As I said elsewhere, Tom gets particularly strong when the waves become a little wild, a little woolly, a little big, a little broken. What's fantastic with this is event is we got the who's who of the big names coming to Jeffreys Bay. Any heat with one of the top 10 names in it is going to be exciting. We are in for a hell of a ride.

Thanks for the compliment. I heard the pleasure of watching her performance New Zealand, South Africa and Portugal. Every time the conditions got broken, got big got tough, got strong, Tom just got stronger. As a person he's also a fantastic world champion, one we can all respect and admire

This was one interview that I loved doing while it was happening. A real quality man. Great Kneelo too.

Thanks mate

Thanks for your kind words

Thanks for the kind words. I think the job of these interviews is to introduce the world to the characters in our sport. My hope is that when you finished watching the video that you feel you know the man (or woman) behind the action photographs and the trophies. Hence the title, Kneeboard Torque.

Owen will have to answer that question. This video, of course, is four years old. I'm sure he's gone through a lot of boards in that time. When he and the rest of the stars arrive in South Africa we will post updates on their equipment and their approaches.

He's gonna break some competitive hearts in the J-BAY contest. In the Open Division as well as Junior's.

Owen is on fire going into jbay surfed the wave pool with him yesterday and man has he improved can’t wait to see him tearing up jbay

Do you know if he is coming to the world titles at J-Bay? The event will be poorer if he is not competing

His always had thought provoking, interesting, controversial and sometimes mad as a hatter ideas. Got to love him.

I think the interview shows the Gavin that you are describing. Disappointed to hear that he won't make the World Titles in J-Bay due to injury.

Maybe not this time. I hear he is in a plastic boot, ankle injury from a severe wipe out. Pity

@@kneeboardtorque5971 oh that sucks hav at supers would be a fun watch!

Their trip to South Africa was eye opener it for them and us. A revolution in South African boards too

Thanks for the support

We hope to see him at the World Titles in Jeffreys Bay.

Por Que!

Thanks Gavin. That's good getting the opportunity to speak with these guys and present them to the broader world.

Thanks mate. More videos coming, interviews with stars both current and future. We all love a good surf video, but in the past I believe we were missing getting to know the person behind the board rider.

The sport is split into two very distinct opposition groups. On the plus side it does give you a burst of energy to get onto the waves. For me, the times you break a leash it's a easy swim in. On those long paddle outs, or paddles back to the point against a rip you're going to be glad you've got fins on. So my suggestion is use them, and only if for some reason you experience difficulty or a problem then try without.

Well the world is a village. Contact them, order one, pay and paddle

@@kneeboardtorque5971 one of these days I will add one to the collection! So many Kneeboards so little time.

Can you search for Nick hartigan on Facebook and throw the questions directly active there? Please. Otherwise it becomes a three-way broken down telephone conversation

Heavy takeoffs?

Your graphics always feature, Troy. Thanks

Anything is possible. But in doing the possible you going to compromise many aspects of riding the wave. The number of prominent people that ride finnless boards, the one that comes to mind for me is Derek Hyndel. You may know him in the mid 80s he was top 10 Surfers on the tour and then he took his eye out in the shorebreak at Durban the contest. He rides finless surfboards at J-bay. I have put a range of channels onto my board before and has some understanding as to the control and the direction they give you. So the key pointers yes due to that fins put channels in, the Channel rails as well, and a good twin or single concave going through the bottom deck. Those who give the board direction and speed and then just be super gentle on any direction changes. You can always fit some fins later if the experiment doesn't really work

@@kneeboardtorque5971 Awesome thank you for your reply, it is very appreciated. I think you hit the nail on the head, set it up to take fins as well, try out with and without, then it will be easy to see what's working when in action. Thanks again, appreciated.

Thanks

Would love to hear from my compadres

Last day... Hollister ranch after work 3 yrs...6 to 8 face, howling offshore, 2 or more barrels per wave, long paddle back but we'll worth it

Great to hear people's stories

Core strength. Chest up and your knees slide forward

A fair percentage of riders do without flippers. So if you can paddle ok, and your boards got good bouyancy you'll be ok without flippers.

@@kneeboardtorque5971 many thanks for your reply

The kneeboard is typically between 5 ft 9 and 6ft 2. That length is driven by your body weight and the size of waves you will be riding. However the plan shape and rocker is quite different to that of a surfboard. The widest point is moved forward, as are the fins/skegs. If you are interested in the sport drop a message on one of the Facebook pages, there's a lot of second hand boards available.

@@kneeboardtorque5971 thanks for answering, I’ll check the pages Happy waves 🌊

Now this was the 70s but my favorite board was a 4'11" fish. And a 5'6" fish for big Blacks beach.

You've surfed J-bay?

He's got great timing and reads the wave very well. Kelly Slater moves his arms around are you going to tell Slater to work on his style.

Ive kneeboarded forever and im always conscience of my arms too,fair comment,knellos are touchy by nature. Truth is, the arms are too long in proportion the legless body, so need to pull them in.

Just looks ugly, in my opinion