Fun Sessions with Bryn and Tim

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I had a really good time with with Tim Ciasto and Bryn Dampney on the South Coast of Cornwall near the Devon border. Tim had his camera. Saturday was a session with just me in the water (and a crowd of about 5895)  on my Chino Racer. It had a little grunt (although I was pretty over-gunned). It was also super busy and hugely frustrating. Still, I managed to snag a few away from the pack on my favourite left which was bumpy but fun.

On Sunday, Bryn joined me on the same reef. The waves were really nice early doors and beautifully quiet when we arrived. 

The waves dropped a bit in quality as the tide pushed and Tim turned up with his camera so he definitely missed the best of it but I'm still pretty pleased with what he got. ☺️

It was nice getting the Bodybag out for a couple at the end, although Bodysurfing is probably best done before, not after a 2 1/2 hour session!  

All good fun. Tim has been sniffing around Cornwall of late and will be back. It would be good to get a few more mat riders together for his return.

Cheers

G

A Bit More Noir

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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

Bodybags Are GO!

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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.

Bodybag.jpg

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

UPDATE - 06/01/2017

Bodybags are in stock now and going FAST! Get one from UK Mat Surfers:

https://www.ukmatsurfers.com/warehouse/g-mat-bodybag-minisurfmat

Here Come the Vikings!

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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.

G-Mat 125 Ubercat Surfmat Surf Mat David Hoke 3654

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."

 

Dave Hoke Norway 357

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

G-Mat 125 Ubercat Surfmat Surf Mat David Hoke 852
G-Mat 125 Ubercat Surfmat Surf Mat David Hoke 12365
Surfmat surf Mat Ubercat David Hoke 6433

The Madgoose!

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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

G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats David Monasevitch Ubercat 14715

Deep Brain Stimulation

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G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats Pete D'Ewart Rubber Bucky 256515

Ahoy ladies and gents, this is DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) a 70/70 Rubber Bucky built for Pete D'Ewart in Washington State in the US of A.

I always enjoy building mats for Pete. He is a real connoisseur and this is his fourth custom G-Mat. You can see the others here:

https://customsurfmats.com/blog/?tag=Chiledub

G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats Pete D'Ewart Rubber Bucky 25

Pete was actually my first ever customer so it is always a pleasure to build a mat for him.

G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats Pete D'Ewart Rubber Bucky 785

So back to DBS. As mentioned, she is a Rubber Bucky. 70/70 free breather with a free rocker. Being a Rubber Bucky there is a deep concave up the middle which provides good lift, with the mat being designed to ride on the wide inside pontoon in trim.

The bottom skin and I-beams are made from the very last scraps of the beautiful green 70 denier fabric from my role so Pete is in for a quick sensitive ride.  I can already hear the cries of anguish from those who have fallen in love with the green fabric. Please rest assured that I will get some more when I can.

G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats Pete D'Ewart Rubber Bucky 9856
G-Mat Surfmat Surfmats Pete D'Ewart Rubber Bucky 365

It looks like the run of good swell continues for the US West coast so Pete should be getting plenty. DBS is more minded towards subtle sensitive low inflation glides than keeping life together in hectic conditions but she will certainly have a prime spot in Pete's quiver, I'm sure.

Cheers

G

UPDATE - 03/12/16

Word from Pete:

"DBS, double bag and T landed today.  G-121is a beauty, another fine design realized with obvious attention to detail.  Can't wait to get it wet.  In the meantime, I've inflated DBS well beyond riding hardness to admire the contours indoors.  Thanks.  Your mats more often disappear when I'm on a wave, full body flying."

Happy so far it seems.

G

 

Not So Iron-Clad

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This is a USS Monitor, a G-Mat Rubber bucky built for Carpinterian, Matt Herman.

Matt surfs the waves in the Santa Barbara region, which means points... Lots of points! The locals are also very open to exploring different ways to ride waves so it's a pretty great place to be a mat rider!

This mat has been named after the Iron Clad war ship. Monitor was a high performance, marine craft too, but that's where the similarities stop as G-Mat 122 isn't armour plated! She does have a 200 denier deck with Sikaflex EBT grip though to offer some stability (comparitively).

