘regular’ surfers, yet every kneeboarder out there knows we’re on to something good. Why else would there be so much passion put in by a relative few? This first issue of Kneelo magazine hopefully goes some way to show the passion we as kneeboarders have for our craft. No outside funding, just a few dedicated souls, who in true kneelo tradition, are willing to put their own time in to documenting some of the important and fascinating characters that have helped get kneeboarding to where it is today. We hope to make this an international affair: it’s heavily laden with the UK scene this time but that’s because to get it off the ground, we’ve had to use what we have! Luckily for us there are some very talented kneelos here - worldclass in fact - plus a shaper who is right at the forefront of progressive kneeboard design.
The aim is to plant a seed within the kneeboard community that will grow with help. Pictures, stories, design, history, people, everything and anything kneeboard related will be welcomed but we’re also trying to keep the content a little bit more special and exclusive than what you will find on the excellent web sites that are out there now. Wrap it all up in a file you can view online or download to read at your leisure and keep, print it off at home even. The ultimate goal of course would be to immortalise it all in print but anyone who has had anything to do with publishing will know how much it costs to do this! One day... So for now we shall see how far it can go in digital format. Let us know what you think, all suggestions and submissions will be gratefully received. Stay deep! The Kneelo Magazine Crew.
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NEWS:
With the 2009 World Kneeboard Surfing Championships fast approaching, we thought it would be good to get up close and personal with the guys going from the UK.
TEAM UK > NICK BARKHAM>>
Nick Barkham What is kneeboarding to you? Escape for all me pent up aggression, a habit, it’s the guys I hang with, they have become friends. What do you want to get out of the worlds experience? Really just wanna see it as a spectacle being in New Zealand with the team will be an amazing experience. How are you preparing for the trip/competition? Well I have had to increase the cider and pasty intake, bit of running lots of surfing really been trying to get myself comfortable surfing at places like levy and marbles with size. What do you think of kneeboard competition? Well I am not really a naturally competitive person but I enjoy the fact that others are so even though I surf like a kook I still enter and try, I still get nervous and shaky before a heat.
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It’s all good. In your opinion which kneelos are taking kneeboarding in to the future? Simpsons, Albert, Kyle, Gavin, Karl these are a few I enjoy watching them all especially Wardo, I see him surf often and he’s doing it right now, landing sick moves with the ever present style. Maybe my opinion will change after I win the worlds................ Hahahaha. What boards do you ride and why? My stock board is a 5`10 swallow nice in beachy stuff and Bro lent me a 5`11, which I am loving, been riding Diplocks for a while now. Who or what influences your riding? A guy once said to me Go late, Go deep, Go hard and I say this to myself often. Duncan Jones and Rubber Jonny the
Team UK TEAM UK > NICK BARKHAM>>
pic: Crox
most I suppose because we can be like nervous groms, I thrive of the energy and enthusiasm. Describe your best ever session? Spanish point, Ireland. D-bah, Oz. North Coast Secret spot overhead perfect left hand barrels.... Home does it for me.
Any sponsors helping you out? My wife and kids for letting me go. Bro Diplock www. diplocksurfcraft.eu for helping out with the board dilema. C-Skins are helping out with wetsuits and rashies.
What music psyches you up for a surf? Bad religion, Pennywise, Metallica, ABBA. Nothing like a sing song on the way to a hammering. What are your favourite waves in the UK and the world? Leven for the crowd, Marbles for the scare factor, Nameless for the nailing and the sheer wow ness, Boobies its like home, Ireland is amazing, Broken Head, D-bah in Australia pic: Hannah
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TEAM UK > MARC CRAWFORD>>
Marc Crawford What is Kneeboarding to you? Kneelo is an expression of my un-normal state of mind, that un-familiar drive of energy/panic you get, Feeling of motion through your knees, I can’t really explain it, its outside my usual body positions (except …) and is a my passion, yup that’s Kneelo to me. What do you want to get out of the worlds experience? A T-Shirt, A Tan and more comrades, Oh yes, maybe a Belly decrease will be in order! How are you preparing for the trip/competition? Honestly, I’m not, does playing cricket count? My mission will commence on the 1st April, from there yonder I shall begin lift off.
