Now I'm sure we've all seen the following video. It's what actually pushed me from, Greenough-fan potential interested Matter over the edge into actually buying a Redback. I'm an absolute kook on the old li-lo so am always after good advice and I noticed this pair seem to be using theirs back-to-front.
What are people's thoughts on this? I considered it in theory and thought :
1) square nose = like a "proper" mat.
2) rounded tail = less volume/less slippage.
Is that right or am I trying to apply hard board logic in an inflatable world? I did try it and had a nightmare! Mind you, it was super-hollow and closing out! (had great fun racing the barrels on my knees instead).
Anyway, here's the video:
Cheers
G
02 July 2009
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9 comments:
I bought a Redback when I had no mat in Aussie. It was so bad that I couldn't bring myself to surf it a second time. Once you get a good ride on a high performance nylon surfmat you will understand why matters are so stoked. Do yourself a favor and throw down for a proper mat and some good flippers like POD or DaFin. Ride it really soft in small waves and add air for traction as the surf gets bigger. Check out George Greenough on YouTube to learn the finer points. He reckons that nylon mats are the funnest thing ever...
Nice one.
I have decent fins for kneeboarding although have trimmed them. You think nice long-un's for the mat?
G
Cool. Since you have good flippers, you're halfway there. PG is selling his Classic mats for US$135. I've got a Fatty with the new black and blue materials and that's all I ride now. Haven't ridden any of my surfboards in months. I'm completely addicted to matting!
I also bought a RB while my modern mat was under construction. Ripped it wide open within a week trying to pull it by a handle through a wave. But the few surfs I had gave me a taste, along with the same 'new to a mat' frustrations that you'll encounter even on a modern mat early in the learning curve. An important thing is to commit to mastering the mat. I was lucky - I had no other surf craft to tempt me with an easier option. And I recently bought a friend's Neumatic which he hardly ever rode because he has a quiver of more familiar craft to choose from.
I reckon that you could get a lot out of even the likes of a Redback if you stuck to learning it. But if you get bummed with it cos you didn't-make-a-good-wave-but-instead-went-sideways-over-the-falls-and-so-next-time-you-take-your-Thruster out, then you'll then it won't matter what kind of mat you ride. Once you're having some success, then trade up and you'll really appreciate the difference).
what happened to the vid?????
I was able to see the vid, but directly on the You Tube site.
Thanks a lot for that.
I udo sually do have fun on my mat in fatter waves. My kneeboard's a semi-gunnish pintail so is strictly for good or sizeable waves so the mat's my "everything else" craft. Like I say, I've been doing OK. I'm no Greenough I do but OK (getting cutbacks in, getting up on the lip, etc).
I need to try it in more hollow stuff for sure. I do wonder if I had it a bit under-inflated having read some things.
My question really is "which way around"? Does it make a difference? Is it worth do to acustom my self to a square nose for when I upgrade?
Cheers
G
PS. Sorry about putting the video up whoever got offended and had it removed. Didn't think it'd be a problem with a YouTube video.
Greenough used to ride (brand?) mats pointy end forward and handles down (to act like fins).
Recently I turned my Neumatic over and rode a shapely 2 foot wave. I hoped the rough 'bottom' might set up some boundary layer friction free goodness. Interestingly it felt just the same as normal. The sign of a neutral/balanced craft?
That raises a few questions?!?!
Rode the Redback as the makers intended today.
Brilliant fun!
G
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