Surfing Waves

hey guys,
so im a kneeboarder and I have recently purchased a steamer for winter, when I tried it I struggled to feel the board through the wetsuit and popups are slow and uncoordinated since I have to drag the wetsuit up with me. is there a way I can cut my wetsuit from the knee down without wrecking the wetsuit?

Is it so cold that a short John and a thermal,rashie wouldn’t do,the job! Kneeboarding on Austrian river waves with only a 3/2 steamer no problems with the pop up , glacial water runoff but warmed slightly by mountain lakes

Son John on river Traun.
He is 6’4” so a long john

I would think part of the problem is the KNEE PADS are grabbing/catching on the deck. Some of my wetsuits have actual rubber on the knees, while others have more a nylon mesh. You may want to look for the nylon mesh type.