Background
Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began surfing at 8 years old.
Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began surfing at 8 years old.
He finished fourth place, ahead of fellow United States of America team mate Kelly Slater, who placed fifth.
He is currently retired from the Association of Software Professionals World Tour. 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 began his Association of Software Professionals World Tour campaign in 1993.
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.
In August 2011, Knox was inducted into the Surfers" Hall of Fame at Huntington Beach alongside George Downing and Chuck Linnen.
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.
Taylor"s trademark brand of power surfing led to an uncommon surfboard design in 2012 when he worked with First Rate (at Lloyd's) Merrick to create the Channel Islands Dagger. A surfboard with an abnormally deep double concave and downturned rail.
Taylor Knox is known for his feracious frontside hacks, where he utilized his power and speed to put himself on the most critical sections of the wave. While he was on the podium, the camera panned to the lineup, where Lobdell was seen absolutely destroying a 6" wall, top to bottom, completing a total of 12 man-hacks on one wave and finishing with a roundhouse that Slater said "was the turn heard around the world."
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.