From the Files of Mr Dirk...

Hi Paul,

This seems seems apropos, somewhat like our totem friends the wave gliding pelicans.

Best,

Dirk

Hawaii Quiver

7'9", 3'6", 2'8".

The Next Big Thing?

Water rings and flippers are the go on flat days! My ultra-clever GF Angie discovered the fun to be had, and I followed her lead. An upcoming trend? Maybe not. But definitely a fun addition to a blow-up quiver.

UPDATE 6/29/10:

After the above posting, inflatable water ring sales went through the translucent roof in Asia!

Short...But Sweet!

Hi Paul

Harold Ward got a short clip of me riding the Fatty this morning.

I don't think Wardie minds me sharing the clip.

Richard S

International Matters

Hello there mat surfers. Just posting to let you know about a bit of a development in the UK Mat Surfers site.

www.ukmatsurfers.org gets a lot of hits from those outside the UK who contribute some awesome stuff to the forum but kinda have to look on in envy as we arrange meets and the like.

Despite the name of the site, we see UKMS as a resource for the mat surfing world at large so have introduced a new section called "International Matters" where Mat Surfers from across the globe can hook up with others in their own area to arrange meets, talk about local forecasts or any other stuff that takes their fancy.

It's your forum so tuck in and talk about whatever you want!!!

So... Get on to www.ukmatsurfers.org and get talking to each other. If your country/area isn't represented, tell us and we'll sort it.

ENJOY!!!

Cheers

G

Everyone's A Critic!

Queensland's Neil P joins the mob...

From Tom K...

(Paraphrased from the "Shinden School of Samurai Swimming.")

Water is the source of wisdom; swimming is the mother of all the arts. Children should be introduced to the sea as early as possible. Rather than being strictly "taught" how to
float and swim, they should be unobtrusively guided at first in order to allow them to gradually acquaint themselves with the water.

Body and mind must remain flexible. A calm mind is the single most important element of successful training. A swimmer must avoid struggling against the water, against him or herself, or against others. A trainee must strive to harmonize him or herself with the waves, becoming one with the body of water, be it a pond, lake, river, or ocean. Ride the waves with your mind as well as your body.

There are four levels of mastery, symbolized by the four seasons.

In spring the raw summer, bursting with energy and eager to compete, needs discipline and hard physical training.

In summer, the experienced swimmer, now at his or her physical peak, should explore the full dimensions of the art.

In autumn, the mature swimmer can relax a bit, sporting more freely in the water, and reflect on past experiences.

By winter, a true swimmer has become a wise old master, beyond the limits of victory or defeat, in prefect harmony with the sky, sea, and shore.

Swimming teaches us how to live properly. There is no way a solitary swimmer can impose his or her selfish will on the water. Swimming against the current will ultimately result in disaster. Swim with the flow, without strain, resistance, confusion, or unnatural movement.

Diving fosters bravery.

Submerging, patience.

Floating, serenity.

Distance swimming, fortitude.

Racing, a fighting spirit.

Swimming in frigid water, perserverance.

A swimmer should practice in all manner of water -- seas, lakes, marshs, rivers, and ocean...and under all types of conditions -- currents, waves, muddy water, and whirlpools.


TK

Mat Surfing Is Not A Crime!

Paul,

Got my Tracker today. YEEHA! Hoping to baptize it tomorrow.

Here's some old 70's pic's from the days before mats were outlawed at Boomer. Stewart Reid is the surfer. Back in the day, we had two guys who were really good. The other guy was Ed Hoopes but alas I don't have any photos of him. I used to borrow their mats while body surfing Boomer in the wee hours before the Guards came on duty back in the 70's. They rode the mats that were like your Classic. Not the big ones with the yellow rubber ends.

Thanks,

Dean

Is There No Anti-Spam Software To Stop Ian's E-Mails???

Ta Paul,

Lent blacktop 4GF standard to Grayman to prove that he CAN ride tubes!!

Went to Royal Cornwall show, best part-The Wall of Death.

Cheerio for now Ian

Huh?

Hey Paul,

Thought the boro patched fins (above) may be postable on SM?...some good visual tips in there for fin longevity...heavy needle I say!

Images come via Andrew http://www.anambitiousprojectcollapsing.com/

*enjoying reading the field reports for the round tail....are we to expect some transcribed report from GG anytime soon?

best

RS

Mr Dirk...

:)

Mat Touring In Japan...

Hi PG,

How are you?

Around here, it becoming warm. Lately we have no waves. So last Thursday I did "Mat Touring." It was really nice!!

When we haven't surf, we can enjoy to use the Mat. So I think Mat is nice partner! Do you think so?

