Pinkoflage

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Another between runs build, this time for my partner in deflation, Tom Jennings.

With the winter nearly upon us and some solid Autumnal swells lighting up the South West UK, Tom was keen to score a G-Mat Nouveau Racer. I had a dyed 70d skin (see pic 2) that Tom had his eye on and we decided to go with grip to match (as far as you can match fluro pink!). With all this flamingoesque blotchiness going on Tom came up with the name "Pinkoflage". Perfect! 🩷

Pinkoflage is a 200/70 Wheezer as is standard for a Nouveau Racer. Some of the North Cornish reefs have the kind of swims that would turn your hair white at size so we have included a bungee for leash attachment. We have also gone with elastic rocker which emphasizes the concave and and tightens driving turns on the rail. I'm looking forward to having a go on this mat!

I've made a start on the next run of custom orders now. Thanks to everyone who got in with their deposits.

Have fun Tom!

Cheers

G

G-Mat 134 - Making America Inflate Again!

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G-Mat 134 Alan Whitsett Glory Stars and Stripes Surfmat

Meet "Glory", a G-Mat Nouveau Racer heading off to Santa Cruz. Glory is the new steed of Alan Whitsett, a mat surfer with a penchant for big and heavy waves.  Alan asked for a pretty distinctive design which, after a little collaboration, we hit bang on. 

Here's what Alan had to say about the design:

"I'm probably the happiest when I'm in the water and my humor and humanity is reflected most...it seems to me that the world needs to see that America still has goodness in it...the abstract use of the star images rather than rigid rows is whimsical...I want to be the ambassador that makes people laugh and smile, to focus on our commonalities rather than our differences." The name "Glory", ha...well it's kind of complicated...a bit personal and a bit political keeping in mind the current regime in Washington."

G-Mat 134 Alan Whitsett Glory Stars and Stripes Surfmat
G-Mat 134 Alan Whitsett Glory Stars and Stripes Surfmat

"My first waves were ridden on a mat in 1958...I was four. When I first paddled out last year on my 4th Gear Flyer at Steamer Lane...and caught that first wave...I remembered how glorious I felt as a four year old...sliding across the water, laughing, giggling, wanting more. The mat for me is a "new-found Glory", a "coming home" if you will. The flag design came after that realization...it just made sense to combine my sense of glory with our flag "Old Glory"

G-Mat 134 Alan Whitsett Glory Stars and Stripes Surfmat

So there you have it. Pretty distinctive mat for a pretty distinctive fella. Glory is a 200/70 set-up built as a free-breather with free elastic rocker and gripped with Puraflex 40. Down the line speed is the go! 

Alan is heading off on a trip to San Jose del Cabo early next month so a Nouveau Racer seems a pretty good pick if things are firing over there. I'm sure Alan will turn a few heads! Hopefully we'll get some stories and pics.

Cheers

G

G-Mat 134 Alan Whitsett Glory Stars and Stripes Surfmat

G-Mat 88 (AKA "Eye Beam")

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Well kids, it's been a long time since I've built one of these.  This is "Eye Beam", a 70/70 Flying Carpet built for UK Mat Surfers web guru, Bryn Dampney.

Bryn has a bit of a fetish for black and orange which we first saw when he had his first G-Mat, Bombina.  With that in mind, Bryn has gone for pigmented grip on Eye Beam's outer pontoons. I've used Sikaflex 11FC+ so nice and pliable with grit added to help out with the durability and traction when worn down. I've also left plenty of the deck uncovered as Bryn has fine tunes, water chess in mind for this mat.

Bryn made the decision to go for a Flying Carpet with summer in mind. Of course, sod's law means that this El Nino summer seems to be sending us some munting swells (not that we're moaning) but there are still plenty of small shapely days and no shortage of wind slop, so I'm sure Bryn will find something to get Eye Beam going in.

Slippy-slidiness doesn't mean this gal will shy away from a little more anyhoo.

Can't wait to see how she goes. 

Can't wait to have a go myself!

Cheers

G

Pigmented Grip/Logos and Magic Dust...

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I stuck a wee shot on Instagram a few days back but here's a bit more info on coloured deck grip. I put together a 70/70 Ute to test out my new pigments. 

G-Mat 84 (AKA "Winston")

I've given this mat a couple of go outs, just to test out the durability. Particularly as the cure time is extended with colour added. Basically, in terms of characteristics the sealants behave in exactly the same way as normal so I'm pretty stoked!

I've also added a new ingredient to my grip - "Magic Dust." This will hopefully increase the durability of the grip and doesn't affect the pliability.  Magic Dust also cures the common cold and gives your mat the power to fix global warming.

[NB Not all of the claims above are true]

Anyway, Winston is on the way to California to see if Mattitude can wear the drip off.

Cheers

G