DROPKNEE SESSIONS COLLABORATING WITH SILVER QUINN PRODUCTIONS WHAT IS BODY BOARDING? You’d probably be thinking that it’s something that your kids do between the flags on a hot summer’s day, right? Most people would probably not think of the sport of Bodyboarding as a business supported by a robust business model and adhering to strict budgets.
In fact, most would probably not even know what Bodyboarding is. Commonly known as the poor cousin of surfing, Bodyboarding has been ever so slowly making its presence felt not only locally but on an international scale since the late 80’s. WHAT IS DROPKNEE IN BODY BOARDING? Well, the best way to describe Dropknee is you grab a wetsuit, flippers and a 42’ piece of purposely shaped foam (bodyboard) and you try to ride waves with one knee on the back of the board with the other foot on the front (like the wedding proposal stance). Doing this at such a high skill level requires immense balance, knowledge and ability and that is what the riders bring to this event.
DROPKNEE SESSIONS There is a specialised event called Dropknee Sessions on the pristine beaches of the Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia. The iconic Port Macquarie-based event has been in operation since 2002 and has hosted riders from around the globe. Focused solely on the discipline called Dropknee, this event gives riders that practice that allows them to showcase how skillful their riding ability is. Local Port Macquarie bodyboarder Clayton Pickworth is the brains behind Dropknee Sessions, which
12
he initially created in 2001 after close talks with many of the national tour competitors. At that stage of the bodyboard touring events, Dropknee riders were constantly being left behind at events and being put out in the more ‘unfavorable’ conditions of the events. So, as all great Aussie inventions happen over a few beers and a long conversation, Clayton came up with the idea of hosting a Dropknee Only event that allowed the riders to showcase their skills and abilities in the best possible conditions available along with their choice of how the heat draw for the event would run.