The Approaching Lines - Slyder 2.0

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This weekend saw me and the family take a wee trip to Cornish beach, Porthtowan for the Approaching Lines Slyder Cup 2.0.  This is the second of an annual event celebrating all forms of skeg-less surfing.

The Slyder Cup has a tongue-in-cheek competition element to it but the conditions weren't exactly supportive of this.

Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.....

Nonetheless, it was really good to hook up with everyone and to promote mat surfing as best I could. A few other UK matters were planning to pop along. Phil Sinclair made a showing, but a combination of injury, domestic crises and it just being too far to travel with no surf meant that me and my lad, Webbo, were the only regular mat surfers in attendance. 

Let's hope the surf comes together so we can get a gaggle of matters together for the re-arranged splash-a-thon due to take place in the autumn (TBC).

Anyway, I had a table set up and enjoyed some great chats with interested people. 

There were some truly beautiful creations on show. The spirit of the Slyder is getting in and having a go with all of the creators of various surfcraft having stuff to try.

Most Stoked!

Anyway, despite the lack of surf we all went surfing. And despite the lack of mat riders, there were people riding Redbacks and having a blast.

Great to see a collection of finless craft in the water together with a great vibe all round. 

Webbo had some good waves riding various craft, including the paipo he shaped for the day (second from the right above) and he managed to snag himself an award for being the "Most Stoked Surfer".

All in all, this was a great day and I'd urge anyone to make these. The organizers, Demi and Chris from Approaching Lines, put a ton of work into this and they deserve support.

Keep an eye out for more info on approachinglines.com

See y'all there next time!

G

PS I rode a Redback. Not a design I'd rush to look into but perfect for the shin-high wind chop.

G-Mat 48 (AKA "The Flying Egg Plant")

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Finally managed to get this finished, wrapped around a hideous throat and chest infection.

G-Mat 48 (AKA "The Flying Egg Plant")

This little lady has been built for Californian surfboard shaper and artist, Graham P Day. For those unaware of him, Graham is the man behind Driftwood Caravan Surfboards. His site can be found here:

http://driftwoodcaravan.com/

He also bashed out some pretty sweet mat related art pieces featuring the the character "Mat Rat".

Talented man. Talented mat rider too.

Back to the mat, she is a 200/70 G-Mat Ute scaled to Graham's size. He said he wanted a versatile mat but one that will handle the juice.

Hopefully, that's what he's got...  Looking forward to the feedback.

Cheers

G

Surfmat Art

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Very, VERY happy to be showing off this fantastic bit of art from Bryn Dampney. Bryn is the man behind the new banner over at UK Mat Surfers and recently picked up a G-Mat named Bombina.

Artwork by Bryn Dampney

I'll be getting this little thing made into a banner ready for the up coming Slyder Cup at Porthtowan. If anyone would like a print or some such then let me know. Profits to the Dampney foundation for beer.

Thanks Bryn

G

SEA MONSTER!!! G-Mat 47 (AKA "Midori Mirage")

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Here is the latest out of the workshop...  A mammoth build, in more ways than one.

G-Mat 47 (AKA "Midori Mirage")

I was extremely honoured when a genuine member surfing's royalty asked me to build him a surfmat. For those unaware of him, Prof Greg Deets is a legendary bodysurfer and one of the pioneers of The Wedge in Newport, SoCal. Greg is also the man behind Voits reissue of theoriginal Duckfeet and UDT swimfins and the brains behind the most recent incarnation of these in high-tech rubber with and bio-mimetic flex (like being a mermaid!)

So then, on to the mat.

This kind of patterned grip takes and age but Greg's vision has certainly made an eye catching reality.

Greg is a big man, and as such needs a big mat. Bigger than I have ever built! We engaged in a great deal of conversation around this: 3 pontoons? 4 pontoons? Leash fittings and where to put them? 

Oh and grip patterns of course.

Bungee leash attachment. The leash is attached to the middle part of the bungee (hidden under the edge lap) with a loose loop allowing the leash to move freely. This ensures that the forces a spread evenly across the bungee with it's elasticity, the elasticity of the leash and the natural pneumatic suspension in the mat dispersing the load effectively.

In the end we even looked at the inflated dimensions of Greg's favourite mat and guess what... A scaled up Ute fitted the profile nicely. Phew!!!  It is proportionately shorter than the base design but that should be fine with the volume. The corners also use a rounder template to compensate for the height of the rail and ensure a continuous curve.

The leash attachment (a necessity when faced with over-zealous Californian Lifeguards) ended up at the tail leaving arms and hands free to work their magic shaping this free-breathing form of the mat.  

Hopefully we will have a gliding, bombing, maneuverable surfmat which is befitting of her owner. I am really grateful to Greg for his candid approach to this process. An open mind and a willingness to experiment is always a joy to work with.

My breath is well and truly bated... More news as it comes in.

G

Poetry

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California mat surfer, John "Bagjuan" Mann is currently borrowing Ken McKnight's 70/70 Ute, "Blue Thunder".

G-Mat 33 (AKA "Blue Thunder") Photo: Ken McKnight

I got this email fter his first go out:

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From the moment I pressed my lips against her orifice, tasting a salty sweetness,I it was self evident that we were going to get along just fine.Matter not whose lips had been before, they were all good men.

Though she had been ridden hard, and put away wet many times, I took her under my arm. Too  much rubbing had worn her traction to the nubs, but I dismissed that, and affectionately renamed this stallion of a mat" Razor Wind".   She liked to roam outside of the pocket, but was quick to return to her rightful place , deep in the sweet spot. A satisfying blend of the Gross Mini-Mat, and one of Dales last offerings not one to burn off speed, and nimble in all ways side to side .

I enjoyed being able to tweek her valve, whilst wearing 7ml.lobster claws. Its not summer, till the big rubber comes off....,soon ?  All told, the Razor Wind won my heart, and I will return her to The Doggy Lama, with hopes that she has a sister, or something passable, that I might procure from you, Provider of Inflatable Joy.

I will get my house in order, for her coming.

Bagjuan

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Mission accomplished...

G



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