SURFMATTERS: July 2013

Yes!

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere like most civilized folks, this week marks the mid-point of the June-July-August surf doldrums. So to celebrate, we've decided to bestow you with the latest round of mail sent directly to 4GF headquarters here in Central California.

We would have included a bigger batch of pics to illustrate, but our staff photographer got carried away with his latest assignment...

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Thanks Paul - I can't wait.

Having never done board surfing, I know it's not going to be easy, but it also sounds that I don't have a lot to "unlearn".

I've read through the doc you send & it's very interesting - thanks.

Kind Regards,

Henry

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Dude!

GF Andy has had this whole week off and has scored not only perfect weather, but perfect inside little rincon each day with no more than 4 out. the sand in there is insane right now. her sister was all stoked, claiming it was like being back in byron bay in the 70's. she couldn't believe how crowded rincon was, yet they had these perfect, peeling waves all to themselves...

Frenchy

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Hi Paul,

I got the Tracker really fast! Two or three days after ordering-awesome! I've used it a few times and it is fun; amazing that you can track and turn an "air mattress".

Thanks,
Bruce

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I spent 6 months as Wardie’s next door neighbor a few years ago in Aus, me board surfing while Wardie and George Greenough were on mats.

Woody

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Paul,

had a chance to ride the xl on Thursday. It was 3-5, with sets from 6-8, beautiful day, water temp was great, no hood. My friend who invites me, had his brother and stepson and a friend come along ( both nice, well mannered 15 year old surfers). Myself and friend, along with the 2 young men, were the only ones out.

As I watched some beautiful hollow sets come through, I thought I'm going to get killed if I ever get caught inside those sets. Late morning go out (medium tide) was some nice long walls and the xl did great, better yet, I did very well, no crash and burns, great speed runs. During the second go out in mid afternoon, the tide dropped and the sets become really top to bottom and really hollow. Walls were shifting a little.

Had some great rides. I sat about 125 ft outside the kids who had the expected wave riding energy which I did not have, and I wanted to chase the larger waves. I was watching the kids when I turned towards the outside, saw a nice sized wave, which I caught, had a great tube ride towards the end, one of the kids was paddling back out, he just watched me come out of the barrel and he yelled "that is so sick!". I just smiled.

Btw, I did get caught inside later, even though I was way outside the normal line up. Got barely over two waves in the 7-8 range, so hollow, and just as I got over the second, there was an even larger 8-10 foot wave ( the largest one I saw for the day) already crashing 25 yards further out. I just thought "I don't need this, I'am going to get killed". Grabbed the the front corners and at last second, made a sausage with it, ducked dived as best as I could, and held on for dear life. I still have some of the pacific inside my sinuses from that. Lots of learning. Great day

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Thanks Paul -

There's some great info & videos on the net & it makes me realize that it's not going to be easy. But it looks amazing & I can't wait!

Will let you know when I receive it.

Regards,

Henry

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Hi Paul

I got some waves this week on the Omni. I rode yesterday with just 4 other guys out, and the Omni worked as well as the Tracker Roundtail, which for me has worked the best.

I have to go back to Nevada tomorrow and deal with stuff there, and won't be surfing again until late April. I'm thankful for the good days I've had this winter.

Tom

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I love the new standard!!! Thank you Paul in big waves its a real rocket! man u know your rocket science. i'm stoked!

gary

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hey man

just a line to say thank you again for the mat we bought for my daughter who lives in taiwan.
she visited over xmas and new years. we had many go outs and I was impressed at her ability to catch waves and have grand fun...

happy new year...and all that stuff

...ambrose...

Hi , Marta here. WE were having too much FUNNNNNN !!!! Thank you soo much! She always travels with her mat and fins.

Aloha

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Oh he will be stoked ! The best part is he has no idea about it. I ran into my friend mary who knows you. ( surf sista). And she reminded me how much Clay wanted one. He is going to be so surprised. We are a surfing family over here😜🏄

Julie G

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Hi Paul,

Just to let you know I received my Omni last Friday. There wasn't much surf on the weekend, but I took it out anyway to get a feel for it & practice duck diving. I even got on a couple of small waves & loved the feeling of just going along for the ride - the Omni seems to know where it wants to go. Amazing!

Thanks & I'll let you know how my mat journey goes.

Regards,

Henry

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Hi Paul

Just to let you know that I received my mat today, looking excellent and well packaged cannot wait to get out and have some fun.

Cheers

Adrian

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Great! Thanks a bunch Paul. I'm looking forward to my new ride!

