Taylor Knox seems to have found what works for him and may finally be making good on all that potent

Athletes aren’t supposed to get better with age. They’re supposed fade, not come on strong down the home stretch. They’re supposed to quietly bow out, not continue to redefine what it means to be great. Johnny Unitas was a broken down, rickety, old quarterback when he finally called it quits. When Ruth played his last game he was a shell of the mythic Bambino who rocketed blasts into the decks of Yankee Stadium. And when Magic came out of retirement there was very little magic left. Taylor Knox is approaching a crossroads in his career, when age begins to matter, or at least it’s supposed to. Strangely enough though, as Knox gets older, he gets better. Currently sitting in the five-hole on the WCT ratings, and with Lowers as the next event site on tour, a wave perfectly suited to his powerful, top to bottom, arching style, Taylor could leap frog into the top three with a strong finish. At 35, Taylor Knox is making, what most would consider, his first legitimate WCT title run. It seems that Taylor has outgrown the mistakes that plagued him so frequently and unfairly characterized his surfing in the early years of his career. For Knox, age has been a blessing not a burden. Taylor is making a charge to the top when most professional athletes his age plan for a farewell tour. After he touched down on the return leg from a less than fruitful trip to South Africa, we caught up with him to talk about the tour, retirement, legacy, and why at 35 he feels like his career is just beginning.


You’ve made it known that Curren, Carroll, and Occy were your influences growing up. Do you see yourself on tour at 40, like Occy? With Gerr’s win in the XXL and Occy more than holding his own among younger ‘CTers, is 40 the new 30?
It seems like it. It only makes sense when you think about the body and peak performance. I’ve never felt this good before, but you have to remember that it takes time and dedication.  I mean you can’t just jump into good shape … well, maybe some people can (laughs).                            

Are you getting better with age? Is it a different dynamic now than when you were younger?
The level of surfing is so amazing, but maybe people thought that back when Curren was coming up. There are a lot more young kids getting into it, but the scary thing to me are the parents that let their kids drop out of school when that doesn’t even give you an advantage.

At 35, is your life how you pictured it would be, both professionally and personally?
I never thought it would be this good. It hasn’t been all easy though, but learning the things I have about myself through looking in, instead of out, has changed my life both personally and professionally. In a way it seems like my career has just started. You could say life is really opening up.

Your approach to the tour, and surfing in general, since 2000 has been markedly different than the Taylor Knox of the 90’s. What was the catalyst that helped you focus?
A friend of mine, Ron Rathbun, has shown me a beautiful way of looking deep inside without being too cosmic or goofy. It’s basically staying in the moment and not getting ahead of yourself. Believe me, I still have a long way to go, but the difference is that I’m enjoying the journey more.

With only Kelly and yourself as the last members of the New School crew still on the ‘CT, what kind of mark do you think you and the boys made on the face of surfing? What is your generation’s legacy?
The difference is that surfing is now something more than a bunch of guys hanging out at the beach doing nothing more than getting a wave and a tan. Kelly has made more of an impact than anyone else in surfing in a long time and I think it will be a long time until someone makes that kind of an impact again. Surfing, as a whole, will just get bigger and bigger, but we need to keep the soccer moms and dads away from the kids and let them have fun.            

What do you think your own mark will be on the surfing world when it’s all said and done?
I’m not sure. Just having the respect from my peers has been a blessing, but I’m nowhere near being done so it’s hard for me to even see that.

Do you feel like you’ve received the credit you deserve for what you’ve accomplished in your career? Do you ever feel unappreciated, living next to or in the shadows of giants like Machado and Slater?
I’m on a different road, they have theirs and I have mine. I’m stoked to be surfing next to them and to have such a close friendship. Their surfing definitely inspires me to get better. I think you’re only in a shadow when you put yourself there.
 
The New School revolutionized surfing, what group of guys do you think will take surfing to the next level?
Guys like Mick Fanning and Dane Reynolds.

How has the younger crop of talent on tour affected your surfing?
It makes me want to go down and watch more heats, which has been nice. In the past there weren’t many heats I wanted to see.

What do you think about the next generation of surfers?
They seem really into the whole thing without partying, but still not being too stiff. There’s a balance in life for everyone and it’s a beautiful thing to watch people enjoying life even when they’re doing the simple things.  

When anyone talks about the ‘CT and the race for the title, the rivalry between Kelly and Andy is an elephant in the living room. What’s your take on Kelly and Andy’s rivalry? Is it a media-born monster or is there something actually there?
No, there’s something there for sure. They’re both my friends though, so that’s all I’m going to say.

In an interview with Evan Slater in 2000, he dubbed you a “surfer’s surfer.” What does that label mean to you? Are today’s groms moving away from classic top to bottom power surfing?
I hope not. That’s why Kelly and Andy are so good and everything stems from that. Those are the hardest things to master. I mean why is it that somebody can do a five-foot air and then barely do a bottom turn?

What surfers from San Diego do you see making the WCT in the next five years and why? If none, why?
There are going to be so many good surfers coming out of SD, it’s not even funny. The kids from Carlsbad are really good and I haven’t had a chance to check out too many other towns, but I get reports all the time from my friends. I say SD could have three to five surfers in the WCT in the next five to seven years.

If surfing wasn’t an option anymore, what would you do instead?
Be a fireman.

Is that a realistic option as a career post-retirement?
I don’t know. Anything’s possible.
 
You seem pretty even keel. Do you credit maturity, family, love?
I credit stilling my mind everyday, doing the practice, working with Ron and watching my kids grow.

What role does family play in your life?
A huge one. I had so much fun with them this week – going to the races with my brothers, mom and friends. My kids just started surfing this summer and that’s probably the coolest thing I could ever think of.

Do you travel as much as you used to, or do you try and spend your down time here in San Diego?
I’m still traveling a lot, but I’m spending as much time as I can with the family.

In a 2004 interview with Transworld, you discussed a project you were working on, how it was, as you said, “… a little more in my private life, which is what people want to see.” So, how real is the public Taylor Knox? I mean, when the day’s done, and you’re at home with your kids, is that the same Taylor Knox that the rest of us see in the mags and on TV?  
There’s going to be something coming out next year that will show a little of what has been working for me in the last couple of years. People keep asking me what I’ve been doing so I want to share that with them.
 
What’s your favorite photo that anyone’s ever taken of you, surfing or out of the water?
I think the new one from Barra, the barrel shot.