The original USS Monitor

The original USS Monitor

The Rubber Bucky design was developed with a lot of testing at Rincon so it kinda feels apt whenever I ship one over there. We know the design goes well in those waves!

It sounds like the US Pacific post is doing well for itself at the moment too so she should get her maiden voyage pretty soon!

Cheers

G

FullSizeRender_edited-1.jpg

UPDATE - 24/11/16

Stokes to hear from mat that Ironclad it going well for him. Matt says:

Literally just got out of water now- the mat is all speed.  The negative rocker just pulls you over the face of the steepest drops supper late, giving me tons of speed but also keeping me in the pocket. 

Thanks to @tate_larrick for permission to share the shot of Matt at Rincon.

G

PHOTO: Tate Larrick

El Gnaranja!!!

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I would like to introduce you to "El Gnaranja", a G-Mat Ute built for a true giant of Californian mat surfing (in every sense of the word).

Matt Pierce is a very talented mat rider. You may be familiar with his image popping up on the site every now and then in the banners. I have a lot of time for Matt. He is a very knowledgeable, and a really good guy with an eye for hand built surf craft.

Matt rides mats at super low inflation so El Gnaranja is a free breather to make the mat super responsive. On paper, she is a small mat for Matt's 6' 7" frame, but Matt has grown up on mats that are small for him an we settled on these dims after a lot of collaborative head scratching. 

In addition to the free-breathing innards, El Gnaranja has a free elastic rocker, meaning that fore/aft elasticity is in place on both top and bottom skins. All-in-all she should be a fast mat.

The grip is Sikaflex EBT so nice and durable offering some added stability.

California seems set for some good swell this Autumn and winter so El Gnaranja should get plenty of water time. With Matt recently moving back to Orange County he should get her in the water a ton! 

Have fun Matt!

G

G-Mat 220 - Getting Manly

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This is G-Mat 220 (AKA "Bening"). She's the new steed of Manly Beach Surf Lifesaving Club's General Manager, Marc Manion. 

Bening is a G-Mat Ute. 200/70 construction with a deck valve and leash attachment. Marc was after some stability so she has a Sikaflex EBT grip job. The internal venting is also restricted. Being a "wheezer" means that Bening will be more predictable in terms of holding her shape. Marc is a bigger fella so the increased stability balances our against the extra volume.

The leash attachment is there as a back up to the matter's death grip as Marc takes trips to Indonesia. I'm really looking forward to seeing that! I hope Marc and Bening have a lot of fun! 

Cheers  

G  

G-Mat 119 - WUNDERBAR!!!

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It's been quite a while since I dyed a mat and, if I'm honest, it's a job I hate doing, but the results tend to make it worth while. That's certainly how I feel about Ian Wraith's new Rubber Bucky named "Wunderbar". 

Wunderbar is built with high speed glide in mind. She is a 70/70 with negative rocker and a Hestered valve.  Ian lives to ride at super-low inflation so Wunderbar is set up as a free-breather to maximise speed.

As mentioned up top, Wunderbar has been dyed VERY green. I think this is set of nicely with the black of the Puraflex 40 grip and the black logo. Ian has gone for grip around the front corners, including the edge-lap to help with keeping hang of Wunderbar in gloves this winter.

I'm looking forward to handing this gal over to Ian. I'm also looking forward to getting a quick go!  

Cheers  

G

Anuket - Heading to Wales

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This is G-Mat 118 (AKA "Anuket"), built for super-talented prone riding Welshman, Keith Usher.

Anuket is a 200/70 G-Mat Ubercat with elastic rocker. The grip is Puraflex 40, pigmented light blue on a royal blue deck with white livery and black bottom skin. As you can see, Keith has gone for a leash attachment as well.

Keith has had Anuket out for her maiden voyage on the day of writing. He seems pretty please with her getting over flat spots and plenty of hold at low inflation. These were soft waves so not really where this type of mat really gets to open up. 

Today Keith didn't wear a leash. The leash isn't intended for every day waves. It's there because Keith takes on waves like these! 

