Jim surfing perfect bells at the Vic titals worth the money to get waves like this for 20 minutes with only four guyes out
Gentle Giant Jim Brown
The next kboarder I would like to introduce you to is Jim Brown.
Jim is an Awesome fella a genital giant and has done a lot of work to promote the sport of kboarding in Australia and is one of the main guys that helps Neil Luke promote and run the Phillip Island Kboard classic. The second longest surfing pro event in Australia only to be out done by the Bells easter classic.
He loves kneeboarding and has always got a smile a mile wide when he is in the water and it go's to 2 miles when there are other kboarders in the water .. He is always hospitable always offering to go back to his place and share a meal and social time with other kboarders.
Also Jim is trying to get a Vicco kboard club on the go... And it will be great once we get that on the go...
So here we have it an interview with Jimbo....
1. Nick name. Jimbo.
2. Occupation. Electrician
3. Why did you start kneeboarding. I wanted to try something different and Neil Luke suggested giving kneeboarding a go.
4. At what age did you start surfing and what yr. I started on a mal at waratah bay when I was about 14, early 70’s , and mucked around on that for a number of years. Then I stopped for a while when I got married and had kids.
5. Who are your favourite kborders in Vic. Neil Luke still has the style and drive that I like, but all the guys that I surf with are great. Stan, Red, Neil O, Mark, Gary, Dean, Turtle, Gavin, there are heaps of good kneelos down here and surfing with them is always fun.
6. Which kneeboarder has been a direct influence and inspired your surfing the most.. surf Definitely Neil Luke. He got me into the sport, makes all my boards, and we surf together all the time, talk in the factory and are good friends. He still rips as good as anyone, as last years 5th in the classic shows, but he also knows how I want to and he helps me to get there. Ken Stapleton has also been a big influence showing me the other side of surfing, behind the scenes, he has, and continues to be great for our sport.
7. Who are your favourite kborders in the World. Baden, Gav, Simon, Chayne, Kyle ,Parksey, List the top 100 kneelos in Australia and they are all my favourites, each one has a different style and that is what sets kneeboarding apart.
8. What other interests do you have. My family keeps me busy, and I have a hit of golf and can be good or very bad.
9. Do you have any sponsors and if so what companies. I am an Island surfboards man, Always was ,always will be. Tommy Tyrrell is a good friend and always looked after me.
10. What have been your best results in competitive surfing. Nothing much to speak of , a few 3rd’s and 4th’s here and there, But I have had heaps of fun over the years.
11. Do you think competition improves your surfing standards. Definitely, just surfing 4 out with the best in the world is a buzz, and there is always little things they do that can help you.
12. What contribution do you think you have given the sport of kboarding. I hope we have made the Island classic into one of the best in the world, and hope we can continue to improve the professionalism of the comp and the competitors. The Australian circuit continues to improve year after year and hopefully this will encourage more young kneelos for the future.
13. What things do you think we could do to improve our sport. In victoria we need to organise a club under the umbrella of an existing club and then run our own comps.
14. Favourite manoeuvre. Not falling off.
15. Favourite drink. Anything wet.
16. Food. Anything that goes with above
17. Famous person I would like to have a drink with. My Dad.
18. Best Movie or Video. Lock stock and two smoking barrels
19. Music: Blues
20. First Car: EH holden station wagon. Indestructible.
21. First Kneeboard: A Mick Pierce twin fin
22. Favourite Kneeboard: The latest is always a little bit better than the one before, I am just waiting to pick up a 6’2” slab, diamond tail with wings, freak bottom and quad future fins. I know it will be even better than the last board I got.
23. Best Surf Break: On the island, kitty’s, Woolamai, flynns, centre crack, south coast NSW. Overseas would be pleasure point (santa cruz)
24. Best Surf Session: 2 out at kitty’s in the middle of winter. Light offshore ,swell big enough to just squeeze into the bay and barrels across the centre of the bay for 3 hours. It was the other guys first time at kitty,s , he couldn’t believe it !
25. Dream Surf Spot: Phillip Island with warm water.
26. Surf Injuries: Buggerd knees and a couple of fin cuts to the head.
27. If I ruled the world: it would go broke.
28. Best Advice I have received: the best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun.
29. Your partners and kids names if you have any. I have been married to jill for 28 years ( it only seems like 40) and have 2 daughters , Kelly and laura who both surfed in the comps until work took them away. They still talk about some of the trips to the comp at Merimbula and of the fun times with stapo and the rest of the crew.