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What do you think of kneeboard competition? It’s great, it pushes the levels up, it creates rivals and more importantly unity. In your opinion which kneelo’s are taking Kneeboarding in to the future? Gee no one rips no more, so I would say “NIEMAND NIE”, no wait, that Blue dude, in Watchmen, he is pretty snappy! The Simpsons, they yellow dudes, can also do a bust or 2. The 3 Minute Mexican Man “Karl” can turn a swift, and that Simon and Garfunkel (Gigs) can make sweet Rhythm. Honestly there are to many to name, everyone has something to add, as our sport is so unique. What boards do you ride and why? On average 6’1 by 23 x 3, because they can float my frame. I’ve recently got a Bro Diplock board and initial reaction is it
Team UK TEAM UK > MARC CRAWFORD>>
All pics: Skye
floats rather well. Who or what influences your riding? Growing up in Durban, South Africa, I used to see Gigs tear it up, and that drove me to push my limits, he made me want to be better. (never quite got it right though) This coupled with a love for water and a passion for empirical nomothetic. Describe your best ever session? Without a doubt, Kelso, South Coast, Kwa-zulu Natal, South Africa. It was one of those days, The barrels went on and on and on, so long …. Turn after turn on the 10-15ft steep faces, the sun was out, Water was warm, wind was light and to top it off the dolphins were playing with us, slipstreaming my paddle and helping with the 1 mile back after every wave, What more could you want in a 5 hour session?
What music psyche’s you up for a surf? I am a man of all tastes, but nothing makes thee blood boil more than AFI, System of a Down, Pennywise and Good Riddance. Oh Dropkick Murphy’s and my all time favorite Milli Vanilli (rest their souls!). What are your favorite waves in the UK and the world? UK would be Staithes and Porth Levey, and the rest of the world, Jbay and Seal Point Saint Francis, South Africa. Any sponsors helping you out? Negative, Well A big shout out to Miss Shelly Riddin, Robbie Robes, Nic Nac Paddy Kung Fu Panda wack, Jon Jon, 3 Minute Mexican Man “wobbles” and THE UNFORGETTABLE BKC “British Kneeboarding club” www.kneelo.org.
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Team UK TEAM UK > JON PAULETT>>
Jon Paulett
What is kneeboarding to you? It’s not sport or art for me it’s just a super fun thing to do. Surfing has been a constant in my life and in kneeboard surfing I’ve found a bunch of people I like and something that makes me want to do my best in. What do you want to get out of the worlds experience? I want to get out alive! Between bunk collapses and Marc and Karl’s antics there are some real dangers to my health and wellbeing. Seriously though, it’s the pinnacle of the sport, I want to see the names tear it apart, I want to learn more about the technical aspects of riding and learn more about boards and their set-up. Plus NZ – fully stoked about seeing the country and potentially jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft to take in the view. Heard the beer’s good too so I’m fully in my element. How are you preparing for the trip/competition? Preparation has included forced drinking, abusing Nick, gym
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work, surfing a bunch of new spots, abusing Nick some more and field hockey to focus my aggression. What do you think of kneeboard competition? I’m into it now but hated it when the BKC first stated it up. I’ve gotten used to just having a go at whatever’s there on the day; we’ve had guy’s just bleat and bitch about conditions but I’ve no time for that shit, just go, if you get a kicking so what – at least you’ll have your self-respect! In your opinion which kneelo’s are taking kneeboarding in to the future? In terms of home grown riders, Karl Ward kills it and I really rate Bro and Bryn – all very very different in their approach and style but leave me wanting to try harder to up my game. Right now in the UK there’s a core group of people really trying to progress all aspects of kneeboarding so it would be wrong to just focus on high profile riders. A huge amount of effort is being made behind the scenes. I’m only going to pick out a single name but Dunc Jones is like this veggie
TEAM UK > JON PAULETT>>
pic: Mike Sanders
nut job who’s so stoked it’s not true – he’s a mate and good role model; thank god he doesn’t eat meat – the guy would be unstoppable! What boards do you ride and why? 6’0” Kovert semi gun – why, need a bigger board when it’s overhead. 5’10” Kovert – why, need a wee board for small zippy waves. Who influences your riding? Put simply the lads, we all get nervous, edgy and just stupid stoked so we feed off each other and it really sets the tone for what happens in the water. We have to be careful not to run our mouths though as one downer comment when we are all packing it can mess with our heads. Nick’s easily lead and I’m worse but we do listen to Dunc – word to the wise, if you are in the line-up and he does his nervous girly giggle or goes quiet you are screwed, just get your head down and paddle for the horizon!!!!!! What influences your riding? The severity of hangover, water temperature, how well work is going – if I’ve had a crap week I surf better.