I saw "Tracker Roundtail" on your website. It looks nice. I will order this one tomorrow.

Aloha, Satoshi

By All Means, Try This At Home...

Pendo...clicky-click

Pendo...flexi-flex

UK Mat Surfers - Social Sesh

Howdo.

A few of us UK types hooked up on 3rd June to see the summer in with a mat session at Godrevy in West Cornwall. Beautiful weather... Beautiful waves... Beautiful people...

Enjoy

G

Some Tracker Roundtail Design Background...

Courtesy of The Surfer's Journal...

Tracker Roundtail Ride Report

The Tracker Roundtail has been a project that George and I and Boyd Kellner have been working on since late in 2008.

There were two unrelated ideas which were combined into the Tracker Roundtail design. One was a roundtail with a bit of added length. The other was a mat with a total air volume in-between the 4GF Standard and the Fatty.

For a while now, George has been into the idea of a roundtail (or arctail) mat, featuring a longer water line down the center, without changing the length of the working rail line of the Standard and Fatty.

Personally, I was feeling the need for a mat that suited my size (200 lbs, plus a 5/4 hooded suit) in the waves I have been riding lately, which are along the Central Coast of California. The Standard works great in surf over 3 or 4 feet, but can barely hold my size when paddling or bobbing around. The Fatty has too much volume to deal with paddling through rows of whitewater, and is a tad wide in the powerful, poorly shaped waves I have access to on most days.

Last October, I made a prototype mat that was exactly in the middle between the Standard and Fatty. I immediately loved the amount of air volume I had to work with. It was super comfortable to be on, and fun the ride. The details (specifically, I-Beams heights) were way out of tune, but the general idea was good enough that I decided to dedicate the winter to sorting it all out.

On a separate path, George, Boyd and I had been fiddling around with arctail and roundtail mats since December of 2008. We had made a fair bit of progress, and George in particular was sold on the idea of an inch or two of added length, without corrupting the length of the straight rail line.

I began to realize that adding the roundtail idea to the in-betweener mats I was making made sense, so I went in that direction.

Long story short, the roundtail template and I-Beam stagger (stagger is the relationship between the tall and short I-Beams -- which influences the grip and handling of a mat much the way fin design influences a conventional surfboard) all came together a few weeks back.

This is what the final prototype feels like in the water...

Even though it's only 1.25" longer (when deflated) than a Standard or Fatty, The Tracker Roundtail has noticeably more glide when paddling and catching waves...even more than the Fatty. The added length has a lot to do with it, but I also think that the roundtail is more efficient even at paddling speeds. The Tracker is more of a handful to push through whitewater than a Standard, but easier than a Fatty, as you would expect.

The Tracker wants to "scoot" across walls, half driving and half drifting. (Bagjuan and his sleepless mat-cohorts refer to this as "slithering.") The Standard has more of a powerful feel as it trims -- almost like it has a fin -- while the Fatty has a more playful "slip and slide" sensation. The Tracker easily finds the high line (that's why I ended up calling it "The Tracker") then breaks loose into the next gear without much coaxing. The combination of the rounded tail and the proper I-Beam stagger contribute to this characteristic.

The other thing I've noticed about the Tracker Roundtail is that the inflation level can be varied widely, netting a high level of performance at either end of the spectrum...hard or soft. Every mat is like this, but the Tracker seems to embrace being both very hard or very soft. My experience has been that most mats favor a somewhat narrower range of inflation. The holy grail of mat design is to find a mat that will do everything. I think the Tracker is a big step in that direction.

In general I ride the Tracker softer than any of my other mats on a given day. Most of the time on the Central Coast, I run 5/8 fold. (A 90 degree bend being 1/2 fold, a 45 degree bend being 3/4 fold.) With my Tracker, I usually end up with with a 7/16 to 3/8 fold.

The roundtail itself seems to loosen the mat up, turning-wise, without provoking the Tracker to slide out. And the mat has a smoother sensation. When I run out onto the shoulder, then cut back into the whitewater and swing around off the bottom, there is a powerful, controlled feel to it.

I took my Tracker out the other night, with about a hour of light left. I just wanted to get wet. Locally, the water has gotten down to around 51 F, and I ended up surfing until pitch dark, just because I kept paddling back out for another wave!

As I learn more -- and get feedback from the first wave of Trackers that went out last Saturday -- I'll add to this post...

PG

UPDATE:

Our home page is here. The "buy two get one free" deal doesn't apply to sale items. But...we're selling 3 Tracker Roundtails for $450 USD, shipped free anywhere in the world. You can Paypal $450 USD into our account, which is fourthgearflyer@yahoo.com .