An aquatic sport, Kneeboarding sees participants towed by a motorboat whilst balancing on a buoyant, convex, and hydro-dynamically shaped board at a planing speed. Riders kneel on a board and sit on their heels, securing themselves to the deck with an adjustable strap. As in wakeboarding or water skiing, the rider hangs onto a tow-rope. The forte of Kneeboarding vis-a-vis other towsports seems to be an easier learning curve, and does not requiring as much speed from the boat to have fun.
History
Kneeboarding originated in Southern California around 1965. This happened because many of the surfers of the area tried using homemade boards behind tow boats. By about 1970, kneeboards were starting to be designed specifically for being towed behind a motorised boat. Kneeboards were originally much heavier than modern boards. In 1983, The American Kneeboarding Association (AKA) was founded and started to produce competitive events. As a competitive scene started up, interest in the sport grew. By 1988, the AKA was given official sports division status from USA Water Ski.
Kneeboarding is derived from a technique used in surfing, where the rider paddles on their belly into a wave on a kneeboard, then typically rides the wave face on both knees. The typical kneeboard is between 5 and 6½ feet in length, with a wide round nose and constructed of Glassfibre over a polyurethane foam core. However, kneeboard designers are known for their wild experimental excess - and so most modern materials, including various aerospace elements such as Titanium alloys (for fins), carbon fibre and Kevlar are not unusual. Modern kneeboards may have a rubber pad preventing undue wear of the knees, and also preventing slipping to help the rider maintain control. kneeboarders also typically use swimfins and an ankle surfleash.
The advantage of Kneeboarding is the ability it gives the rider to deal with tube rides that might require too quick a take off for a standup surfer or bodyboarder to get into, and might get too tight or steep for a stand-up board surfer to deal with. It seems that Kneeboarding is the ideal way to ‘bring together’ the skill sets unique to each of the surfing disciplines.
Getting Started
Take a tow rope, a kneeboard and a boat that can go about 20 mph, and you’re about ready to make a start in Kneeboarding! Luckily, the sport is fairly simple to start with, and you don't need to travel very fast; so if you happen to fall, it won't hurt.
To make a kneeboard start (known as the deepwater start), follow these steps:
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Before you begin, loosen the strap so that it fits snug, but you can still slip into it.
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Lie on the board on your stomach.
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Hold the handle at the end of the board, palms down.
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Signal the boat driver to take off SLOWLY once you are comfortable.
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As the boat speeds up, inch forward on the board, bringing your knees under you to a kneeling position.
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Let go with one hand and pull the strap over your knees.
Easy to start doing, great fun and full of useful surfing discipline skills - use the Your Leisure Time Quick Search to find Kneeboarding locations and tuition in the UK!
Featured Kneeboarding Websites
British Kneelo - KneeBoarding Club
Information on competing, rules, calendar, officials, the skiers, results, standings, records.
British Water Ski Online - Kneeboarding
Pick up some tips or enter the photo gallery and view some of the top riders and their moves.
Online Kneeboarding Lessons
Kneeboarding Central gives you the step-by-step instruction on kneeboarding tricks to accommodate the beginner to the hot dogger. Though, dark background makes the type a little hard to read.