(Re) Introducing the Chino Racer
/
Had a fun surf in the wave pool this morning with Ryan Akins which was a good opportunity to try out the reincarnated Chino Racer model. The one I'm riding here is a 70/70 free-breather named Ponk. You will notice that Ponk is numbered 300. This is the first time I've jumped forward in the numbering but I wanted to get this mat built to get the testing done, have a load of mats to be getting on with so wanted to get this one out of the way and also wanted number 300 for myself...
Cake and eat it! 🍰🙂
Anyway, as I've previously mentioned, I think it's important that builders of any kind of craft take time to properly explore the properties ofwhat they build. With mats, tiny differences in dimensions make huge differences in performance and direct experiential feedback is essential, alongside feedback from other people.
I've now ridden this extensively in 200/70 Wheezer and 70/70 free-breather and super-free-breather set-ups in all sorts of waves, so I feel I have a good sense of how the design behaves in different conditions and configurations. The Chino Racer is now back in the G-Mat range with a renewed sense of optimism and joy. 🙂
70/70 super-free-breather named Grubby Blanc (l) & a 200/70 Wheezer named Chubby Noir (R)
Here's what the description on the website says:
---
The Chino Racer is an all-rounder that gives a very different feel to the Ute and RB-JMC. Having an additional central I-beam, the Chino racer does not have quite the same level of morphing potential as the 4 I-beam/3 pontoon mats and Being a 4 pontoon mat the it feels much flatter and squarer than 3 pontoon models which means it naturally surfs much flatter. As a result this is a very fun mat that leans towards drifting turns, reminiscent of some of the older mats such as Merrin, although it is definitely a more advanced ride.
Despite this drifting tendency the Chino racer holds a line well and has good down-the-line speed. In 200/70, the Chino Racer feels very stable, particularly with a more restricted internal venting set up. As a 70/70 the drifting nature of this design is maximised and this might be the favoured option for more experienced surfers who are looking to add this style of ride to their quiver.
---
I have now retired the 5 Star General. With Tom building the G-Mat RFT range there is no need for me to be building stock mats so if you have one of the couple of hundred or so out there then you own an extinct species! (There is a one off white one somewhere that I did for Sean Starky for a Yucca raffle and a red one I built for Jim Newitt too).
Anyway, I'm going to carry on riding Ponk as my go to mat for a bit. Good fun! 🙂
Cheers
G