MATSURFERS.COM NEWS - MAY-jUNE 2020

Sorry for the lack of a newsletter last month but with everything going on it has been HECTIC!

So as a special action packed edition, we have 2 more Quarantine Chronicals, some DIY mat builds, our updated mat care and repair videos AND an EPIC photo of the month for you to look at.

QUARANTINE CHROINICALS - CHRIS KEMP

QUARANTINE CHRONICALS - EDEN SAUL


QC No 2 - Eden Saul https://www.matsurfers.com/eden-saul

 

HOME BUILDS

There are a few people working on building their own mats at the moment so we thought it would be fun to share some of what’s going on. Check this from our Instagram page!

MAT CARE AND REPAIR

We are currently working on updating our Care and Repair page which is a marathon not a sprint for sure but with thought you might like to look at some videos that will be in there which have been done for the site by G from G-Mat Surfmats.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

And finally, our Pic of the Month(s) is by our very on Kendog. A beautiful shot of the lat, great Scott Reeder.

Many of you will not know of Scott but he was one of the true legends of our world. A phenomenon in the SD surfing world, Festus Porkmeyer (as he was known) was one of the most loved and respected individuals you could imagine.

Have a look at his hugely inspirational Here and Now interview with Kendog back in 2014:

https://www.matsurfers.com/scott-reeder

Scott also played host to Phileas, the travelling mat

His write ups were amazingas you can see here:

https://customsurfmats.com/phileas/tag/Scott+Reeder

Scott unfortunately lost his battle with cancer but rode his mat right up to the very end. The Mat World is a better place for having had Scott in it that’s for sure.

Here’s to you Festus!

So that’s us. We’ll try to be less slack next time.

As always, we welcome your feedback and contributions.

Thanks

MatSurfers.com

MATSURFERS.COM NEWS - MARCH 2020

Welcome to the March Newsletter. Things are pretty crazy right now so our content this month is a little brief but we hope still of interest…

SCUMM VIDEO

Everyone knows SCUMM and is familiar with their joyous approach to life. They recently had a really fun looking matmeet. Wone of those out-of-the-blue affairs which are so special. Paul Newman has been kind enough to share his fantastic footage with us…

ROCK!!!

YUCCA FINS GIVAWAY


Yucca Fins are spreading the love with a fin giveaway. Check this post on Instagram, tag a friend and tell them you love them to be in with a chance of getting this one of prototype pair of fins. Hurry hurry… No idea how long is left!

 

So that’s it unfortunately. We’ll keep collecting info as we go. Keep yourselves safe, self isolate. Put the safety of yourself and you fellow humans above the drive to surf but if you get a safe and solitary session in then cherrish it.

As always, we welcome your feedback and contributions.

Thanks

MatSurfers.com

MATSURFERS.COM NEWS - FEBRUARY 2020

Welcome to the newsletter and this month is video heavy. We also have some exciting news from the world of custom mat building as well as some sunning (and we mean STUNNING) mat art.

So without further ado, here is the February Newsletter!

NEWS FROM ORGANIC DEVOLUTION

Ian Jermyn over at Organic Devolution has been working exlusively with Matt Fedden at Warpmats to offer acid dyed skins for mat riders. He’s really been pushing his acid dying skills and expanded in to making a range of different products including surfmat bags but way beyond surfing. You want it, he can do it!

The news is that Ian has decided to go freelance with his dye work meaning that you can now you can now request a custom acid dye job on your next mat from either Warpmats or G-Mat (text link). To see examples of past custom acid dye work check out the Organic Devolution website (text link: https://organicdevolution.com/products/custom-texile-dyeing

Looking good Ian!

B’s - No. 01

The first video this month is from Lost Snorkel Productions. The main flick is mainly stand up surfing and well worth a watch, but the opening wave is of mat meister Andrew Stephen Buck (AKA “ASB”, AAKA “Buck”) hovering over the bumps at his usual home haunt.

Very nicely done Mr Buck.

WAVEPOOL MATTING

The next clip comes from Justin Spittle over in Oz. Justin is a member of the Ecto Handplanes bodysurfing team but is more than a little keen on mat surfing. On a recent trip to the Urban Surf wave pool in Melbourne, Oz.

Looks really fun! There has been a little disgruntlement among people in our Facebook Group about the insistance of leashes at The Wave, the UK’s Wave Garden in Bristol. It’s good to see a leash free mat being ridden successfully in a pool without someone getting injured. ;-)

MAT PASTA

The final video comes from a guy called Jon. Other than that, don’t know his surname or who filmed it but a really nice video in clean little waves.

