From Christopher

 

Dear Paul-

I was finally able to get the Fatty wet this morning and I wanted to send you a heartfelt thank you for making such a wonderful product. 

I just turned 42 last month and I was fortunate enough to purchase a home less than 10 minutes from the beach about 18 months ago. For the past 6 months I've been running on the beach and bodysurfing in order to get back into ocean shape since I'd been landlocked for the past 20 years. I'm also lucky enough to be able to go almost daily and often get first look at any potential waves. 

That being said, in typical Florida fashion it went flat as soon as my 4GF was delivered. I've been hauling it down to the beach daily in anticipation of anything ridable, and today we had some decent knee to waist high sets roll in on a pretty short beach break but I couldn't resist getting out there. 

It took me a bit to get comfortable paddling but once I figured out my torso placement and rhythm I was floored at how well it paddles and has far less drag than I would have anticipated. My first few attempts were pretty hilarious, I either didn't pull the mat far back enough once I caught the wave and subsequently lost power, or I would get a bit too far forward and plunge the nose down because I wasn't using enough finesse and acting like it was a boogie board.

However, after about 5 attempts I started to get the hang of things and was able to catch a handful of short glorious rides.  I can already tell this will be way too much fun, and I'm very excited to practice and progress with my skills.

Obviously I didn't unlock 3rd or 4th gear, but I could feel the power of the wave under and behind my mat and can only imagine how fun it will be when I learn to fly!

Thanks again for making me this surfmat.

-Christopher

From Mark

 

Hey Paul, 

Hope you’re well.

I’ve been wanting to send these to you for a while. I was going through Moms’s stuff last spring and found these. I remember begging my dad to rent a mat when the surf was up. That's him with a mat behind me...my mom in the first one.

Enjoy,

Mark

First Semi-Annual Surfmatters Swimsuit Edition

 

Addendum from Lou...

 

Update:

Joe Crawford's Grandmother. Pacific Beach. Early 1970's...

Mikey Live

 

For a Hi Def edit go here...

Video by @_philalbritton

From Mikey

 

Jose Martinez Update

 

 

 

Jose came up big in the finals!  Best ride at 6:40 and post heat interview at 7:00.

While it's too soon to make any comparisons between Jose/PG Designs and Verstappen/Red Bull, so far we're unbeaten!

Jose Martinez

 

Jose is an adaptive surfer, with no legs and one arm.  We built him a hull recently and he likes it!

Here's some more footage of him in a pro contest from this week. He's on his orange hull at 3:03 and 3:18, and an interview at 3:27.

From Cher

 

Hello Paul,

We hope that our email finds you and Gloria doing well. Steve and I think of you often.

This week has been big, dynamic windswell and Steve has dawn patrolled 5 mornings in a row! The swells have been 4-7 feet in size, thick, hucking, bowling take-offs. I’ve seen Steve being launched off thick lips and making the drops, burying his right front corner (rail), to pull up into the pockets! Racing sections and pulling lines, living up to my nickname for him “Mat Masterson!”

Our young gun ripper surfers are cheering Steve on and exclaiming about his takeoffs, barrels and speed. With me just riding “Princess Waves” head high and under now, Steve is surfing for both of us on the bigger, dynamic days, and I’m stoked to feel the energy.

His speed, pocket riding and cutbacks are smooth, powerful and inspiring. I told him that he has beautiful style on the mat. He replied: “How does someone have good style on a mat? I replied,”You do! You have the a similar flow with power, speed and maneuvers that you do when surfing your boards!”

Paul, thank you for all of the joy that you being us with your wonderful, inspiring 4GF crafts!

Love and Aloha,

Cher and Steve

From Steiny

 

From Ben

 

Photos: Jesse Coker

From Joe

 

Hey Paul,

Hope you're doing well over there. It's a wild world all the time, but it sure is a weird one at the minute. 

The difference between my old omni and the lotus is unbelievable. Thanks for the advice and the recommendations.

The lotus holds, the lotus fits, the lotus' flywheel winds up faster and releases with greater torque. It seems happier sitting and holding higher up the face of the wave, its banking turns are incomparable. In saying all this I finished repairing my omni and am really excited to get back on it. 

I'm pretty lithe and light, so the lotus sizing feels better, less space to get the arms up on the mat which has in turn resulted in some very positive right arm/both arms back discipline.

We've had some very good and unseasonale swell over summer here and I've been out at least thrice a week. Most of my surfboards are looking at me quite forlornly as I pass them in the garage...

I've attached a few media moments of joy below for your / but also my/ pleasure.

All the best,

joe

From Bryan

 

 

Hi Paul,

I had a great time on my fatty in hard offshores today. I was a little worried about my mat getting blown to Hawaii but thankfully I maintained a firm grip throughout the session. I attached a clip of my best wave of the day. I was right on the edge of holding the rail and sliding out for this whole wave and it felt great.

Bryan

From Aaron

 

In these clips from Andrew, I was running high inflation on my 4gf Standard because of the south wind chop. High inflation let me hold an edge for the brief moments of water contact.

Waves here have been very soft and hard to catch this year. Most days, I've been running inflation extra low, to the point where the mat can be folded into 3...

San Diego Loaner Mats

 

Travel Safety...

 

The Pro Lite travel bag crew has developed an inflatable liner for travel bags...to protect surfboards in transit. Of course, you could just save the hassle and take deflated inflatables rolled up in a suitcase and surf them...

From Steiny

 

                                                  Sarah and her Omni. More about Sarah here!

                                                                    Photo: Alex Vierra

From David

 

Hi Paul, 

I just wanted to say Happy new year and glad to see you are actively riding and testing mats.  All the mats you've made me are still in good condition and riding well over the years.  I had a fun session over the summer at a right hander and my 11 year old son Luke actually took a couple of photos.  

 

Wishing you good health and plenty of waves this year.  

 

Thanks for the fun sliding vehicles you create.

David

Brave New World

 

From Kelly

 

From Richard

 

Hi Paul,  I hope this note finds you well. 

Here’s a few pics from last fall at my home break in Beach Haven.  I’m still riding one of the two standards in my quiver as my go to surf craft. 

It was a surprise to see another matter from my area writing in about fins, especially since he’s on Bob Evans’ force fins.  I went to them a few years ago after tearing both my Achilles tendons over a period of two years.  I’m hoping to have a look at the yuccas.  The FFs just don’t do it for me when it comes to using them as a rudder. 

If you don’t mind passing my email on to Dave from Philly, I’d be interested in talking to another local mat rider.  I live in suburban Philadelphia

Rich

PS.  My son moved to Santa Barbara from Oxnard recently.  He mostly surfs Oxnard still but next time I’m out there I hope to find a good mat spot near his house as I’m usually on bicycle when I’m there.