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BB: So Chris, we’ve heard all about how you and SA claimed victory, but how were you feeling before your final at the World Masters?
CK: Looking at the conditions in the morning it looked quite hectic. A brand new swell had arrived, it was like solid eight to ten foot, and then it was a decision what boards to use. So I pulled out my old faithful. Obviously with the bigger waves you had to be in the right place at the right time, but just looking at the conditions I was thinking, “Well, I could pull it off here” as I had in the smaller conditions. So I went into it pretty confident and it was just a matter of getting the waves.
BB: You were on a roll during the event. You ended up winning every heat you surfed. When it came to the final did you ever feel challenged by any other competitors?
CK: Going into the final, in big waves there always a threat. I lost a crack at the SA title, in big waves, a couple of months ago, where I lost my board and couldn’t get back. So you had that aspect of possibly breaking a board or just not getting into position. Also I had Rudy (Palmboom Snr) in my Heat. And Rudy being a serous charger from the Bluff, I felt certainly was my biggest threat.
But he had a bad heat. I think possibly choosing the wrong board, which went a little bit to my favour. He was also in the wrong place and went over the falls, so he was a bit flustered and his whole rhythm was just blown out the water right there. The Peruvian guy really shone out in the big waves too. He also surfed the repercharge rounds in the days we had off so it was a bit of a worry. During the final, when I saw him get a good wave I though ‘Hmmm, there could be trouble here…!
BB: The event was a first of its kind, catering for Masters only. What do you reckon something like this offers older surfers who still have plenty of gas to burn?
CK: For guys to compete at our age, I think its great (and) at least the opportunity is there. There is nothing better than going out there and relishing a win for your country. Just looking at the standard of the guys worldwide, the Ballies as they call us, can still do some good turns. On any good day we can possibly go out there and show the lighties a few things. It’s kind of sad that the recognition for us Ballies is lost.
BB: Any scary moments on the trip?
CK: Craig (Sims) doing some freaky hip movements with his Salsa dancing in a bar the one evening…(laughs)
BB: You were a fixture during the days of the Bay Bowl, with the likes of the Thomson’s and later Martin Potter. In light of the recent resurgence in global surfing and our strong heritage, why do you reckon South African surfing breeds such world class surfers?
CK: Well, having a relatively small community of surfers, we have a lot of the good surfers coming out of Durban. And I really think its because we all surf at the same beach. Back in the day it was at the Bay of Plenty, but today, as fate would have it, its all happening at New Pier. And you also have some good riders coming out of East London. In East London, there are also really only two main breaks that everyone surfs. So although the numbers have grown drastically, as you had the Thomson’s (Shaun and Michael) the Bruce Jackson’s and Martin Potter’s who all used to surf together, you now have Jordy and all the other hot kids surfing together today. The pattern remains the same. I think the key thing, even way back then, is that all the kids are actually competing against one another in their free sessions. You actually go out and compete against one another even if you’re just fee surfing. Although it’s all fun, at the same time, in the back of everybody’s mind you’re watching the guy from the back of the wave and want to do better on your next wave. By doing that you were pushing one another and lifting the standard.
BB: What are you currently doing in your life outside of surfing?
CK: I’m a father of four children ranging from four months to twenty-eight years. Two sons and two daughters, who I’m very proud of. I also run a small business, so between work and making baby bottles, I’m keeping really busy!
BB: Your eldest son, Darren, shreds. You also got a few other lightees. Reckon there’ll be another Knutsen cracking a world title someday?
CK: Darren spent a few years in the industry and he did well in a few contests, and I think he’s a great free surfer now. But who knows, Thor, my five-month-old son, has the god of Thunder’s legacy to fill (laughs). He’s already strong at his age and he loves the water. Maybe when he gets older he’ll see all these boards around and start asking questions, so Darren and I can help him with a bit of inspiration.
BB: What still gets you stoked when you wake up in the morning?
CK: The first thing I still do every morning is look out the window to see which way wind is blowing. Then I obviously start making bottles (for the baby) but if there is any chance of an early session, I’m out there!
BB: But as you get older, surfing can easily take a back seat to careers, relationships and other responsibilities. How have you stayed so committed?
CK: I made a promise to myself to never stop surfing. Just the satisfaction of the experience you share with your friends, are things you can’t forget. That’s what keeps you stoked. I have been surfing for forty years, it’s kind of in my blood now and surfing is embedded deep down... When you paddle out there stoked, you can just keep ripping the hell out of it.
We hook up with Gavin Roberts and pick his brain on migrating from WQS campaigner to surf industry player.
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