Describe your best ever session? May 1st 2007 the reef at Constantine Bay – back-lit emerald bombs, just like clockwork! What music psyche’s you up for a surf? Slipknot / Metallica / Foo’s / Lost Prophets / sing along pop crap. What are your favourite waves in the UK and the world? To be honest I don’t hanker after a single waves, I just want to have fun wherever I am! That said, there’s a place I can’t mention that’s put me in hospital twice, another mate smashed his cheek and his board tore his nostril off, another lad was airlifted – great wave!! Also, there are a couple of places we’ve surfed recently that have really got me hooked and hurt; seem to have a thing for boulders right now! Any sponsors helping you out? Bryn at Kovert kneeboards is helping me get the right boards for the trip and C-Skins.
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TEAM UK > KARL WARD>>
Karl Ward
pics: Hannah
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T
Team UK What is kneeboarding to you? Kneeboarding is a huge part of my life....has been since I first jumped on a board. When I left school all I wanted to do was pack my boards, buy a ticket and go ride some of the best waves in the world on my knees....And since then I’ve travelled round the world several times seeing new places, new experiences, new people, new cultures, making new friends living a really good life and that is all due to the sport of kneeboarding... What do you want to get out of the worlds experience? Having only really competed in the worlds once before, I was very much unaware of what to expect in a big contest of that stature. I learned a lot from the 2007 world champs. This year I would like to push myself and my limits on the competitive stage against the world’s best...I really want to have a world title more than anything right now. But also really looking forward to meeting and surfing hanging out with other kneelos from all over the world. How are you preparing for the trip/competition? Physically I’ve been training with a couple of friends of mine - Stef Harkon, who is a great surfer and personal trainer, and also young pro surfer Tom Lowe... I’ve tried to spend as much time as possible in the sea this year working on my surfing, generally focusing on what I need to do and how I want to surf my heats this year. What do you think of kneeboard competition? Kneeboard competition in the UK has come along leaps and bounds over the last few years thanks to Duncan Jones’s time and efforts. I’m all for competition - I think it’s healthy for the sport whatever level you’re at people can learn something from it. The UK has some talented kneelos and if they are going to represent their country against the world’s best I think it’s very important for the growth and support in competition in the UK. In your opinion which kneelo’s are taking kneeboarding in to the future? Simon Farrer from Australia for me has taken kneeboarding
into the future for many years, not only with his surfing but also in making his movies. I got to surf with Simon in Hawaii and it really opened my eyes to his level of surfing. There are many other kneelos pushing boundaries in the sport, such as the Simpson bro’s with their progressive aerial antics... What boards do you ride and why? I’ve been riding a 5’10” tri fin and a 6’0” tri fin... The 5’10” is something fairly new to me as my usual short board would be a 6’0”... Who or What influences your riding? A lot of the Ozzie riders have some influence on my riding. But also I think when I was growing up I was a big Taylor Steel fan and I would watch his films and see the guys surfing so well that I wanted to do the same moves they were doing but on my kneeboard... Describe your best ever session? That’s a hard one...but I think my best sessions are those unexpected days where you may go check a spot on the off chance and you get there and it’s firing... no one else around just you and your mates... What music psyche’s you up for a surf? Ahhh music...I like all sorts of music anything that makes me feel good... recently been listening to Yazoo, Motley Crue, Len, Ian Brown, I hate Kate, Dramarama, Unwritten Law, Porkbelly... What are your favourite waves in the UK and the world? UK... I have a few but I guess my home break is my fave. World... there’s this wave in Brazil - can’t remember its name. A local pro took me there and the walk through the jungle to the beach where this left hander wedged off a point and just barrelled so perfectly is probably my fave. Any sponsors helping you out? I have recently changed board sponsors and now riding for Bro Diplock at Diplock Surfcraft which is very exciting. O’Neill wetsuits, Spin A Yarn clothing, Robierobes.
