Words: Jake Slone, Kyle Walton

Here’s the scoop. Vinny Knapp was our pick for rider of the year about six months ago. We’re just so busy, we never got around to deciding who, or even if, we should do a rider of the year. But after much conversing and careful consideration, there was no question in our minds we had come to the right decision. Vinny was one of the most progressive, hardest working, and virtually unknown riders out in 2008. He was a MONSTER. Any spot he ends up at, he’ll either destroy it or himself in the process. When Vinny rides, it’s typical for bystanders to be more scared for his life than concerned with getting video footage or photographs. He often pushed harder than any other winch artist we’ve encountered yet. Let us just give you a little preview of what Vinny accomplished in 2008 so you can understand why he’s worthy of such a prestigious award: to start off, he’s the first rider to front flip down a spillway, landing it on his fourth attempt. Secondly, the Season Ender gap in southern California where Krooked Murph blew his knee out last year, Vinny switch nose grabbed 180 it first try. He then tried four switch 540′s. On the forth 540, he smacked his face off his knee, knocking himself unconscious. He exploded four teeth on contact and chipped five others. Recovering from massive head trauma and attempting to see through blurred vision, he stumbled up to us at the winch. After confirming he was not in need of immediate medical attention, we suggested we call it a day. He replied, “Fuck it, I didn’t drive 2,400 miles to walk away from this spot. Give me three more tries…” He then demanded Funky Cold Medina start pullin’ rope. Two tries later, he landed the switch 540, spitting teeth and blood as he rode out.

When we took him to Whatcom Falls in Bellingham, Washington, instead of just jumping down the waterfall, he grinded up the rock wall to the side of the falls and dropped off 20 feet, indy grabbing the whole w-a-y  d-o-w-n, proving again, the intense dynamics of Vinny Knapp’s mind cannot be comprehended by a typical ‘waker’ mentality. He thinks up a trick on a waterboard strapped or not and goes and does it. Otherwise, give him a week and he’ll master it. We’re sure there’s many more highlights we didn’t mention, like the fact he’s got two video parts coming out this year; including the one you see here. Not bad for being un-paid and un-sponsored. Who else could we give it to? To top it off, he broke his wrist landing in the shallows while on a La Sewer trip at the end of this last year. To say it in the simplest of terms, Vinny Knapp is an absolute animal with no regard to personal safety. This is why we’re proud to name Vinny Knapp as La Sewer’s Rider of the Year 2008.

Check back soon for the Vinny Knapp ROTY photo gallery! Drop bombs.