Taylor Knox

Taylor Knox

Birth : 1971-05-15, Thousand Oaks, California, United States

History

Taylor Knox (born May 15, 1971) is an American professional surfer. Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began surfing at 8 years old. He moved with his family to Carlsbad at 13 and continued to pursue his dream of becoming a pro surfer. At age 15, he had to undergo back surgery after a damaged lumbar vertebra from a skateboarding accident threatened to paralyze him. He spent the next six months in a cocoon-like body cast. In 1990, Knox participated in the World Amateur Championships in Japan. He finished fourth place, ahead of fellow USA teammate Kelly Slater, who placed fifth. He began his ASP World Tour campaign in 1993. In February 1998, Knox won the inaugural K2 Big-Wave Challenge, an event that offered $50,000 to the surfer who caught the biggest wave of the winter and had photographic evidence. The winning wave was a 52-foot ride at Todos Santos during the Reef Big-Wave World Championships. In 1999 Knox took a one-year hiatus from the World Tour. He returned in 2001 and achieved his highest ASP World Tour rating of 4th place. In August 2011, Knox was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame at Huntington Beach alongside George Downing and Chuck Linnen. Surfers’ Hall of Fame founder Aaron Pai said Knox had "influenced an entire generation of surfers".

Profile

Taylor Knox

Movies

Momentum Generation
Himself
In the 1990s, a motley band of teen surfers from the north shore of Oahu brought professional surfing to new heights. But as their stars rose, the competition threatened to tear their group apart.
Arc: A Taylor Knox Signature Series Film
Arc tracks Knox's challenges and triumphs through his entire surf career, from his small-wave beginnings to his current status as one of the best surfers in the world. With footage collected from previous films and family members, and recent footage shot with high quality 16mm film by Poor Specimen, the film offers a unique perspective on Knox's life, along with lifestyle footage and interviews with Knox, his friends and family.
Loaded
Dane Reynolds is the star of Marine Layer Productions' new surf movie "Loaded". Prepare for 23 minutes and eight seconds of retro surf footage. Although the original video clips may have been shot in high-quality cameras, Reynolds likes it old, grainy and lo-fi. "'Loaded' started shortly after I finished 'Slow Dance' and I wanted to do a video documenting the premiere tour, but I was also doing a little video piece with Taylor Knox, and I had the idea of cramming it all together without context and calling it 'Loaded'," explains Reynolds. The surfer from Ventura is not alone in his retro surfing adventures. Superheroes Craig Anderson, Taylor Knox, Noa Deane and Nat Young join Reynolds in the quest for the world's emptiest surf breaks. The soundtrack for "Loaded" matches the film's look and style. Forget slow motions and immaculate wetsuits.
Absolute Mexico
See insane tube rides; interviews with top pro-surfers and gorgeous footage of one of the biggest days ever filmed at Puerto Escondido. Absolute Mexico is an award winning film captivating combination of water, cliff, and shore angles with epic surfing, massive waves and one of the most beautiful settings in the world.
Rubber Soul 2
The film features Rip Curl’s leading surfers, including Mick Fanning, Owen Wright, Taylor Knox, Matt Wilkinson, Ricky Basnett, Stuey Kennedy, and Steph Gilmore, showing up and blowing up at a host of cold water waves around the world.
A Bowlful of Chile
From the producers of A Fistful of Barrels comes a new video featuring an entirely new wave. The small town of Arica, Chile hosts the ASP World Tour's Top 44 at Ex Isla Alacrans during the Rip Curl Pro Search Chile. Following hot on the heels of last year's epic sessions at the Mexican pointbreak known only as La Jolla, The Search extends its one-of-a-kind Floating License to South America, where the world's best face-off with one of the most challenging waves to ever host a World Tour event. What started out as a question mark became one of the greatest slab duels ever held, complete with heat-ending injuries and the spectacle of the world's best dry-docked on the shallow Chilean reef, leaving some holding their bandaged heads and others simply shaking theirs at a wave compared to both Pipeline and Teahupo'o for it's ferocity.
A Fistful of Barrels
A FISTFUL OF BARRELS is the first surf film of its kind...it wont be the last! Seven Films Presents A FISTFUL OF BARRELS SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO...The ASP held the Rip Curl Search WCT SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO...The best swell in ten years served up perfect 6-8 foot barrels for the 44 best surfers in the world. SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO...This wave awaits you!
Letting Go
In the 1990s, Kelly Slater established himself as the most dominant professional surfer ever. He won a record 6 world titles. But that was then. By 2005, it had been 7 years since he had worn the crown. Many thought he was past his prime. They were wrong. Experience the most triumphant year of Kelly's career. Join him in the epic waves of the WCT "Dream Tour" -- Australia, South Pacific, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe -- on his quest for his long-awaited 7th world title. Get a behind-the-scenes look into one of the most intense years in competitive surfing -- the rivalries, the controversies and the drama -- from the worlds top pro surfers. Witness revealing and exclusive interviews with Kelly and never before seen backstage footage of his life.
Yoga for Surfers 2: Fluid Power Yoga