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Bryn Dampney pic: Ollie Howe
Available through www.kernowkneelo.co.uk or email: bryn413@btinternet.com
The kneelo marketplace. Deck grip, new/used boards and leashes available now. Board bags and clothing coming very soon...
www.kernowkneelo.co.uk
MARMAR B COVER STORY:
He who speaks does not know, He who knows does not speak. Words: Duncan Jones Pics: Hannah
H
aving limited funds for surf trips this
the numerous times I’ve checked them. Others
year I made a pact with myself at the
however have delivered the goods and one in
start of the wave season. I would
particular keeps drawing me and a few others
spend my time hunting down some
back, despite a longer drive and a serious hike
of the mythical surf spots lurking around the
in this one seems to get under the skin. It’s far
Cornish coast and further afield. Many of them
from a perfect set up but the combination the
have proved to truly be myths, or certainly on
right amount of edginess, the wilderness feel
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Karl Ward finds the right spot.
and tantalising glimpses of its full potential is
minefield. On a number of occasions when I’ve
more than enough.
surfed it, the settiness can also catch you out. One minute you’re happily surfing overhead
It’s certainly not for the faint hearted with waist
bombs only to turn round and be confronted
deep boulders lurking below the take off and
by a darkening horizon and an inevitable
producing boils all the way down the line. As
kicking as a double overhead set unloads on
Nick puts it, it’s like surfing through a boiling
your head. All in all it’s an experience to be out
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Marble
“One minute you’re happily surfing overhead bombs only to turn around and be confronted by a darkening horizon and an inevitable kicking as a double overhead set unloads on your head.”
He who speaks does not know, 18
there in the wilds with the reward of feeling like
reward us with the goods. If you don’t go
you’ve been on a micro surf trip.
looking you never know what’s out there and when you get off piste and find some gold the
Needless to say the draw of the place will pull
rewards are always payback enough for all the
us back again maybe via a few more of these
effort. Enjoy the shots and the possibilities of
mythical spots. Some will probably lead us
adventure on your doorstep.
down the garden path but some will no doubt
He who knows does not speak. 19
SHAPERS INTERVIEW:
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There’s a small band of master craftsmen in this World that are have spent countless years of dedication working towards a goal, the progression of kneeboards. In this, the first in a series of interviews with the vital few, we caught up with one of the men at the front line at his factory in Wadebridge to fire a few questions and hear the thoughts of one of the un-sung heroes of the modern kneeboard. Chris ‘Bro’ Diplock. Having Karl Ward recently come on board there’s definitely a buzz in the air. Fresh boards bound for the Kneeboard Worlds in New Zealand are in the shaping bay and spirits are high... Which point of kneeboard history do you feel was the most
Do you think the current kneelo scene is healthy and
important from a board design point of view?
heading in a good direction?
Bro: George Greenough is probably the most influential
Bro: In Britain I think it’s heading in the right direction.
kneeboarder and kneeboard design has changed the
People are on pretty up to date boards although it’s fairly
way for modern stand up short boards, he influenced the
low key, almost closeted but it’s fairly healthy. A greater
likes of Nat Young and a host of other Americans and
number of kneeboarders are travelling abroad and
Australians of that period to make them chop their boards
competing and mixing with the better surfers in the world
almost in half, he was the beginning of the short board
which is great. When I was travelling there were probably
revolution. Then you’ve got Steve Lis on his keels in San
only 3 or 4 of us doing it and now we’re going to the World
Diego blowing all the stand ups away with the fresh new
titles and there’s 4 and previous to that we went California
lines he was drawing. And Peter Crawford with the slab
and there were 10 competitors which was fantastic.
design and his power surfing and is probably the father of
I think kneeboarding in Australia, although i haven’t been
modern kneeboarding as we know it.
there in a while, is probably heading in the right direction. America i don’t think so. To me they are still stuck in the
Who is your all time favourite kneeboarder and why?
4 fin fish era and it’s not what performance kneeboarding
Bro: Right, it’s got to be Simon Farrer because he
is about.
combines both aspects of kneeboarding which is utilising
They have a bunch of super talented riders, Barry for
the rail and the tail of the board. He is the master, definitely.
one did really well at Santa Cruz, and who I think could
And he’s British.
go all the way but you’re going to have to get different equipment to beat the ozzies at their game. They will
Anyone else?
place highly as they have some good competitors who
Bro: No but i maybe a little out of touch with some of the
will get there quota of waves and will be banging in critical
younger guys.
manoeuvres in the right place because they do a lot of
Simon has taken kneeboarding to different places over
contests with a lot of people but in the pure aesthetics and
his career. Really since he was 16 or 17 sort of age,
performance i don’t think they are anywhere near it.
when he came here, he`s been pushing the boundaries of kneeboarding.
Do you think we will see a ground breaking leap in kneeboard design in the near future?