Ciao

Arturo

bodystudies.com

Envoyé de mon tête.

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Going to New Zealand April 4th. Just bringing mats and fins. My buddy (a kiwi) is picking me up in Auckland and we are doing a counter clockwise tour of the north island. ending at his place in taranaki. stoked.
you need any favors while I am down there?

Just surfed surf swell Cowell's beautiful mayhem. So fun. The sandbar has set up nicely, if not for the crowd a mat would have been fun. Rode a 9'6" Mabile Glider- it worked well.

All my best, thanks for making surfing fun.

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Paul,

Much appreciated for the prompt turnaround... I always admire your professionalism.

By the way, in your current blog entry "4GF Stealth Mats", those pictures were taken last Sunday at Steamer Lane and I am in both photos! I matted with Steiny and our friend Brian Himlan that and had an absolute blast! In the first photo I am in the middle trying to paddle over the top of the wave and Brian was paddling into position. The second photo is Brian setting up for one of his monster bottom turns - that guy has a lot of style prone or stand up surf!

One of the best surf sessions for me ever! For a while it just the three of us trading waves and encouraging each other to paddle in. Personally I caught 5 or 6 waves on my Standard that were just memorable!

It was one of those days surf-wise or otherwise that you felt the planets were truly aligned and karma was one on your side:

1) absolutely gorgeous spring weather

2) a 5k/10k organized race that completely blocked off a lot traffic that discouraged the usual weekend crowd from hitting cowells/lane

3) a wide angle swell

4) low morning tide

5) great waves to go around for everyone

6) and most of all, even better people to share waves with!

Regards,

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Great, thanks Paul. In pleanty of time for the weekend. I've read through the riders guide and don't have any questions for you. Now if I can just get Dr. Deets to respond on those DuckFeet...

Travis

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Wow! Great information in the Rider’s Guide – this will be our first surf mat, so the guide will definitely be useful – thanks Paul!

Have a great day -

Sharon

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Thank you Paul.

I've been living in Melbourne, Australia for the last 3 years.

I'll be visiting my family next week in So Cal and am looking forward to getting in the water.

When I get back, we'll be going into winter here in Victoria. I usually knee board surf, but in summer & autumn, I want to ride my motorcycle to the beach with the mat.

Thanks again.

Harry

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Hi PG

Got the Omni!!!!!! Hoping for some surf,Maybe sat/sun.

Ride report soon!!!!! Thanks again!!!

Jeff

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Wow can't believe it got here so quick.

Awesome man!

Thanks again and keep doing your thing!

Appreciate all that you do!

Jason

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Paul,

Many Thanks for getting my order out so quick!

As the creator of my mats you should know how much better my surfing life is with mats in my quiver. I did not ride my boards (displacement hulls) once for six weeks this winter from late January all the way through February, our coldest and largest month of surf, and scored some absolutely epic sessions on my TRT and 5GF. March began with an overhead session at a not-so-secret northern point break, where I opened up the 5GF in 6-8' point surf for what was probably my best mat session ever. The next day I scored the nearby rivermouth cobblestone reef at 2-'4' with some amazing low tide reforms that sent me screaming and laughing to the creek's mouth. My buddy took some pictures and videos on his iPhone, which I will send when he gets them to me.

I realize a very, very small percent of the present surfing population will ever dig what mat riding is all about, which gives me kind of a funny, giddy feeling when I ride mats around board surfers, like I share a secret with my mattin' compadres that most will never know. Rather than a secret it is more like a joke, a very funny one, for I am always smiling and laughing while riding my mats, amazed that such a simple craft can render such a deep, transcendent connection with Our Mother Ocean and send me riding on a wave of pure stoke/bliss/joy.

My brother and I do our mat thing in separate corners of the California coastline, simultaneously awed and humbled by the beauty our ocean environment has on tap every day, and we feel truly blessed to be members of the small but growing cadre of dedicated mat surfers on the west coast. Best of Luck with making new mats and keeping costs down in the future.

A Completely Committed Mat Rider,

Jeffrey

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Yesterday, I asked Clayton if he wanted to meet at dawn for a session. He, Julie and I met at Topanga, didn't like what we saw (because of the expected crowd) and ran over to Sunset. Julie surfed. We rode our mats. He looks pretty comfortable on the mat, believe it or not. He didn't flail. He also caught a few. I was still in the lineup, therefore I didn't see his waves. Still, we had fun and we've agreed to get together regularly to ride mats.

Guess what?

Now Julie wants one.

LOL!