G-Land

Aileens

Leashes are always only a back up on mats but sometimes, keeping hold just isn't an option and a swim around the inside at Aileen's doesn't sound a ton of fun!

Keith has another G-Land trip planned soon. The spot where he first tried a mat! I can not wait to see how Anuket and Keith get on.

Cheers

G

Chris & AJ's Adventure Continues

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Word from Chris Goodwin that all is well in Japan. In fact, it seems that all is very good in Japan, bar one mishap.  

Shot by AJ Goodwin

Shot by AJ Goodwin

Here's what Chris had to say:

Hi Graeme -

The Onion has seen some Japanese typhoon swells and done really well. I attached some stills and a gif which is of one wave.  We were doing stills not video this time.  This is at a break called Motel Shita near a town called Nachi in Wakayama prefecture, Japan

The bad news is two days later I peeled the Onion on some rocks and now will attempt a repair with what I hope is the right kind of Japanese glue.  We will see how that goes.

Chris

DSC07328-ANIMATION.gif

Hmmmmm... Done a proper job there. 😲 

I've given Chris soideas for repairs so hopefully we'll see the Onion back in action soon. 

G

upload.jpg

UPDATE ON 2nd SEPT, 2016

Repair is all done. Great job! 

upload.jpg

Chris says:

I didn't mention but the local elders here thought I was crazy going out on the mat.  They thought it was hilarious in a good way and enjoyed watching me surf the big stuff and get demolished by a few. 

Chris Goodwin - Opening minds around the world. 😊

G

G-Mat Ute for Sale

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My lad, Webbo is looking to sell his Ute named "The Camo Carrot." You can read all about it here:

http://customsurfmats.com/blog/2015/3/20/happy-birthday-webbo

upload.jpg

Camo Carrot would suit a rider around 5'3". She would also be a good option for someone who enjoys riding mini-mats in heavy waves.  

She ehas been ridden under 10 times,  with Webbo growing at a rate you wouldn't believe, so is in virtually new condition. Comes complete with her original bag. 

upload.jpg

Webbo is after a new wettie for Autumn so it's after a quick sale. As a result, you can get this gal for a ridiculous £110 GBP (plus shipping & PayPal fees if unable to collect). 

Email me at surfmatbuilder@gmail.com if interested.

Cheers

G  

5 Star Generals at UK Mat Surfers

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I've just built a batch of 5 Star Generals for UK Mat Surfers. These are a stock model that I've put out there for people on a budget, or those who want to try G-Mat before taking a punt on a Custom mat.

G-Mat 5 Star General

Very good mat I think. They are wheezers, which isn't my default with custom builds (although I'll do it if asked of course). Free elastic rocker and gripped with Sikaflex 11FC.

You don't get a bag and Custom is still the better option to my mind but these are a good ride for most matters in most conditions.

Get 'em while they're there:

http://www.ukmatsurfers.com/warehouse/g-mat-5-star-general-surfmat

G 

Two New Friends for Colin

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Say hello to a couple of lovely ladies set to head off to their new home with Santa Barbara based Colin McCrindle.  Colin is an accomplished mat surfer who is lucky enough to work on boats around that part of the world meaning he gets to surf some pretty special and secluded spots.  

Colin already owns a G-Mat which is essentially a hybrid of these two so expanding the quiver seemed a good call.

So then, on to the mats. The first is G-Mat 116, a 200/70 free-rockered, free-breathing Ute called "Lefty Loosey". She offers the all-round experience and is perfect for those long walled up points.

Next is G-Mat 117, a free-breathing 200/70 Ubercat with rocker. As a quiver option, "Harvester" will handle hollow and peaky pits well, offering plenty of hold and tuning on a sixpence (or whatever the US equivalent might be... A dime?)

Both mats have a 3/4 length grip job and are gripped with Sikaflex EBT. It will be interesting to hear how Colin goes with these in some of his mysto spots. I've seen some photo's (don't ask, I can't share) and he gets into some really good quality waves. Personally, I love hearing how mats lat I've designed and built go in these conditions.

Stay tuned!

Cheers

G

Bottom shot of G-Mat 117 showing the Ubercat rail hooks and deep concave and rocker curve.