Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

A friend of mine down the coast has been making a few mini simmons boards lately (for footboarders) a mutual friend up here where I stay has been riding one pretty solidly for the last couple of months and it really goes well for him.. the board is absolutely lightning fast and making long flat sections on weak waves isn't even an issue for him. He has by far had the longest waves of anyone around here for the last period.. I have been thinking of asking for a ride but am concerned that my knees might damage his deck a bit. His board is 5'6" and about 23inches wide, has twin keel fins and the tail is super square and also about similar width.

Has anyone riden these as kneeboards over the years? It seems they've been around since the 50's so hopefully someone has some input for me.. I'm considering getting one for summer but my concern is that it definitely doesn't turn like a "normal" board or even like a fish type board and that because the fins are right at the back it might be a bit stiff or dead when a kneeboarder tries to do a turn or two?

Thoughts?

Tim i have also been thinking of a Mini Simmons type board for those flat waves where one sometimes battle to connect the sections , we would need to change the fin setup a fair bit though.
Maybe we can achieve a similar effect just by adding volume to a more normal board though ?

The thing is Terence those keel fins situated way in the back and near the rails are an inherent part of the Simmons design and theory.. check this out http://rusty.com/us/blog/2010/02/23/tal ... ls-part-i/ and it's only the fin placement that worrys me from a Kneeboarding perspective

Adding volume would definitely help with a board designed with smaller waves in mind but you have to see this Simmons fly to believe just how quick it is..!

I think I'll try stuff some extra padding into my suit and ask my bud for a go.. never know till you try I guess..?

Tim give us some feedback if you get a ride.

Will do Terence.. hopefully there'll be a few decent waves on offer..

Tim not sure if you have seen this site , would not mind trying a few of these.
http://thealleyfishfry.blogspot.com
just a thought , with the mini simmons being shorter it is probably not as critical to have fins as far forward as on our much longer kneeboards.

Tim, plenty of people are making miniSimmons type boards with quad fin setups and having good results. Larry Mabile has been making a Twinzer version that would be much looser than the twin keel version. Check out the Ghostbuster model at www.larrymabilesurfboards.com

Tyler Warren Mini Simmons and my little guy checking it out

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That's the one.. Have you ridden that board Steeno?

I had a few waves this morning on my mates board.. was about 2 foot and not heaps of power. I had a lot of fun on that little thing! It is way smaller than my board I am riding at the moment.. 8 inches shorter, an inch narrower and a bit thinner too but it was really easy to catch waves (I was wearing fins) and the part that surprised me was that it turns real easy too.. I thought it might be a bit stiff with those fins all the way back there. And it absolutely flies - loads of fun. I'm going to order one just for something different this summer..

Off topic but it was the first time I've riddne a board without pads on and it is a cool feeling.. I don't think I'd like to do it long term but I definitely get it..

Hi Tim

No I have not ridden this little board, its a wall hanger.

I can guarantee it would go superfast in a straight line.

cheers

Howzit Tim when i started riding there was no such thing as pads , i developed some nice bumps and lumps that got me off some hard work in the Army.

Got my new stick today.. 5'8"x 22 x 2 3/4

Looks like we have a few offshore days coming up so I can give it a go..

Hi Tim,

Gonna put up some pics of your new toy
Enjoy it

Andy

Will do Andy..