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Hoping the winds stay down and the waves are amenable to a go-out soon!

Thanks for another great mat!

Peter

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Hi Paul

Took the Omni out in knee to thigh high chop this morning.Blown away by this mat!!!!!

Size fits me really well.Catches waves like crazy.It gets up to speed really fast.Rode it at number 7 inflation and 90 degree.Rode forward and further aft,didn't matter.It just flies.Very easy to turn.Slides with control when I want.Goes on a rail and flies.Best of all when I didn't do much of anything other than nudge it it really flew.Very easy mat to ride.Felt like I have owned it for years.Thanks again for a great mat!!!!!!! Look forward to more sessions on my Omni!!!!!

Jeff

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hi paul

thanks for the mat, me and my kids have been enjoying it. will send
some photos when i take it to scorpion bay in june

best
peter

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Hi Paul

Alot of advancements in the Omni.It just made my other mats and a whole lot of surfboards obsolete.

Got the omni out in bigger shallow surf up to chest high.Really fast.It likes more air 180 degree

fold.Most important it seems to get the best rides when I just let it run and don't disturb it's

trim and angle.Finesse is my new goal.With all my yanking and squeezing and contorting to stay in the pocket it just keeps going! I normally would ride my Liddle hull in that surf and the mat was a blast!!!! We don't get that many lined up days for a hull.That's how much I like this mat!!!!!!

Thanks again

Jeff

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Wow. It arrived today and I am stoked. Took it out this afternoon and caught some nice waves. Any suggestions on how to remove tar from the bottom?

Kelsey

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Paul,

I rode my Standard Shorty this past week in 2-4' wind swell; as per your predictions, the shorter mat bogged in smaller waves, but had some real nice hold and trim on the bigger and hollower sets. I am excited to get it in some real surf this spring if we get any late NW swell or some early south swell up here on the North Coast--I'll keep you posted.

hopefully I'll get some pics/vids from an epic session in March for you to look at this week.

From one of the Posse Comatatus,

Jeffrey

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Thank you so much for my used Standard fourth gear flyer. I used it today and it works great and is a lot of fun to ride. I am very satisfied. Thank you for helping me in the process.

Thanks,

Bryan

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thanks for making these things! Bunch of us wedge guys have been loving your surf mats. Excited to try out the new mat.

Just ordered it under my paypal, the mat is for John Karam and could you write his name on the mat. Thanks again. 4 guys out at wedge on 4th gear flyers today :)

Cheers Starky

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Hi Mate,

Just a quick update..... waves everyday 2 -8 feet, 2 or 3 surfs a day. Hard to get any photos because theres only me and my buddy in the surf but our indo decky has managed to get a few shots for me... I cant upload from here but they are unreal..... 10 days before we get back to civilization. So far have surfed 12 different locations all good some really heavy spots and some spots never surfed by anyone..... predominately riding the 5gf going good in everything and a few small days on the standard. I'll contact you in about 10 days time.

Regards
Bretto

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Hi Paul,

We hope that our email finds you doing well.

Mary, Andrea and I met to surf at SanO today. The swell was a mixed SW with a lot of NW wind swell crossing it (about 3-5 feet) and the wind had also switched to onshore. Our surfboards did not even make it out of the car. It was so great enjoy ocean time with my sea sisters! We had our own peak to ourselves and named it One Palm Peak. I loaned Andrea my new Standard that you made me, and I rode the Vespa RT. Andrea did great for her first time out. We all had such a wonderful time, catching some long rides! Paul, your awesome mats made our day! Our voices are hoarse from hooting on every wave. Mary was ripping. And I was also stoked on the fun, bouncy late take-offs, and then connecting some long rides into the quick shore break. The 4GFs really fly!!

The SanO locals who had been out earlier, said 'It's a revolution! and we replied "Yes it is!"

The guys said they were going to watch us. When we came in they said our hoots could be heard all the way to the beach, we got fun rides and that we were the ones having the most fun. It's fun to share the stoke.

On the Pendo front, Steve is enjoying the 5GF, and is ripping, and blowing some minds at how fast he is going. He rode 6 foot plus wind swell at the reef yesterday afternoon and came home so stoked.

Thank you Paul for creating such fun wave riding vehicles.

Love and Aloha,
Cher

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Thanks, Paul. I just placed the order. I appreciate you getting it out before your trip as well!

Have fun!

Eric

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Awesome, thanks Paul. Looking forward to it. Good moonlight for the next 10 days...

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Arrived today! Hallelujah! Love the secret messages in the seam. Thanks Paul.

