So who was Dale Solomonson. Well, it’s a name you are sure to come across if you spend any time looking in to mat surfing. In brief, we wouldn’t be where we are today were it not for Dale.

Dale was a genius in every sense of the word. A true visionary and creator of Neumatic Surfcraft. Most notably, Neumatic Surfmats. Dale played a huge part in the development of the modern mat, particularly the use of lightweight modern materials. Also developing the use of sealants to add textured grip to the decks of lighter-weight mats that would otherwise be unsurfable. Dale also kept the homefires burning durning a period in the early 2000’s when nobody else was building mats.

He had his flaws of course. Dale was not particularly business minded and struggled with the adjustment to the digital realm and unfortunately lost his way when hit by illness which plagued him for the remainder of his life. Living in a part of the World where healthcare is not a universal right, Dale lost everything and we lost Dale.

Sadly in early 2022 we received the sad news of Dale’s passing. This part of the site has been established as a tribute to a genius. Enjoy it, celebrate the man and please feel free to leave your own respectful recollections of Dale in the comments at the bottom of this page.

Here’s to you Dale Solomonson. Thank you.

Some Words From Ken McKnight With Input From Diane D’Ewart

We note with sadness the passing of Dale Solomonson, pioneer surf mat artist. With his creative genius, he combined inventiveness and a penchant for practical application to push mats into a realm never before seen. Using space age technology and a pinch of mumbo -jumbo as well as a whole lot of input from others, Solomonson brought new mats to life.

Well known surfers such as Greenough, Rastovich, and Malloy joined the ranks of those riding this new mat known as the Neumatic Surf Craft, Less well known surfers brought the new mats to line-ups around the world, from California to Hawaii to Australia and beyond, frequently as an addition to an existing quiver.
Mat surfing is magic. The modern surf mat has unique acceleration points not found in any other ocean riding equipment. Whether riding in 2 foot slop or six foot perfection, the feeling is incomparable. (Greenough once said he likes the mat because of being so close to the water while going so fast.) And although the mat looks deceptively easy, it is ready to dole out a lesson in humility to the neophyte, It’s not your parent’s surf mat. Canvas mats have a long history. The blue and yellow mattresses seemed to saturate the lineup and beach concession stands from Seaside Heights to Zuma Beach or Bondi and Manly in the 60's. And of course there was the Aussie "Hodgeman Mats". Rip Curl's early models were by Ray Thomas who put them together as a youngster for the Curl in Torquay in the early 70's.

It took Greenough to put the new mats on the map publicly His super trim, flying down the line style of riding caught many of us slack- jawed, It was featured such as in movies like Innermost Limits of Pure Fun, circa the late 1960s. The new style was too hard to master for the body boarding generation, and no one seemed to know how to make them in a suitable aerodynamic and ergonomic way.
Enter Dale Solomonson, unexpected craftsman from up north. inviting us in to look at his work. Dale became the preeminent builder of mats and his craftsmanship and knowledge were second to none.

Dale’s mats were his primary focus but he dabbled in inventiveness like bees dabble in honey. He lived in the Pacific Northwest, had an active life and family, and a passion for everything he did. From his Mats to Skateboards, fishing to Art, Dale was a renaissance fellow with a very interesting tale to tell.
Dale became an iconic figure in the world of mat surfing. He once described mat surfing as “jet propelled body surfing.” When Dale talked about mat surfing, he was very eloquent. According to mat surfer John Mann, “Dale developed a discourse with waves… As good speakers do, he first learned to listen. … He guided us along, fairly whispering in our ears what it was we were doing/not doing, as we experienced a wave ridden on a mat. This, from one who truly knew.”

Another Mat surfer, Bruce Cowan, wrote, “I found that the surf mat community was pretty much like the surfboard community must have been in the 1950s, a very few people, sometimes widely geographically separated but all sharing a love of a way to play in the ocean. Dale has created surf mats that have seeded a new generation of wave riders, surfers that use their mats as a means to having a more intimate relationship with the ocean.”

For all of his gifts to us, and for the relationships he helped us forge, with him, with each other, and with the world, we say thank you to Dale.

>>> Dale Solomonson’s Bedtime Story