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Awesome Rides
The Evolution of Design, Style and Moves ...
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Mike Johnson design Mako kayak produced after the first Merv Larson 3 planning hulled bottomed Taco. The Taco was a difficult boat to control. The Mako was the 1st attempt to make a user friendly surf vehicle.
© 1998 - Grace Iannotti
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This is a Mega Jester surf kayak from England. It was a fiberglass copy of the Perception Sabre squirt boat. It had harder edges, squashed fore and aft, and was lighter. It was a jump in performance over the Sabre.
© 1999 - Grace Iannotti
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Dick Wold in "Das Boot," in an early surf kayak by his design. He is known as the "peoples manufacturer" of Arcata, California. Many have made the Mecca to Dick Wolds factory in the woods to receive a new surf machine and learn to surf with a champion.
© - Bud Clark
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Diane Bacon, one of the perennial U. S. women’s champions surfing her home break, Steamer Lane, in a Mega Jester.
© - Adventure Sports
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Rusty Sage in a Rodeo boat showing that the modern day river boat can surf big waves at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif. Rodeo play boats are now very similar to ocean surfing vehicles. They have planning hulls and hard edges. They simply are not as fast or light.
© - Adventure Sports
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Dave Johnson showing the ending-move he made popular. He is in a Mega Jester design. His boats were always in a state of disrepair because of this maneuver.
© 1997 - M. Weyerhaeuser
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Spike Gladwin, the main designer of Necky Kayaks single-handedly catapulted the conservative manufacturer from a staid sea kayak producer to one of the top rock-and-roll white water designers. He did this with his love of surf kayaking. He was the first to bring planning hulls into riverboats. He is surfing Rip design.
© - Jonathan Paul
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Ken King in a Wave Ski. He developed many of his world champion surf kayak moves from his experience with this vehicle.
© 1996 - Jonathan Paul
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United States Team at the 3rd World Championships at Costa Rica. Victor and Rafael Gallo of Rios Tropicales river outfitters, and Alvaro “Toca” Gonzales of Centro De Aventura shocked the world community in 1993 Worlds Championships by taking on the next Worlds event.
© - Adventure Sports
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This is one of the successful riverboats used in kayak surfing. It is a squirt boat that does end maneuvers and underwater moves. It worked in waves because its bow and aft collapsed hull made this craft able to slice through the waves. The surfer is Keith Chapin of the east coast.
© - Jonathan Paul
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This is the Mike Johnson design Mini Mako surfed by Ed Martinez the III at Steamer Lane. This high performance design was the next in line after the successful Mako at 9’ 6”. This kayak measured out at 8’ 6” and was touted as the best kayak to date. Mike Johnson designs are “free style” surf vehicles like his wave skis, i.e. they do not have fins. The directional force is the paddle and edges. They are extremely fast. Their main turning momentum is in the tail.
© - Jonathan Paul
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