Kneeboard championships held in Huntington Beach

Some of the best kneeboarders in the country showed up in Huntington Beach on Friday, Feb. 18, to battle it out on the south side of the pier.

The 2022 Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles and Kneeboard Festival, which haven’t happened since 2019 because of the pandemic, brought dozens of competitors from across United States and even a few who crossed international waters to compete.

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“It’s been three years since we’ve been able to hold our titles, like the rest of the world other things got in the way,” said Jack Beresford, of San Diego, one of the event organizers.

The contest had 64 competitors for the open division, as well as several more in women’s, juniors and pro junior divisions.

This year’s event was dedicated to Don Harris, founder and long-time president of Kneeboard Surfing USA, who died in 2019 while surfing in Northern California. The open division champion, Tom Backer, was given the first-ever Don Harris Trophy. Other winners include AAA Division, Adam Shapiro; AA Division, Shaun Noone; Women’s Division, Patricia Hook; and Pro Junior Division, Kevin Skvarna.

The US Kneeboard Surfing USA Titles is the last major contest for U.S. competitors prior to the 2022 World Titles being held in Portugal in September.

Beresford is the reigning champ, earning the last three titles in a row.

“It’s about time to mix it up and let somebody get a chance at it,” he said with a chuckle.

One of the competitors, Gigs Celliers, came from South Africa. He won the event in 2017 and is a four-time world champion.

Kneeboarding was a popular style of surfing in the 1970s and into the ’80s, and has held onto a loyal fan base over the years.

“There’s a lot of history that comes from the sport,” Beresford said. “The guys have been competing for decades. More than anything, it’s a great time to get together, reconnect and really celebrate that we’re still able to go out and do it.”

For full results, go to ksusa.org