Bombina

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Here's the latest out of the workshop, a G-Mat Ute named "Bombina". She has been built for UK Mat Surfer, Bryn Dampney. 

G-Mat 46 (AKA "Bombina")

Photo: Ollie Howe

Bryn is a relatively new convert to the way of the mat having picked up a couple of 4GFs over the last year or so. He is a very talented kneeboarder, notable lneeboard shaper, highly experienced bodyboarder and, as it turns out, is quickly developing into a skilled mat surfer too.

Being one of the most natural tube riders I have had the pleasure of surfing with, it is really exciting to see Bryn out in the water on mats.

Bryn has decided to get in touch with his sensitive side with Bombina, going for a 70/70 construction. I'm really excited to here/see how she goes for him.

Stay tuned.

Cheers

G

G-Mat 40 (AKA "Richard")

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My new ride and I'm pretty pleased with her. 

G-Mat 40 (AKA "Richard")

Richard is a 70/70, free-breathing Ute and is likely to be the last mat I'm going to be making for myself for some time. I really fancied a clean look and am pleased with the results, with the giant G logo not looking too OTT. 

I personally love the responsiveness and speed achieved through 70/70 construction, combined with easy air transfer. I've had a go out in small, sectioning waves so far and she's got into waves early and displaces very little water. Richard made sections well, holding a high line but releasing well when asked. 

Fins out and off... A thoroughly pleasant afternoon.

The 70/70 Ute is a different creature to the 200/70 set up (well, 70/70 mats are completely different to their heavier counterparts full-stop) and aren't for everyone, being very sensitive. But for me, nothing really comes close to the feeling.  

Got some more waves about at the mo and I've got time off after Tuesday so should get plenty on my new go to mat. 

G

The Bullet is Dead... LONG LIVE THE UTE!

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G-Mat Ute - 200/70

As people will be aware, I was keen to work towards an all-round mat that would be an option in almost any conditions. Following that train I recently developed the G-Mat Ute which certainly seemed to hit that spot. 

A few went out to various experienced mat riders and the feedback has been really positive.

For example:

I went faster yesterday on two different waves then I have ever gone before. On the blue mat [below]. I rode two waves almost a quarter mile each. Super winter spot I know of. Local knowledge in Southern California is worth gold.
 
No shit! Those that saw it commented and there were only five of us out. I can't tell you how fast that little fucker went but I was hauling ass. Two career waves in one session. Both about six feet, or double overhead to stand up surfers. Total strangers paddled up afterwards and commented.

G-Mat Ute 70/70

My personal experience has been the same, that the Ute really likes solid, sizable surf and making long drawn out turns. Oh, and it goes like a greased turd!

The thing is, that's the G-Mat Bullet''s job. But my experience is that the Ute actually does the Bullet's job for it, and better. It also beats the Bullet at the bottom end of it's range.

RIP the G-Mat Bullet

So where does that leave the Bullet?

Well... Redundant! 

It's not to say that anyone with a Bullet has a bad mat because the Bullet has performed well in all sorts of conditions and is a good mat, but it has been superseded.

The Bullet's slightly rounded corner is certainly something that could be looked at on the Ute, I have a Standard corner template called the "Tweener" (used on the Glider, Ute and Ubercat) and then the rounder Bullet corners...  

A little more maneuverable and a touch more hold at the expense of a little speed might be someone's bag. Custom is as it says!

G 

PS Of course, any Bullet lovers can still have one for old time's sake. 

PPS COMING UP... The does the Ute leave the Flying Carpet?!

The Ute

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Right then, after some successful tests I'm please to unveil the complete all-rounder - The Ute.

G-Mat 33 (AKA "Blue Thunder")

G-Mat 33 (AKA "Blue Thunder")

I've built three of these to date in various weights of material with some subtle alterations length-wise and these have performed really well. The latest (above) is a 70/70 construction and is a more skittish and quicker ride than the two previous 200/70 incarnations, as you'd expect.

G-Mat 30 (AKA "Piping OTT")

G-Mat 27 (AKA "Jus d'Orange")

Both of those mats have had very good feedback.

So... The primary design points are that the Ute has a very subtle rail hook and a slight concave, giving it a fuller, flatter feel. In practice, this means that it has some of the down-the-line drive of the Bullet and the glide of the Glider. 

Of course, the top end/bottom end of more specialised designs will perform better but the Ute is the perfect mat for the one-mat-quiver,

Cheers

G