Taylor Knox

Taylor Knox (born May 15, 1971) is an American professional surfer.

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 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.

Taylor's trademark brand of power surfing led to an uncommon surfboard design in 2012 when he worked with Al Merrick to create the Channel Islands Dagger; a surfboard with an abnormally deep double concave and downturned rail. Taylor Knox is known for his ferocious frontside hacks, where he utilized his power and speed to put himself on the most critical sections of the wave.

Rating history on the ASP World Tour 2013: Retired 2012: 31st 2011: 21st 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