Jon

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I'm packing it in my Seabag for a trip to Sydney in August. Then heading back to Hawaii.

Ryan

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Hi Paul

Got the Tracker of Neil Pye and had a crack on it this morning in small fat waves. Nice having knees resting on back when planing. Looking forward to playing with it in different conditions.

Steve

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Dear Paul,

This morning we had a bump up with the SW swell. I took the Omni RT out in the swimming area.

There were nicely shaped 3-5 foot faces just after high tide, and I caught some fun rides from the outside into the shore break. On one wave I was able to track high and make a really fast section.

The new Omni seems easier for me to take off closer to the front, which is a big plus. Also it seems easier for me to pull up on (move forward). I started out with more inflation, the water was warmer today and so the air didn't compress with the cold. So then I tredded water outside and let some air out, and this worked well. What a great workout it was, swimming out through the sets, the water felt great.

Warm wishes,

Cher

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Well had another session of my life on the roundtail tracker. Went to isla nativadad got some sick tube rides with the hel-cam. After a flat on the way there and on the way back to the main road. now I'm sitting in a hotel watching James Bond in gerro negro waiting to check the video when I get home.

Chad

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Great news, thank you!

Is there an upper wave size limit as a rule of thumb? i.e. double overhead, 20ft etc?

Also, what is the smallest wave face I could expect to ride? is a 2 foot face too small to get going?

Last question (I promise!): is there a minimum wave period for the mats to work? We get a bunch 10 second stuff this time of year, otherwise periods can be 14-25 seconds on the better swells.

My friend Gary has been raving about how much he enjoys the 4thGF mats he bought from you, just today we spoke on the phone for almost an hour about them. With the recent exponential increase in crowds, it is great to see the stoke return in someone who remembers the days of having nobody else around to share the waves with.

Summer is slow in town, but right now I am focused on getting in the water to regain my fitness and rehab my body. The mats should make the process more interesting in the least. I still have a garage full of surfboards should my recovery be successful. Gary was telling me that he reaches for his mat most of the time now because of how much fun he has on it. I hope for the same experience!

Have a great weekend!

Aaron

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Hi Paul,

Loving the Vespa and I'm so glad I've got a mat! I had hip surgery and then 2 1/2 weeks later one of my all time favorite waves was breaking! But the surgeon said no stand up surfing. So I tried the mat with one fin, and it worked great! Possibly better than two, easier not to drag. So thanks to you 2 1/2 weeks after hip surgery I was getting barreled at Ma'alaea!

Mahalo!

:) Matt

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Hi Paul,

Got the mats today, George came down and had a surf here at our beach, good size and clean. George rips and you should of seen some of his waves !!!!

Michelle is frothing at the bit to test her mat too, and I will get some pictures of her.
Thanks heaps again Paul

From Two very happy matters
Bretto and Michelle

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Dear Paul,

We hope that you enjoyed a nice trip north.

Steve and I rode our mats on Saturday at Ab, there were shoulder high SW sets, crossed with wind swell, and crazy SW wind. The new Omni is great, I'm loving how it performs. Wow, I even got launched on a couple of late take offs and made the air drops without the mat bending too much, and also was able to make the upcoming section.

Steve was carving on the 5GF.

It was wonderful to share water time together, have a blast riding your awesome mats, and we were the only ones out.

Thanks so much Paul!

Love and Aloha,

Cher and Steve

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I got in the water yesterday afternoon. I went out at Leo Carillo, a spot I am not very familiar with. Waves were waste to shoulder high with a rare head high bomb. I rode three waves, the best being a head high wave. I had a blast! I played around with different inflation levels, finding that a medium inflation worked best in the conditions. I noticed that I was pushing down on the nose too much like a boogie board and the mat would want to taco. I didn't get up to full speed but was able to make all but the fastest sections. I have a lot to learn, but I am enjoying it so far.

Thank you for all your help and for the excellent mats!

Aaron

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Hi Paul,

Just ordered a Fatty : strangely, this way of ordering a mat on the other side of the atlantic starts to be slightly adictive...

Thanks again

Jean-François

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Hi Paul,

Thanks for sending my first vespa ! I saw your product for the first time in Australia and I had a chance to find it on internet. Im sure it would have a great success in Europe.

Best Regards

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Hi Paul,

Anyway, I'm very happy with the OMNI. I was using it on the first wave I caught on the Maldives and thought "wow". I also had the STANDARD and VESPA with me and I surfed all of them. They are truly different. I must admit though that when the conditions are right I enjoy the standard the most. It seems like it provides the best hold in a waves face of all my surfmats.

