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WATERSKI MagazineJust because wakeboarding is the hot new board sport doesn't mean kneeboarding is going away quietly. Quite the contrary. Radical new kneeboarding moves that mimic the type of hang time found on stand-up boards require a new breed of boards – and they're coming.
When we wanted to know what was going on with kneeboard design, we went right to the source. As a seven-time national champion and reknowned kneeboard designer, Ted Bevelacqua is at the forefront of today's innovative tricks and the boards that help throw them. In a recent interview, he shared his views on what will be going on under our knees into the late '90s.
WS: In 1994, there were 24 different kneeboards on the market. Today, there are less than 10. Why?
TB: Truth be known, the market is going flat; we're not getting more skiers into this segment of the sport, so there's not as much demand for new boards. Plus, today's boards are so much more advanced than ones just a few years ago. We're at a point where we're finally getting maximum performance out of some of the boards – they're as good as or better than the riders on them.
WS: What are today's top riders looking for in terms of performance, and how do you deliver that in design?
TB: The new era of kneeboarding is bringing tricks that are bigger, with more air – kind of like what's going on in wakeboarding. Riders are looking for decreased drag, increased lift and minimized swing weight to throw these types of moves. Comfort is also a big issue.
As far as a design issue, I think parallel channels and rail design do more to give riders these needed characteristics than anything else. The boards ride lighter and cut harder and quicker than ever before, setting riders up for huge jumps in a hurry.
WS: What's been the greatest development in kneeboards over the last five years?
TB: There are really two. Composite materials give the rider lighter weight and more strength and stiffness.
Today's pad design is offering the most comfort and lateral stability ever. Riders are able to go bigger and land easier than ever before. Plus, the height of today's pad, especially outward of the knees, helps keep riders locked on to the board and gives them good cutting ability.
WS: What's on the horizon?
TB: Composite structures are the wave of the future. I think we're going to see lighter, stiffer and stronger boards that have more response, especially for riders in competition and into big-air free-riding. But that doesn't mean we're going to see the elimination of the plastic boards. They still have a future as an affordable kneeboard that anybody can ride.
Ankle support still has a ways to go. If we can alter the pad area under the ankles with a supportive design, it could be the answer to a lot of people's problems and difficulty/pain associated with kneeboarding.
Ted Bevelacqua is a seven-time national champion, designed the current Trident Ted Bevelacqua Pro Model kneeboard and is founder of Pro-Acqua kneeboard accessories.
