Taylor Knox
Encyclopedia
Taylor Knox is an American
professional surfer. He is currently competing on the ASP World Tour.
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 team mate 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".
As of 2011, his total career earnings are $1,028,422.00. The 2011 season is his 18th season on tour.
In addition to surfing, Knox was also involved with the video game Left 4 Dead
released by Valve Corporation
in 2008. The character Francis is modeled after him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional surfer. He is currently competing on the ASP World Tour.
Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
and began surfing at 8 years old. He moved with his family to Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
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
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
accident threatened to paralyze him. He spent the next six months in a cocoon-like body cast
Orthopedic cast
An orthopedic cast, body cast or surgical cast, is a shell, frequently made from plaster, encasing a limb to hold a broken bone in place until healing is confirmed...
.
In 1990, Knox participated in the World Amateur Championships in Japan. He finished fourth place, ahead of fellow USA team mate Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, 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
Hiatus
Hiatus may refer to:*Recess *Hiatus, a small difference in pitch between two musical tones *Hiatus , a phonological term referring to the lack of a consonant separating two vowels in separate syllables, as in co-operation*Hiatus , a break of several weeks or more in television scheduling*Hiatus...
from the World Tour. He returned in 2001 and achieved his highest ASP
Association of Surfing Professionals
The Association of Surfing Professionals is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best talent in a variety of progressive formats.- Predecessors to the 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".
As of 2011, his total career earnings are $1,028,422.00. The 2011 season is his 18th season on tour.
In addition to surfing, Knox was also involved with the video game Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead is a cooperative first-person shooter video game. It was developed by Turtle Rock Studios, which was purchased by Valve Corporation during development. The game uses Valve's proprietary Source engine, and is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X...
released by Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is an American video game development and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States...
in 2008. The character Francis is modeled after him.
Rating history on the ASP World Tour
- 2010: 17th
- 2009: 12th
- 2008: 23rd
- 2007: 14th
- 2006: 9th
- 2005: 24th
- 2004: 22nd
- 2003: 7th
- 2002: 25th
- 2001: 4th
- 2000: 28th
- 1998: 35th
- 1997: 18th
- 1996: 6th
- 1995: 5th
- 1994: 20th
- 1993: 24th