Now it is almost two months ago since I returned from the tropics and I had time to reflect about my visit to the Maldives. It was great, the water so clear and overall an amazing experience. I took my longboard with me but ended up using my surfmats 95% of the time. Personally I have had some issues with the warm water there. To avoid rash I had to always wear a long sleeve rash shirt over my thin neoprene short john. It wasn't as comfortable as wearing a wetsuit and I felt too hot most of the time. That probably makes me a cold water surfer ;-)

Apropos cold water: Last week I was in the north of Denmark and had the opportunity to put on my thickest rubber and to test the OMNI in entirely different conditions. I also ended up making a little video about it https://vimeo.com/65956510

You where right about the hot wax finish. It really works regardless of the water temperature. Great job!

Thanks again for your fantastic surfmats and all your support.

Kind regards

Tim

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Paul,

I finally got to try the Omni on East Coast waves (around 3' and slow). It seemed faster than my Vespa so it looks like there is something to your top secret design. I was at Asbury Park NJ .. I did look around but did not see Bruce. Still lots of signs of Sandy .. I drove right past the site of the Deal Municipal Swim Club (surfed there couple times in the past) wondering why I could not find it .. da .. its gone! Lots more E-coast and Costa Rica coming up the the next couple months. Will be hitting NJ for day trips, Henlopen DE, Assateague Md/Va and Buxton NC. Life is looking good.

David

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I rode the mat at Leo this afternoon. When I hit the water, the mat—as usual—lost air pressure. It deflated to the point where I could fold it over on itself. Instead of pumping it up a little, I left it. I wanted to see what it could do with less inflation than you suggested.

Best mat ever!!!

It flew across the faces of the waves. It didn't need more air at all.

The Omni is a mat for the ages!

You know, as I get better on the mat, things slow down quite a bit. When I first started riding the mat, everything seemed to be happening so fast! I could never seen to get it together. I guess that's how it was when I started surfing too. Now, of course, the waves, the longer waves, seem to be moving in slow motion. I can think clearly and I have all the time in the world to decide what I'm going to do (or not do). My last wave was a screamer with a long face. I remember thinking, as I was forcing the inside rail to stay engaged by leaning by entire body into the wave, that gravity was trying to pull the outside rail back down, but I wasn't going to let it. I seemed to be having this thought for what seemed like minutes as I watched the wave open up in front of me. Finally, the wave hinted that it was going to close out in front of me, so I straightened out—only to be rocketed to shore with such force that I literally slid onto the sand at the feet of a beachgoer.

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Hey Paul,

Received the mat on my birthday, so the timing was perfect. Thanks again for getting it out so quickly. Took it up to North Malibu / LA County yesterday as this South swell has been filling in. When the tides slowed things down I dropped my board and grabbed the mat. I didn't plan on spending the majority of my day on it, but man, these things are F-U-N!

Still dialing it in and learning how to really find that 4th gear speed, but it has really been fun.

I'll try to get some pics out as I get better.

Thanks again!

Gavin

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Hallo Paul ,

the two mats arrived yesterday in the ,,old world´´.

My wife loves it already .

Thanks - i hope we find some waves next week in france to gve them a go.

Andrik and family

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I've been on the fence about getting another mat, and your sale might force me to pull the trigger.

I currently ride the round tail tracker and it works on most waves, but I want to try something a little bigger with a square tail to get more slide. I bought the rt tracker for black ball beach breaks, but I've been riding more sloping waves and points recently.

@ 190lbs, do I get the fatty, or is the size too similar to the rt tracker? XL?

While I have your attention, just thought I'd say that I love the mat I already have. I've made some barrels I didn't even know were there, and the seemingly never ending learning curve of matting makes it a very gratifying surf craft to take out every time.

Thanks!

Blake

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Paul,

I am happy to report that I have been out on the mats several times now and I am getting them dialed in.

In fact, today I had an epic session at C-Street in waves up to 1 foot overhead and long groundswell lines! I rode the fatty and then tried the standard. What a surprising difference between the two mats. I also had a "eureka" moment on the standard where I figured out to pull in the corners and make the mat super stiff to get through some bad flat spots. I have much to learn, and I am enjoying it every step of the way.

Thanks again for all your help and for incredible 4GF mats!

Aaron

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G'day Paul,

I wanted to thank you for my first true love the Tracker RT! She
has been the perfect traveling companion for my adventures splashing
around the globe. We have caught many a fun wave at home and abroad
whether it be a sloppy beach break or perfect long barreling points she
has been there for me and continues to teach me every time we hit it.