Linking yoga and surfing may not be the most obvious choice for board-crazy freaks everywhere, but this instructional guide offers overwhelming evidence that it can help enhance performance. By discovering inner-strength, as well as flexing and improving all the muscles used in surfing, a whole new attitude towards the sport can be developed. Find out more with YOGA FOR SURFERS 2 - FLUID POWER YOGA.
Back in Town
Back In Town visits exotic locations, capturing exclusive sessions with the world's best surfers. From perfect 10-foot barrels in Tahiti and Hawaii to the epic beach breaks of France, Australia and Brazil. Back In Town has something for everyone! Hop on the Frieden bus and enjoy the best surfers in the world ripping exotic locations worldwide! Locations: Australia, Tahiti, France, South Africa, Hawaii and Brazil.
Global
Sure to be an instant classic, "global" pulls no punches in bringing you' all the best surfing from around the world without all the hype and gimmicks. Shot on location in Europe; The United States, Africa and Central America. Global showcases the best surfing on the planet.
Campaign
Pro surfers are the solution in coorporate marketing. As they say in the ad game, Surfing sells. Campaign is a comedy that mocks corporate America combined with the most mind blowing surfing of today.
Yoga for Surfers 1
Whether you're new to surfing, a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, you'll find that practicing yoga will do more than just improve your surfing; it will enhance every aspect of your life! Features avid surfer and certified yoga instructor Peggy Hall and top pro surfers Rochelle Ballard and Taylor Knox Learn surf-specific moves designed to prevent injury. Pre-surf session for flexibility and focus:; A perfect warm-up before surfing, this flowing routine awakens and energizes the entire body. Water session to give you energy and confidence; Simple moves you can do on your board to stay loose, warm, and focused between sets and a post-surf session for stretching and rejuvenation; A relaxing routine to calm your mind, rejuvenate your body, and shorten your recovery time between surf sessions.
Thicker Than Water
Himself
Chris Malloy, Emmett Malloy, and Jack Johnson got together to document the life and times of a pro surfer. Shot all on 16mm Film "Thicker Than Water" follows Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, Brad Gerlach, Shane Dorian, and others on a 18 month journey through the North Atlantic, South Pacific, and the Bay of Bengal.
Loose Change
With a decidedly comedic approach Loose Change takes on the age old question "what would a pro surfer be doing if he didn't surf?" In between the surfing segments, viewers follow Rob Machado as "the slacker" traveling around his home town looking for work. On his way, he meets up with today's best surfers as their non- surfing counterparts. The acting is hilarious and the surfing is off the scale.
Billabong Challenge: Nine 9 Lives
The last of the BILLABONG CHALLENGE series; Challenge Four, in Indo, and Challenge Five, in Australia. Indo did not deliver the surf necessary to complete one round so it was cancelled until the following year. Starring Rob Machado, Kalani Robb, Luke Egan, Shane Dorian, Tom Curren, Sunny Garcia, Mark Occhilupo, Taylor Knox, Pancho Sullivan, with appearances by Margo and Kelly Slater. Winner of "Surfer Magazine’s Video of the Year Award" 2000 Best Cinematography Award.
No Destination
The journey is more important than the goal. Five friends on a surfing odyssey that will change your perspective on modern surfing. Starring Taylor Knox, Chris Malloy, Pat O'Connell, Kelly Slater, and Ross Williams. Interviews by Nick Carrol. A 1998 film by Don King and Jeff Hornbaker.
The Show
Greg Browning as a lost space traveler, Chris Malloy as a cowboy, Shane Dorian and Taylor Knox as street thugs, Rob Machado as the Godfather? Sounds more like a night at the local multiplex than one of the greatest surf films of all time.
Focus
Poor Specimen Productions presents a Taylor Steele film featuring Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Taylor Knox, Donovan Frankenreiter, Justin Postin, Sunny Garcia and introducing Tim Curran!
Momentum 2
After Momentum I... the next logical step? MOMENTUM II. More polish. More production. More ripping. But the formula remains the same. Sick sections from the next generation of rising talents. Kelly Slater. Rob Machado. Shane Dorian. Taylor Knox. Kalani Robb. Benji Weatherly. And more. No one could have predicted the success of the first Momentum. And Taylor's immediate response -- even before it's success -- was to keep doing what he was doing: documenting a new generation of rising talent.
Momentum
MOMENTUM marks the beginning of a new era in surfing. Featuring some of the first sections of New School surfers Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Benji Weatherly, Kalani Robb and more, Taylor Steele's 1991 breakout VHS release changed the way surf movies were made for the next decade and became the namesake for The Momentum Generation of surfers. In 2007, Momentum was listed as #3 on Surfing Magazine's "Greatest Surf Movies of All Time."
Absolute Chile
In this follow-up to Absolute Mexico, director Joshua Pomer explores the northern coast of Chile. There we find an all-star crew heading south for some big wave tow surfing. Interviews and great surfing from the cast. Joel Parkinson steals the show with his standup no grab backside tubes. Taylor Knox puts on a display of raw power through his use of rail turns. Cory Lopez shines in the ease of backdooring the wave. Absolute Chile brings us the unique perspective of the surfers featured. Cory Lopez, Bobby Martinez and Pancho Sullivan explain the razor sharp reef and the history of surfing in Chile. Then the all-star crew heads to a wave know as The Fish Factory, where the wave doubles up and spits. Some fantastic rides and even more spectacular wipeouts. In part two of the film we travel to Southern Chile for a big wave riding experience with the likes of Shane Dorian, Greg Long and Chile legend Ramon Navaro.