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Bro: No, I don’t think we will see anything ground breaking in design at all. You will just get constant refinement from the top guys using computer cut profiles following what surfboards were doing 20 years ago when they started to break into computer design boards. In kneeboards there’s only Bruce, myself and a couple of other guys actually dialling there shapes in on a computer. Now we will probably see in the next 5 years not massive design changes but small refinements here and there which will make for massive amounts of performance as over the last 10 years? Bro: Probably 10 years ago there were a lot of single concaves, full concave nose to tail, and a lot of rocker probably too much rocker and the single biggest change in design is that the rockers died down especially in the tails and the use of less concave and more flats and vee’s. In stand up short boards they have reduced in volume and length dramatically and depending on what you know there’s a lot more variants. Guys riding 5’5” ‘s and 5’4” ‘s on quite radically different types of boards and performing in good waves like Slater at pipe, he won on an under 6ft super short board but really flat rockered.
you`ve seen in stand up surfing. If you look at surfboards somebody could probably think they have not changed much in the last 10 years but they have if you stand them side by side. But also we are going to change the way we kneeboard. It’s a constant evolution. Back in the 80`s there were a lot of 4 fin boards with flicky little manoeuvres and the 4 fin almost influenced the way people surfed. A majority of the power surfers now are on tri fins and they promote power surfing off the tail, and depending on where we go and what people want to see in contests if people want to surf grunty heavy waves then i think you’ve got to be riding tri fins...in my opinion. What has been the biggest design change you’ve seen
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getting on them is just loving them, super fast and turns on a dime. The design does work and it works very well. Do you think ‘retro’ boards have a place in kneeboard world? Bro: NO! Why not? Bro: It’s a very blinkered attitude I’ve got. I am into pic: www.360photography.co.uk
shaping performance kneeboards. I suppose on one side it’s quite interesting to ride old boards and see what we rode 20 years ago but does that actually fit into pushing
Didn’t Slater just win on a 4 fin??
kneeboarding forward? I don’t think so. Stand up wise a
Bro: Yes i think he did so stand ups are probably in the
lot of the twin keels bear no resemblance to the Lis fishes
throws of a huge design change and a ground break in really
of the 70’s although the outlines are similar the rocker and
short equipment.
rails are completely different and these boards do actually perform and guys do rip on them.
Is it that extra fin then? Bro: I think it’s just the way we’re going. I’m doing a
But there surely not real retro boards then are they?
shortboard called a Choad which you ride 6-8 inches shorter
Bro: No, they are modern glint on retro boards.
that your normal short board. It’s got the nose of a very flat fish board but the tail rocker of the most high performance
You’ve been designing kneeboard specific fins, is this an
board you can get plus a huge big single concave. Everybody
area you feel is generally overlooked? Bro: When I first started kneeboarding most kneeboards had boxed fins so the fins were usually designed by the shaper/kneeboarder but since the advent of FCS I think, not that the shaper has forgotten about the fins, but because there are no kneeboard specific fins that fit an FCS plug it has a little bit. I’ve always made, profiled and foiled my own fins. It’s probably per square inch over the boards surface that’s in contact with the water, the greatest effect changing attribute of a board. Alterations in the profile or the foil will have a dramatic effect on the performance, sticking stand up plastic fins in a kneeboard is not really the way to go. What sticks in your mind as the most off the wall board you’ve shaped? Bro: In 1994 I shaped myself a double concave swallow tail with lots of rocker. At this time I had not seen a contemporary kneeboard for nearly 3 years. Things had changed in surfboard design and kneeboards had followed it slightly. At this time Simon Farrer was riding Wayne Hutch’s boards with single concave and lots of rocker. Mine was inspired by an Albert Whiteman board with double concave in the middle going out to a vee tail. I super exaggerated the bottom contours to 3/4 inch deep running the whole length of the board going out to vee behind the fin.
