kneelo mag issue 1
DESCRIPTION
First issue of Kneelo Mag! Featuring shapers interview with Chris 'Bro' Diplock and more...TRANSCRIPT
M A G A Z I N E
MAR-BMARMARBro Diplock
THE UN-SUNG HERO...
UK TEAM PROFILE / KOLD WATER KLASSIC AND MORE...
He who speaks does not know, He who knows does not speak.
March 2009 // Issue *1
interview:
The view us kneelos know and love...Pic: Ollie Howe
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M A G A Z I N E
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contents: issue *1
P.16 MARBLES.Kneelos at a new spot...
P.26 KOLD WATER.A brief look at the first round of the series.
P.06 NEWS.Profile on the UK team heading to New zealand.
P.20 BRO DIPLOCK.Up close with one of kneeboardings top shaper/surfers.
Graphic Design: Bryn Dampney
Editorial: Duncan Jones, Bryn Dampney
Contributing Photographers:Ollie Howe www.pbase.com/olliehoweDuncan JonesHannahCroxCover pic: Hannah Rider: Karl Ward
Advertising Contact: Nick [email protected]
Submissions and Contributions Contact:Nick Barkham [email protected]
www.kernowkneelo.co.ukwww.kneelo.org
apparel 4 KneeBoarderS by KneeBoarderS
COMING SOON...
...exclusively at www.kernowkneelo.co.uk
w e l c o m e . . .
Kneeboarding. 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 - world-class 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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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.
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.
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
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Nick Barkham
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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.
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
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.
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Team UK
pic: Crox
pic: Hannah
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.
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
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Marc Crawford
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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
All pics: Skye
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Jon Paulett
Team UK
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
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
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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.
pic: Mike Sanders
Karl Ward
TEAM UK > KARL WARD>>Team UK
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pics: Hannah
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.
TEAM UK > KARL WARD>>Team UK
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Available through www.kernowkneelo.co.ukor email: [email protected]
Bryn Dampneypic: Ollie Howe
The kneelo marketplace.
Deck grip, new/used boards and leashes available now.Board bags and clothing coming very soon...
www.kernowkneelo.co.uk
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MAR-BMARMARHe who speaks does not know,He who knows does not speak.
Having limited funds for surf trips this
year I made a pact with myself at the
start of the wave season. I would
spend my time hunting down some
of the mythical surf spots lurking around the
Cornish coast and further afield. Many of them
have proved to truly be myths, or certainly on
the numerous times I’ve checked them. Others
however have delivered the goods and one in
particular keeps drawing me and a few others
back, despite a longer drive and a serious hike
in this one seems to get under the skin. It’s far
from a perfect set up but the combination the
right amount of edginess, the wilderness feel
Words: Duncan JonesPics: Hannah
COVER STORY:
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Karl Ward finds the right spot.
and tantalising glimpses of its full potential is
more than enough.
It’s certainly not for the faint hearted with waist
deep boulders lurking below the take off and
producing boils all the way down the line. As
Nick puts it, it’s like surfing through a boiling
minefield. On a number of occasions when I’ve
surfed it, the settiness can also catch you out.
One minute you’re happily surfing overhead
bombs only to turn round and be confronted
by a darkening horizon and an inevitable
kicking as a double overhead set unloads on
your head. All in all it’s an experience to be out
He who speaks does not know, He who knows does not speak.
“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.”
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there in the wilds with the reward of feeling like
you’ve been on a micro surf trip.
Needless to say the draw of the place will pull
us back again maybe via a few more of these
mythical spots. Some will probably lead us
down the garden path but some will no doubt
reward us with the goods. If you don’t go
looking you never know what’s out there and
when you get off piste and find some gold the
rewards are always payback enough for all the
effort. Enjoy the shots and the possibilities of
adventure on your doorstep.
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He who speaks does not know, He who knows does not speak.
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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
important from a board design point of view?
Bro: George Greenough is probably the most influential
kneeboarder and kneeboard design has changed the
way for modern stand up short boards, he influenced the
likes of Nat Young and a host of other Americans and
Australians of that period to make them chop their boards
almost in half, he was the beginning of the short board
revolution. Then you’ve got Steve Lis on his keels in San
Diego blowing all the stand ups away with the fresh new
lines he was drawing. And Peter Crawford with the slab
design and his power surfing and is probably the father of
modern kneeboarding as we know it.
Who is your all time favourite kneeboarder and why?
Bro: Right, it’s got to be Simon Farrer because he
combines both aspects of kneeboarding which is utilising
the rail and the tail of the board. He is the master, definitely.
And he’s British.
Anyone else?
Bro: No but i maybe a little out of touch with some of the
younger guys.
Simon has taken kneeboarding to different places over
his career. Really since he was 16 or 17 sort of age,
when he came here, he`s been pushing the boundaries of
kneeboarding.
Do you think the current kneelo scene is healthy and
heading in a good direction?
Bro: In Britain I think it’s heading in the right direction.
People are on pretty up to date boards although it’s fairly
low key, almost closeted but it’s fairly healthy. A greater
number of kneeboarders are travelling abroad and
competing and mixing with the better surfers in the world
which is great. When I was travelling there were probably
only 3 or 4 of us doing it and now we’re going to the World
titles and there’s 4 and previous to that we went California
and there were 10 competitors which was fantastic.
I think kneeboarding in Australia, although i haven’t been
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
4 fin fish era and it’s not what performance kneeboarding
is about.
They have a bunch of super talented riders, Barry for
one did really well at Santa Cruz, and who I think could
go all the way but you’re going to have to get different
equipment to beat the ozzies at their game. They will
place highly as they have some good competitors who
will get there quota of waves and will be banging in critical
manoeuvres in the right place because they do a lot of
contests with a lot of people but in the pure aesthetics and
performance i don’t think they are anywhere near it.
Do you think we will see a ground breaking leap in
kneeboard design in the near future?
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
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
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.
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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
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
kneeboarding forward? I don’t think so. Stand up wise a
lot of the twin keels bear no resemblance to the Lis fishes
of the 70’s although the outlines are similar the rocker and
rails are completely different and these boards do actually
perform and guys do rip on them.
But there surely not real retro boards then are they?
Bro: No, they are modern glint on retro boards.
You’ve been designing kneeboard specific fins, is this an
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.
Didn’t Slater just win on a 4 fin??
Bro: Yes i think he did so stand ups are probably in the
throws of a huge design change and a ground break in really
short equipment.
Is it that extra fin then?
Bro: I think it’s just the way we’re going. I’m doing a
shortboard called a Choad which you ride 6-8 inches shorter
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
board you can get plus a huge big single concave. Everybody
pic: www.360photography.co.uk
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
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face to face, it has given me the opportunity to work with a
World class kneeboarder.
Who do you rate as your all time favourite kneeboard
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
supplied the equipment.
Do you have an all time personal favourite board?
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.
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?
Bro: Fantastic time, a complete lunatic, absolutely
completely barking mad but true out and out
kneeboarding die hard. As much as people loved or hated
him, he was a great man and promoted kneeboarding in
a fantastic way and working with him was crazy, some
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
past. The stories that I could tell would be too blue for this
interview, oh the things we got up to! The World’s a lesser
place without him.
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
pic: Hannah
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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
“ 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”
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
pic: www.360photography.co.uk
KLASSIC
COMPETITION:
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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
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
pic: Crox
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M A G A Z I N E
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.
Pic
: Ollie
Ho
we
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