DK or PRONE???

SmT
February 2006

Here's an interesting topic,
In the past there's been much debate, is DK a part of bodyboarding?
Some people say Yes and some say No! Where's it standing nowadays?
Especially since it seems the guys are pushing DK to the next level, like Dubbs DK Roll at Pipe, where are we aiming?
I'm not trying to stir up anything, just interesting to see, PLEASE try keep any comments civil.
See ya

Bodyboarding 1,134 views

9 Replies

Kelly
February 2006
I used to be able to bodyboard so I consider myself more of a DK rider - but certain waves are definitely for proning and I love those days as much as the DK days. Then a fun running wave will also be good to give the stand-up a bit of a go. And it is exactly that variety which keeps me stoked about bodyboarding, gives it a uniqueness which I find appealing --- in my view they'll all always be bodyboarding ... well, not too sure about kneelo bodyboarding - that's just not on!

DK has always been part of bodyboarding and although essentially it is because you ride the same board and can do both on the same board, it is also because of the pioneers of the sport - they decided not to break away and although I don't think it will ever happen, I wouldn't like to see even a rogue group trying to split the two.

In the early days - late 80's/early 90's where DK was first developing in SA - it is interesting to look back and maybe even laugh at how DK was judged in contests ... if you could do anything riding DK you could almost guarantee that you could win your heat ... but saying that, not many guys could do anything ... a simple DK 360 would out score a prone 360 big time and the DK roll was definitely king. Then as more DK riders came through the judging of it changed to bring it more inline with prone - a big learning curve for judging I thought because it moved to a stage where the same move was scored the same but a Prone floater is obviously lame where as a DK floater, well a little harder to land if anything. Judging has obviously progressed since then but you very rarely see a DK rider taking out a prone contest riding DK nowadays - although that may in fairness be due to the DK division.

The DK division has obviously brought something good for the DK crew, allowing DK riders the chance to measure themselves up against other DK riders (before you'd just compete against some guys riding prone) and at one stage we even had our own separate World Tour - a good thing in my mind because Prone comps and DK comps require different waves if we are to showcase them in the best possible conditions which suit each discipline. However, as DK progresses more guys are pushing the limits in waves which the prone guys only take on.

Maybe that is one thing holding DK back a little -- the safety net of prone -- speaking to Doug two nights ago he was telling me of one of Gordon's heats at Pipe ... 8-10 foot and some guys were proning it but Gordon reckoned no-ways --- took off on his first wave, tried to get up, got pitched and ate it bad ... but paddled straight back out for another one and got the bomb ... a huge sick backhand pipe barrel --- and I take my hat off to anyone who can ride any backhand tube well --- Doug apparantly stopped shooting because he thought he wasn't coming out so he missed a full sequence shot of a wave that ended up with 10's (or some 10's - can't recall) from the judges.

Point is - there is someone who wasn't backing down when a few other guys were proning out ... he got the reward and everyone knows Gordon's reputation as a DK legend and that is why. These are the guys who do/did push the levels of DK riding.

So ja - maybe sometimes when we think 50/50, so lets go prone then we should be going DK. And can you push the limits as much if you don't choose one over the other? It's what I enjoy about bodyboarding and in my mind keeping the stoke alive is all important --- more questions ???
that NINJA kid
February 2006
I can't DK for shit, but I respect anyone who can and I get amped seeing cats sitting in fat barrels on the knee, we all know it takes skill. Snaps I don't get as amped on but I still keep my respect...

I get a lil tired of DK sections in vids though, they get kinda repetetive although I also find that more true if it's a one rider DK section
(except Roach's sections - TOO NUTS)
I enjoy mixed rider DK sections, like WASHING MACHINES has a sick DK section with pretty much everyone...
SmT
February 2006
Hey Kelly,
I remember Gordo's Heat at Pipe, they had a write up in an old SA BBing mag. Apparently it was on the News and everything over there. I think one of his waves is in NF3, not too sure.
You nailed it, Bodyboarding is all about the versatility, what other wave-craft can you do so many things on and all still be functional?
hugh grant
February 2006
I reckon steven seagull could kick mr. Norris`s ass
ST
March 2006
ENJOY WHAT YA DO AND DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT ANY ONE THINKS,
I USED TO BE LIKE 100%D.K. THEN I GAVE MY OLD SCHOOL PRONE SKILLS A WAKE UP CALL AND I AM LOVING IT,,YOU JUST GOTTA HAVE FUN,,TO ME THE OU HAVING THE MOST FUN IN THE WATER IS THE GUY WHOS RIPPING THE MOST,,ITS ALL ABOUT THE STOKE,AND I GEUSS IT TOOK ME ALONG TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT, KELLY RIPS D.K!!!HE GOT SKILSS!!RRRRESPEKT CUZ!!! SmT ENJOY DA TECHNO!!!YOU RIP TOO!!AN I'VE SEEN YA LYING DOWN SMILING!!!YEAH!!!!DO IT,JUST SMILE!
that NINJA kid
March 2006
Yeah ST, straight up, just have fun, make the ocean a playground, not a stress session for crowds and shit...

Don't diss the kids doing their own thing in the water if it looks stupid, it could be the next big thing, I'm sure some cats musta ripped Jack Lindholm when he first got up on the knee, now look where the jack-stance is...

PS- Mr. T would kick both their asses, did you know Mr. T isn't actually black? The sun is just scared to shine o him....
Kelly
March 2006
ST - haha! right back at you .... I'm getting a bit rusty though ... although my mates reckon I still dance like I did in the 80's ... so at least I'm not losing everything.

As for Jack ... the Ripper!

In an interview in a "Bodyboarding" magazine from about 90/91, Jack relived his first session at pipe ... apparantly he took off, bottom turned and stared up into the face of some surfer who's jaw had just dropped, stopped paddling and almost went over the falls ...

On the talk of dissing the kids --- I'll show my age here --- first contest I entered, I was so nervous that I "spun the wrong way" ... dragged my left hand instead of my right!!! Never mind anyone tuning me, I was tuning myself ... took me a while before I realised that I'd actually done a "reverse" - then I was all over them like a rash until a few months later I found out about "unaided" 360's ... so I stopped doing spins altogether ... and concentrated on cutbacks ... nah, jokes --- just took a while before I sussed them ... bit of a slow learner. Anyway - it's just crazy looking back and realising how bad bodyboarding was back then but it also shows how far it did progress in a relatively short time.

But 4 sure ... it's all about having a good time ... whoever gets the biggest barrel, the worst wipeout, the biggest nose run or the most sand in your jocks ... as long as you're enjoying it!
::VIS::
March 2006
Chuck Norris is a legend. He will kick the Hoff's ass any day. Chuck Norris doesn't swim in the sea, the sea swims around him. There is 1 person that can kick Chuck's ass...Geey le Dooche! MXC LegAnd.
scribble
March 2006
chuck is the shizzzzzzzz [/b]

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