The Brian Knoblock Story
Article by Gabor Mereg
Photos Courtesy of GproPhoto.com
When you live in a goldmine of surfing talent, like I do in Orange County, its not easy to pick one individual for your inaugural surfing editorial; not until I heard the story of Brian Knoblock.
I met Brian a few months ago while doing a surfing shoot at Uppers, referring to San Clementes famous Trestles State Beachs myriad of legendary surfing breaks. I had just wrapped up with a client and was walking the treacherous 2 mile hike back to my truck with all my camera gear when Brian hit me up for conversation. He was interested in getting some photos in pursuit of further sponsorships. I obliged, and will now attempt to relay an amazing story that deserves some serious exposure. If there is anyone out there in actions sports that deserves a nod from the sporting giants, this kid is the one
seriously.
Brian was born and raised in Orange County, and currently resides within paddling distance of Trestles. He attended Horizon Christian and was a member of the surfing team and an avid snowboarding enthusiast. In fact, after graduating Riverside Christian high school, Brian spent a year with the Cal Fire Dept., and following the fire season, cooled things off by snowboarding in Alaska for 8 months. Needing to change things up, Brian moved to Hawaii to surf. After a year long stay he returned to Orange County to resume his firefighting career with CDF and surf. At least until his world got rocked.
In his preparations for extreme sporting expeditions and annual battles with forest fires, Brian never imagined it would be a car wreck that would turn his world (and truck) upside down, several times. Returning early morning from a La Jolla social gathering, Brian was a passenger, asleep, without a seatbelt in a late 80s Ford truck. Hazardous road conditions prompted a serious rear ending accident in which the truck Brian was traveling in rolled several times, ejecting him from the vehicle, and tossing him 100 meters down the road.
When the police arrived, Brian was stumbling towards the accident scene with a broken back, bleeding of the brain, and heart trauma. He was taken by life flight and admitted into intensive care for 3 weeks, before being transferred to a long term care facility for another month. During Brians year and a half long battle back to health, the nightmare of 9/11 weighed on him heavily and his sense of Patriotism and eagerness to help was at an all time high. So what better way to celebrate your return from a near death experience
? Yup, join the Marines...Oorah!
The next three and half years were spent serving our country, much of which was spent as point man in a Force Protection Unit based out of Fallujah, Iraq as a part of Operation Phantom Fury. Brian doesnt talk much about those times, but assures me with memories of lost friends that it was a sobering experience. He left our interview about the war at that.
Brian has since returned to his roots in Orange County and has been involved in Fire Safety. He continues to pursue his surfing passion with vigor, and now that he is done serving his country, and his people, his goal is to help raise funds for Life Rolls On so that they achieve their mission of enhancing the lives and health of people with spinal cord injuries.
Brian is currently sponsored by East Coast shaping sensation Tommy Moore, of Tommy Moore Shapes.
Interested parties can contact Brian Knoblock by
Related Links
Brian's
Top 10 Southern California surfing spots.
1) Trestles - San Clemente
2) Newport Beach
3) The Hook - Santa Cruz
4) Steamer Lane - Santa Cruz
5) Rincon - Santa Barbara
6) Strands - Ventura
7) Point Loma - San Diego
8) Blacks - San Diego
9) La Jolla Shores - San Diego
10) San Clemente State Park