Apparently now my old RT mat is lonely and would be much happier with a
new sexy "Omni"stored alongside her. Coming from a conservative
up-bringing I would never have guessed I could love 2 at the same time
but after mat sliding now going on 3 years my mind has burst wide to all
possibilities. I am open to this Menage a trois arrangement and hope we
will all live in harmony. If not there is always the wife to fall back on!

My weight is still fluctuating between 211-225 depending on whether
out at sea (dry) or home(wet/beer)! Staying in reasonable shape although
my last go out during a port call in Honolulu left my ankles and knees
hurting from all the kicking I did. Nothing like using fins 3 days
straight after 3 months of inactivity.

A question do you recommend using anything on mats for long term
storage or is there anything I can put on the rubber to protect them
from salt and sun? I'll put in the order on the web site. I pull back
into home port (San Diego)next week , looking forward to a long summer
of fun with family, friends and my mats! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

A couple of fotos from the latest session in Honolulu. We surf a boat
accessible spot off the Honolulu harbor when we moor at the University
of Hawaii facility. Just my crew and I surfing fun 1 footers!

Captain David

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Hey Paul!

Today I left work early to score another session on my mat to figure out whether a second one was truly the wisest financial investment. Turns out, at least in this post-surf-stoke-state, it is. I just ordered a Fatty.

Tonight I rode some of the largest waves I've ever matted: shoulder/head high southernly lefts. I am pleased and inspired to hear you say that you are still learning after 52 years! I'm 18 months or so into matting and one of the things that I love about it is that every time I take it out I learn something new and/or set a new personal "mat record". Tonight's record: longest on rail driving bottom turn. The icing on the cake? Two crusty regulars (who know me) at my local saying "that looks like fun". It was tough making it into the lineup with the shorter intervals and good size, but after that the mat made the most of the closeouts and walled shoulders.

In any case, I look forward to a new Fatty!

Thanks,

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Good morning, Paul --

Just wanted to give you some feedback on the new mats -- the Omni and
Versa-Tracker. First of all, the non-skid is fantastic, and I really like
having it over the entire deck. Really gives a nice secure positive
feeling. Jim had gotten his out a couple times, but yesterday was the first
day for me. Not quite as good as our inaugural day the last time we bought
a couple (see photos), as the surf was pretty little. 2' with maybe some
occasional 3 footers. It was still snappy enough, though, to get a feel of
the handling, and I can tell they're going to work great! Can't wait for a
little more substantial action. Will keep you posted.

All the best, and THANKS once again!!

Kenny Hughes

PS Forgot to mention. Jim's son, Crister, also paddled out on an old one,
and we had a wave with all three of us on it! And we all made it, pulling
out at different times...

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!!!!!!!

New fins arriving today, new mat arriving today, nice wind swell arriving tomorrow, I am set.

thanks again, Matt

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Paul,

Thank you for the info on my new mat. It's the first new mat in 56 years. I stated matting when I was 6 years old and after two summers i was riding it standing up, that's when my folks decided to buy me my first board. The mat was handed down to my younger brother.

A while back I was watching a guy out matting and realized how much I enjoyed it as a kid a thought I should get myself another mat. (still a kid at 64) I hunted around for an original one with no luck then ran across your ad. Looking forward to some south swell.

Harvey

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Paul and Gloria-

Thank you for all. My mats make me happy. Rode minus tide Lane this morning and had fun. Monday low tide indicators was amazing. I haven't stopped riding my hard boards but matting is so very fun and satisfying.

Thank you again,

Steiny

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Nailed a big winds well day with Gary Ward on Monday. Boogies and surfboards were simply not working, but our mats were dominating, reaching Mach speed! Even paddling out through 300 yards of whitewash was fastest on the mats! Surfed Hobson reef at a few feet overhead.

Aaron

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Paul, Just a note to let you know I did get to go out today, roughly 3' waves on a reef break (Sands in Goleta). Water was freezing and I did not wear a wetsuit, so I did not get lots of rides. But the 4 I did get were awesome. I had read up a bit on how others ride mats, and I think it really helped. Less forcing the mat and more flowing with the wave. I really like the canvas top of the 4GF, at least for the conditions I was in today. Looking forward to using the mat in warm water next week.

Mahalo, Matt

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I just got home to Morro Bay (from San Diego) 10 mins ago, and the mailman pulled up five minutes later and dropped off the Fatty :-)

Thanks Paul, you're the man!

