Taylor´ sets an example

There are some occasions when a strong person achieves his goals against all odds. It’s also true that History teaches us that those who rise to greatness do so by taking the road less traveled. The path that leads to self-improvement and to accept destiny as it was written.

Taylor Knox’s story is one of those that we like to read once in a while and to tell our kids about. It’s a story that proves that there is nothing stronger than human will power.

Taylor Knox was born on May, 15, 1971 in Thousand Oaks, California, United States. He started surfing when he was eight years old, while he was also skating. When he was fifteen, he underwent surgery due to a skating injury.

He had a spinal tap that kept him away from the water for a long time. Doctors said he wasn’t going to be able to surf again, but Knox’s will was stronger and he went back to the water.

Proving that the road less traveled is the one that takes you to greatness, the come back was amazing, especially with what he had been through and not being able to touch the water for six months. Knox made the United States National Team for the 1990 World Surfing Games in Japan. He ended up placing fourth, followed by the phenomenon Kelly Slater.

Six years later, after making his way into the World Championship Tour, he became World Champion in the 1996 World Surfing Games in Huntington Beach. It was one of the biggest surfing events in history, gathering together the “Dream Team” from every country of the world.

Taylor Knox is an all-around surfer, he rips in everything, from two feet Brazilian beach breaks to 50 feet Todos Santos. He has extensive experience in the ASP World Tour.

He earned the Big Wave Riders respect upon winning the K2 Big Wave Challenge, after riding a huge wave at Todos Santos in the Reef Big Wave World Championship in 1998. He earned $50,000 for that 52-ft-wave.          
   
Taylor Knox has started now his fifteenth World tour season in the Gold Coast of Australia, the most competitive tour in the world.
This is something you would not expect from a person who had to overcome serious injury, one that almost stopped him from being written into the pages of world surfing history.

About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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