PHOTO(s) OF THE MONTH

Well… You decide because we can’t. We cam across the following paining on the internet and tracked down the artist, Ron Croci. Ron was wamore than happy to share his work with us for the newsletter and also sent us a further picture.

Ron Croci Greenough Surfmat Painting

The second shot is also outstanding! What a talent!

Ron Croci Greenough Surfmat Painting

Ron says:

“I started out mat surfing in 1960 and made the usual progression to wood board, foam board, long board, short board, back to long board and now back to mat surfing again! I love it!”
— Ron Croci

Well, we love your work Ron. You can see more at http://www.roncroci.com/.

Well there you have it. What a month! As always, we welcome your feedback and contributions.

Thanks

MatSurfers.com

MATSURFERS.COM NEWS - JANUARY 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, as we enter a new decade and the world gets more wierder we just keep on riding mats.

This month we have a lovely little video tribute to Greenough, an intreguing question from a reader and a very weird video. As well as our usual video/photo of the month.

GREENOUGH VIDEO

We love this little video from Gota D’Agua Surf Camp in Portugal. They’ve done a fine job of taking existing footage and putting it in to a very succint little overview of Uncle George.

Gret job!

Gota D’Agua looks a nice option if you are in to the surf package trip so have a look at their site here:

https://gotadaguasurf.com/

A QUESTION FOR OUR READERS


We’ve had an email from Howard Lynk asking about a mystery mat rider. Take a look at the to-and-fro below and if anyone knows please do leave a comment.

“ I just posted this to Facebook group Legendary Surfers, but then found your website. Maybe you will know who this was? Suggestions so far have been Warren Harlow or Al Santos. Here’s the post...

Howard Lynk

My first post... I’ve been lurking and reading posts here for a while... and bringing back many, many wonderful memories. I lived and surfed the North and West shores of Oahu for 3 years 1967 to 1969 before moving to Molokai in early ‘70, and living there until ‘81. This group may be my best chance to solve a 50 year old mystery for me. During the Winter of ‘68, I was doing a lot of dawn patrols on the North shore, often parking in the wee hours at Ehukai beach park and then hitting Pipeline, Pupakea, and the other breaks out in front. Many epic days paddling out into empty waves in the early dawn light. On more than a few days though, when Pipeline was large and clean, there was somebody already out! An older gray haired guy (I was 18) on a blue and yellow surf mat and green Churchills, taking off on the peak in huge Pipe barrels, and riding further back than I had ever seen or thought possible. One incredible move was a stall back and float down the foam ball, then hooking back up with incredible acceleration off the bottom. This in double overhead classic Pipe. By the time the sun was well up, and the lineup beginning to populate, he had gone in. He obviously lived in one of the houses nearby, and I’ve always wondered who this was. Anyone here know?”
— Howard
“Howard that is a great question and we don’t know. Al Santos makes sense but who knows.

If you’re OK with it we’d like to publish your email in the January Newsletter to ask the mat community.

Happy New Year!”
— MatSurfers.com
“t’s fine if you want to put it in... I have always wondered who it might be. I’ve occasionally shared the story over the years, as the riding and positioning was so radical for that era. Obvious deep knowledge of Pipeline. I wondered if maybe George Greenough, but I do remember this fellow as being older. someone also suggested Fred Van Dyke. It would be great if somebody knows!

Thanks,
Howard”
— Howard
“Let’s see what comes back. 😎”
— MatSurfers.com

 So over to you guys. Does ANYONE know? We’ve messaged Kai Santos (Al’s son) but not heard back so please help. And if you don’t know about Al Santos, have a wee look HERE.

———————

UPDATE - 22 jAN:

We have had a reply from Kris Robinson over on the North Shore via Facebook Messenger:

“Jerry Vasconcellos wrote me back this. So we potentially have the answer. My memory is similar now. It would be satisfying to be able to get the name.”
— Kris Robinson

JV replied:

“Hey Kris. I know who he is but the name isn’t coming too me. It’s a mental problem that has hit me several years back. Memory problems. But let me think about it and it should come. I’ll let you know as soon as I recall. JV”
— Jerry Vasconcellos

Intriguing! Stay tuned!

KEEPING KIDS SAFE

So what’s all this about then? Seems like Mr Cant needs to stop being so safety conscious.

“I ain’t sticking handles on my surf float you hat modelling Cant!”

In seriousness though, a fun look back at a time when mats were common, sunscreen was laughed at and real men wore funny hats.

Enjoy!"

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

You’ve gotta love a speed blur. Shaun Manners flying…

So that’s it for Jan. Once again, Happy New Year matters!

As always, we welcome your feedback and contributions.

Thanks

MatSurfers.com