Marcus

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Paul,

i can't thank enough for these surfmats! It will be my three anniversary on a surfmat in june! Best 3 years of my life!

Peter

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The Omni, at a 90 degree fold.

There's not much to say about it, because it just worked great. I didn't have to give it a thought. It accelerated out of a couple situations and took off easily I have a tweaked back and I was nursing that pain a bit. I wore a spring suit and felt great to be that much lighter. The water is fine. I paid attention to those other concerns but the mat took care of itself. I'm back to that fortunate situation where my equipment is optimal -- the waves and my body are the areas where I can discover the most improvement.

--Dirk

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Ok, the standard is amazing! My first good go out on it today at Rincon. Sheet glass, overhead and peeling the whole point. Every wave went down the freeway, bowly and fast. No crowd (rare these days), was able to rip cutbacks, hit the lip and pump down the line. Funnest surfing I have done in a long time. I really like the way the standard can shred a good wave, hope to get it out more often!

Aaron

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Paul, I just want to let you know that the Omni has worked great here on Oahu. This last swell my friend and I both took out our mats. Super stoked, I'm sure I can't live with just one mat.

Ryan

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Hi Paul

Well, it's only taken a year, but finally experienced 3rd gear,...well at least I think I did! Got 3 long sections to connect up, going a bit faster as I passed each section, just like all you experts say. By the time I passed the last section on the fatty, I was screaming along at Mach 10. One of the best buzzes I have ever had, and the waves were very mediocre. Can't wait to get 3 sections to link up on a pumping day.

Cheers

Steve

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Hi Paul,

Awesome, that was much sooner then I'd thought, will have to pickup some fins pronto.

Absolutely stoked, will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again Paul for everything and have a great weekend!

Tom

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awesomeness!

Lux and i had a fun session last saturday. had a couple people come up to me on the beach after we got out of the water and ask about the mats and where they could get one. hopefully a few more customers coming your way!

Dave

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Thanks Paul for the mats. Been having so much fun, whew the learning curve is tough but when you find that sweet spot, that pure line oh my god, sheer bliss!! Thanks once again, Eric

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Same thing again yesterday, surf was bigger and faster. Was charging from the indicator to the cove and making relentless sections through the rivermouth at rincon. Love the standard! I feel like I am learning some of the little things that make a huge difference. There were 5 mat riders out, all dominating. Some rides cleared the whole point. I was shocked at the speed I was getting, especially considering how little I know about riding a mat! I am recovering from a broken leg / surgery and the mat has been the ultimate therapy, the strength and mobility improvements the last two weeks out pace the prior months without mat riding. Thanks again, have a great weekend.

Aaron

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Paul,

Thanks for your reply, stoked about your recommendations. If I understand your site correctly there are four squares and one round in our quiver (not sure about the "Omni").? Both my folks, Julie, and I live in Westport WA. I was thinking of possibly exchanging one of the ladies mats for a round tail to broaden the Washington quiver.? The Standard, UDT, and Vespa are a definite go.

Julie's Dad had an absolute gas on the Vespa the other day! I had the pleasure of sharing waves and laughter again with the Pendo's! I also tried the Vespa with wondrous results. Conditions were larger and more powerful than the two sessions on the Standard, so it is a little difficult for me to compare and contrast at this point in my learning curve. All I can say is that I am completely hooked! Steve and Cher have been wonderfully generous and helpful with the surf mats. Along with sharing the equipment, their approach to communicating with the ocean via 4th gear flyers has been extremely inspirational! Under the lip sideways take offs, late drops, big carves, controlled side slips, high lines, low driving lines, and tuberides! All the while with face-breaking smiles. These two have it on lockdown!!!

Thanks again for your time, energy, and craft. I look forward to making the final order! Talk to you soon...

Have a good time, all the time...
Dane and Co.

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Hi there Paul

The mat arrived really quick..fins took awhile but now that everything's in order I was able to try it out..let's just say, I am a kook...the learning curve is going to be big...I hadn't expected it to be so difficult ..only caught 2 waves and only had a smile and laugh on 1...that's when I was rolled onto shore liked a beached whale and had a hard time getting up with fins on and holding on to the mat...it was an o my god moment...what am I doing...I am a total spazz...had to smile and laugh at myself...had to talk to my son about the proper kicking method for catching a wave and getting out to the waves..will keep on trying to master it ....lots of learning to do, plus staying away from other wave riders while practicing...looking forward to getting on the unbroken wall....

