High-Performance Custom Surfmats Hand Built in the UK
Jamie McClellan is something of a connoisseur of surfmats. The UK Mat Surfers king of Social Media likes them light, sensitive and low key. So here's his latest...
G-Mat 126 (AKA "Angela Davis") is a 70/70 Rubber Bucky with negative rocker and a Hestered valve. The grip goes over the corners to help Jamie to hang on which might be handy because this mat is gonna be quick.
She set sail on Tuesday so should make it fit the weekend.
Let's see how they go. 😀
G
I'm off grid until Monday. I'll reply to any emails when I'm back.
Cheers
G
You may remember a little while ago I built a mini-surfmat called The Body Bag. Here's my post at the time:
https://customsurfmats.com/blog/2016/7/12/a-haaaaaaaand-bag
Following my initial apprehension, I sent that first mat off to be tested by Sean Starkey over at Newport Wedge. His feedback was positive but we both thought that a little more length would be a good idea so that's what came next.
I've built a few proto's using an open weave 500d fabric for the deck and 70d for the I-beams and bottom skin. Unfortunately, the 500d isn't reliable enough but the mats go great! I'm going to be sending these prototypes out to some mat and body surfers to get their heads around but will also be doing a batch of four 200/70 Bodybags for the UK Mat Surfers store.
Here's an edit of a session I had recently with mine.
I'm really excited about these. First couple of go outs, I had it fully pumped. Now I'm finding that 90 degrees is about right. Less than that and it's hard to manage the inflation as you are not covering the mat with your whole body, but who knows where we'll wind up with this. I'm sure better watermen than me will really push the boundaries of what these can do.
Exciting!
Anyway, keep an eye out. These will be for sale via the UK Mat Surfers Store very soon!
Cheers
G
Bodybags are in stock now and going FAST! Get one from UK Mat Surfers:
https://www.ukmatsurfers.com/warehouse/g-mat-bodybag-minisurfmat
It's about that time of year and I'm getting ready to undo all my hard work losing weight so just a quick one to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Love to all
G
Ladies and Gents, meet G-Mat 125 (AKA "Oselvar") She is a 200/70 G-Mat Ubercat heading to David Hoke on the East Coast of the US. Oselvar has a positive rocker to help with turns and Sikaflex EBT grip wrapped around the nose to help Dave to hang on in heavy surf.
About the name, Dave told me:
"I am naming the mat "Oselvar" after the Norwegian wood boats that are fast, agile and bend. My Grandfather was an off the boat Norski (Fritz Heede). I keep in touch with my cousins.
When I visited last year I got to mat in Hoddevik at Midnight and then go spear fishing.
I got to row a vintage wood boat in Fjaerland. It was used by a minister who rowed among his congregations in the 1920s."
Mat surfing a Norwegian fjord sounds amazing. Spearfishing in Norway?! F*ck that!!!
So where are Dave and Oselvar planning to surf. Dave lives in Pennsylvania and doesn't see much in the way of surf at home. The answer is... Costa Rica. Big, peaky reef waves a long way from dry land to be precise.
This explains the rocker and the nose grip and Dave's choice of a low volume mat. His Viking ancestry probably explains his attitude to surfing though, I cant wait to hear about this trip!
Cheers
G
This mat is a 200/70 G-Mat Ubercat named "The Madgoose". She is the new friend of Hawaiian mat surfer, Dave Monasevitch over on Kauai. You may remeber Dave from his adventures with Phileas.
You'll see in the following 2 shots that Ubercats have pronounced rail hooks and a deep concave up the middle of the bottom. The canting that achieves this also offers an enhanced sense of structure.
As you can see here, The Madgoose sports an elastic rocker to work with the stretched out profile and aid turns, particularly off the bottom in heavy Hawaiian surf.
Dave has also gone for some grip on the front corners. Given the waves he has in mind, who can blame him. Here's his first bit of feedback:
"Aloha G!
Got to try it today, 2-4’ Hawaiian surf. Occasional breakers to 3rd & 4th reef. 1st wave was a late drop, and I didn’t feel back of the mat soon enough to stay in the pocket and trim the face. It didn’t slide out in the flats though :-D Once I negotiated the forward-aft through the drop, I felt the open highly evolved form of your Smooth Hold design. But what is the most unique and enjoyable aspect, so far, is it’s ability to climb; even a steep feathering face, and get over the top and out the back.. It was sizable, and kind of a thrill. Thankfully, do to that hold/climb ability, I managed to stay outside long enough to catch a few good waves…That’s impressive. I caught an insider and the next clean up sets drove me in past the second reef and then the first reef. The constant hammering to get so far back out to the breakers, indicated that I was done for the day. Didn’t lose her in all that energy, though! Good fun!!! Hope there’s a few waves left tomorrow. :-D
Many Thanks You da Mat man!,
Dave"
Talented mat rider... Good waves... Pleasure to build... Have fun Dave!
G
I recently had some fun doing this article with Mat Arney at Surf Simply.
Many thanks to the photographers who donated shots and also to those who offered shots that weren't used. There were just so many thanks to the huge generosity in our community that they couldn't all be used.
Cheers
G
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