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Where do you get the most enjoyment from shaping? Bro: Two things, I can’t really separate them. The first is creating a 3D object from a lump of foam, secondly to physically see someone actually riding your boards and getting enjoyment or performing well on a piece of foam I made and is the ultimate joy. Are you excited to have Karl Ward now riding your boards? Bro: Yeah its fantastic. Karl has been riding boards that I’ve shaped on and off for the last 15 years but for the last 5 he’s been riding my boards but through someone else but now I have the contact with Karl as a surfer/shaper relationship. I’m really excited that we are working together
Do you think it is important that the kneeboard surfer/ shaper tradition continues? Bro: It’s very important because the amount of kneeboards that are shaped are very low volume so you need to be pretty in touch with what’s happening. For a kneelo to explain to a stand up shaper what he wants is pretty difficult because they only shape maybe 1-10 kneeboards a year its hard for them to have a base of tried and tested design. It’s not that he can’t, it’s just very much easier for a shaper whose a kneelo to get that instant feedback. With pure basic design value they could get pretty close but to get that ultimate kneeboard a kneeboarder/shaper will understand it better. What was it like working with Albert Whiteman? pic: Hannah
face to face, it has given me the opportunity to work with a
Bro: Fantastic time, a complete lunatic, absolutely completely barking mad but true out and out
World class kneeboarder.
kneeboarding die hard. As much as people loved or hated
Who do you rate as your all time favourite kneeboard
a fantastic way and working with him was crazy, some
shaper and why? Bro: Past would be Albert Whiteman just for the amount of top guys he had riding his boards and present day would be Bruce Hart. He’s brought on modern, powerful kneeboarding leaps and bounds. Matt Gallagher, Simon Farrer and Gavin Coleman are all about power and he’s
him, he was a great man and promoted kneeboarding in mad times! Full of information and design theory about kneeboarding and general shaping. He was taught by Terry Fitzgerald and he got most of his kneelo design from this great stable. When I was working with Albert at the same factory was Blacky Wilson and Michael Mackie, the guy that taught him, had done a lot of Occys boards in the
supplied the equipment.
past. The stories that I could tell would be too blue for this
Do you have an all time personal favourite board?
place without him.
Bro: It’s an old one that I didn’t shape, it’s an Albert Whiteman circa 1990 5’9” single wing swallow tail. I should get it out.
interview, oh the things we got up to! The World’s a lesser
Where would you like to see kneeboarding go over the next 10 years? Bro: I see kneeboarding over the next 10 years staying very similar to what it is at the moment. Very underground
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“ I’ve always made, profiled and foiled my own fins. It’s probably per square inch over the boards surface that’s in contact with the water, the greatest effect changing attribute of a board”
pic: www.360photography.co.uk
and hardcore but i would like to see all those hidden kneeboarders get to more gatherings, contests and stuff globally. I would like to see kneeboarders fully embrace each other so all the kneelo communities wether it be South Africa, Australia, America or Europe become one. It’s getting there but its still segregated. It would be good to see some sub 30 year olds getting into the sport but I wouldn’t want to see it go commercial like boogieboarding went. It would be nice to see some youngster go out and surf some death pit but it’s only what kneeboarders are renowned for anyway. You usually get some nutty kneelo taking of on some death slab somewhere. I would like to see some of those charging kneelo instances documented. Most surfers that have travelled around the world usually have some story of a kneelo going mental at some break that’s on, to keep that reputation going with some photo evidence would be fantastic. Anything new up your sleeve? Bro: A Guernsey wooly jumper! Thanks for your time Bro, it’s much appreciated and good luck to Karl at the Worlds. To contact Bro visit www.diplocksurfcraft.eu
pic: www.360photography.co.uk
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COMPETITION:
pic: Crox
As the 22nd February dawned we were hoping for the conditions we got last year at Perranuthnoe - crisp lined up 3’ and offshore. It was 8.30 am on a cold February Sunday and unfortunately we’d been denied. A pathetic 1’ wave was crumbling on to the beach at Perran. A quick decision had to be made and with the north coast blown out by the north westerly a call was made to go “somewhere” else. On the upside we arrived to find overhead lumps coming through a cross
KLASSIC offshore and no takers. On the downside the tide wasn’t really low enough for the spot and there were a lot of straighthanders. The full report and pics are coming in a separate volume of the Kold Water mini mag via Kernow Kneelo and the BKC, keep your eyes peeled! Round 2 will be in there also...
pic: Crox
pic: Crox
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So there it is, the first issue of Kneelo mag done and dusted. It’s been a learning process and a labour of love. Future issues will get more interactive if we can find the support so video will be included within the pages for an extra dimension. We hope you’ve enjoyed the ride and join us again soon for issue 2, which if all goes according to plan will feature the following plus more:
Kneeboard Worlds 2009 focus. Kneelos kill it in Morocco. See you then! The Kneelo Mag crew.
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Pic: Ollie Howe
MAGAZINE