Coming Soon To A Web Site Near You...

Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart Presumably Discussing Mat Surfing

(Album: Trout Mask Replica/Pena)

Capt. Beefheart: Ah Ha Ha Ha! Fast and bulbous!

Mascara Snake: Fast and Bulbous!

Frank Zappa: Hey, Do it again!

Capt. Beefheart: I love that. I love all those words!

Mascara Snake: Fast and Bulbous!

Capt. Beefheart: That's right Mascara Snake. Fast and Bulbous!

(Schuyler... going fast and bulbous! Photo: Kendog)

the Tao

What equipment have you been riding lately?

"For me, surfboards were always something I found at garage sales for $5 and those surfboards motivated further interest in fin dynamics, planshapes, rails, curves and further experiments, many of which came into fashion in some sort of crude way. None of it was 'new' though, it was just recycled from a time when the best surfers in the world also made surfboards. Once I met George Greenough and was privy to timeless truths in design I sort of took an oath, an unwritten oath that renders me unable to discuss my findings with the media. "

A.C. -- Interview by Stuart Nettle

Chris Brock. Photo credit unknown. Via Switch Foot.

No Mat Surfing Photos Yet From Ian In W.A. !

(Western OZ beach activity photo...in lieu of mat surfing!)

Hi Paul,

No photos yet as surf small and mushy this weekend, but I used my new Fatty both days and had a ball.

Wonderfully fast & responsive despite poor conditions.

Regards

Ian

From Mr. Dirk...

Hi Paul,

A quick note to hyperventilate about the surf! It was stellar this morning -- glassy, consistent, growing, no crowd. Young Brian was there on his 4GF and we had a wonderful time trading notes and tips. I gave him a few positioning tips and he seemed to really improve. He's a very good water spirit already.

As I changed to leave, I watched him milk a really long one -- farther than any surfer could go -- and then we exchanged farewells as he walked back up the point. I told him that I was going to write to you and he said, "Tell him I'm pumped!"

Now I've got to work my buns off to catch up...probably won't get wet again until Monday.

Best,

Dirk

Click here for more insanity.

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UDT Model 4GF Introductory Sale ...

We've got the UDT model tuned in and ready to go. (6 of them have been made and ridden by 5 different mat riders.)

They are on sale for $235 USD until the end of November, 2009.

Additional note: All UDT's on sale are brand new "firsts," and none of them are prototypes. This sale is to encourage people to try the design if it's approporiate for them!

The name "UDT" came about because the first prototype was made for Greg Deets, of UDT Swim Fin infamy. (Or just "famy," if you like UDTs! )

The UDT model is the largest mat we can make -- length wise and width wise -- given the size of our seam welding equipment and the width of our fabric.

I don't like discussing the actual dimensions of this or any other 4GF mat, because mat sizing CANNOT be judged like surfboard or bodyboard sizing...due the the large volume of super-buoyant air and pliable nature of contemporary surf mats.

Suffice it to say the UDT is BIG.

The gap between the XL and UDT is two times the gap between the Standard, Fatty and XL. (In essence, the UDT is a "3XL.")

The UDT is for very large mat surfers.

Or for just large surfers with 5/4 wetsuits.

Or for average sized mat riders who want an uber-mat for micro conditions.

Or for anyone who just wants to have fun bouncing around in the ocean with plenty of air underneath them.

UDT's won't be listed on the 4GF home page until the sale ends, so contact me through the 4GF site for ordering instructions!

Thanks,

Paul


Added 10/12/09...

Here's a shot of the four "high end" 4GF mats for a visual comparison. Left to right: Standard, Fatty, XL and UDT. The size increase between the models is subtle in appearance...but the tuning and performance is unique to each model.

Out and about

A non-mat related article perhaps, but always cool to see kids with a mat.

Sustainability...of Stoke

(Trevor... Photo courtesy Ken M.)

(John...Photo Courtesy Jeff C.)

(Schuyler...Photo Courtesy of Lance S.)

From Marc in The Netherlands...

Hi Paul,

Today (5 October) we had the best surf of the year in the Netherlands! This weekend we had a storm. On Monday it went offshore with a light wind. The waves were the best of 2009! (For Dutch waves).

The quality of the pictures are not very good. I've mat surfed for about 5 hours and had really good rides! Tonight I will sleep like a little boy. Hope everything is fine with you.

Speak to you soon.

Marc

Antonio from Puerto Rico...

Hi Paul,

Hope everything is fine and that you are having a very nice day.

I received my Fatty about 3 or 4 weeks ago and I have been having a blast, my first surf was in a 3-4'(face) slab reef spot, and the mat surfed just fine. I tried it for the first time on tubular waves and got really barrelled on one! I have been surfing the mat ever since about 3-5 times a week on different conditions ranging from knee high glassy slides to 5-6' face barrels to 6' face points (I haven't touched any other surf craft). I now understand that riding a mat is an ever changing, learning experience that I guess will never end.

I guess I am probably pushing the limits of the Fatty design as controlling the mat was a bit of a struggle in the 6'- 8' face open water break this afternoon. Still, I had a blast drawing some clean and fast carves on the waves I did manage to control the mat on.

Thank you very much for building this mat for me, without it I wouldn't be having such a blast with this mat experience! I can assure you that you now have a client in Puerto Rico that will be ordering mats and if possible some other alternative surfcrafts for many years to come!

Antonio

(Attached are some pictures I took before this morning's session...)