Looking forward to more laughter.....ray smith

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Hello Paul-

I hope all is well. Thinking of you, with all these whisper souths sneaking below the radar some of the spots by you must be good yet quiet. There has been enough NW windswell to make kelpy middle peak and the reform work well on the low tides. I have been able to catch a couple fun sessions before work. I am back on my roundtail after a few months on my classic. I would like to order an Omni. Probably best to mail you a check so you save on credit card or paypal fees. Let me know how much. People ask me about my mats all the time- I hope they tell you I sent them when they order.

Thanks for all,

Steiny

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Paul I got the mat

it looks great I'm on the way to the water right now

Henry

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This was one of those "first wave you can tell the mat is spectacular" things. I could carve around corners and it goes super fast and it just feels very comfortable for my size body. It seems longer and I like that feeling it may or may not be but it seems a little longer than the best regardless this is the one for me hit gold hit paydirt!!!

Henry

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Paul,

I received the packages, everything looks great!! I've been riding the Standard every day except today since Thurs. It is insane and my face hurts from oversmiling. A couple of my friends have tried the Tracker with very positive results. My Mom and I went out on Sat. with shoulder high and clean beachbreak peaks. She had a blast and rode several waves from swell to sand. She rode the Fatty and loved it! Also handed off the UDT to my Dad, he is very excited but has yet to ride it.Thanks a million times over for keeping the bag of air alive, I couldn't be more stoked to have happened into your surf mat designs.

The Surf Mat is a foreign wave riding tool in this area, but I would have to say that in the last few days interest has definitely piqued in the community. So far I have referred three people to your website from the Westport area.

It was pretty awesome to have three in the water at my home break on Sat.!!! I understand completely the infectious nature of the device and wouldn't be surprised if it caught on to a certain degree up here.

Thanks,

Dane

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Hey Paul,

The "Cousin Bruce" mat arrived today. That was fast! In other news, there were three of us on mats just north of the pier this morning at 6am. One longboarder and three mats! I like those odds.

Bob

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Paul

After being in the water with you last week at St Ann's, and receiving all the helpful and kind advice on how to ride a mat, I forgot to tell you, THANK YOU. Thank you for the quality mat and advice and of course the knowledge and enthusiasm to pass it on. Still looking for a bigger wave to get this beginner rolling......

Thanks again .....ray

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Dear Great Master Paul,

Thank you very much for creating The Great Surf Mats!

I enjoy riding 4GF surfmats all the time

Kazuhiko

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Paul,

My last two sessions I rode the Standard and the Tracker for design comparisons. Both sessions had similar conditions, 2-4 ft. faces with moderate punch. I have ridden the Standard exclusively since reception and have found that it functions very well for me with very little inflation,

Upon testing the Tracker with a similar air level I found it to respond completely different. After those two sessions I found that I had a hard time on the Tracker with little inflation, it felt floppy and difficult to control comparatively. However, when I blew it up between a 45 and 90 degree bend it responded quite well to my approach. This was a marked difference in inflation levels between the Tracker and Standard for optimal performance.

Additionally, upon finding the best air level for me on those days, with both mats, they were equally amazing to ride. Though they were both insane to ride, I was quite perplexed and excited to feel such major differences between the two in the same session! I am very curious and excited about riding the mats with respect to deepening my wave riding knowledge as well as grasping equipment design.

Thank you again for creating such wonderful wave riding devices. I look forward to more growth and understanding of the craft.

Dane

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Hi Paul,

Have only had the mat out a few times but so far it's unreal! China Walls is a pretty optimal spot and I really got to feel the skim. Mahalo for introducing me to yet another way to enjoy the ocean.

Aloha,

Harry

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Only a handful of sessions w omni.

Feels very dynamic in small and larger surf. I feel it excels at whitewater takeoffs and trims whitewater at amazing speed into the green. The omni does not wash out while carving a turn too. Stoked on the mat. Hope this helps the r&d.

Thanks, Richard

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Thanks a bunch Paul. I can't wait to get on this and give it a spin. I'll have to send you a few shots of it in action

Eden

Dead Kooks Surfboards

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Thanks Paul. It showed up yesterday and got wet today ! I think I hit 2nd gear in the rising tide. Anyway, it's pretty much what I expected fun-wise & suits my style of water play.

Thanks again,

Mark

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Hey Paul,

The XL worked unreal the last two days in overhead surf at K-38 ! I was able to get in early and hold the high line across the face. The added length seems to work with my long torso.

Gringos and Mexicans were stoked !

Thanks again
Dave

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i have a hard time taking my other toys out anymore?! surfbords - body boards - even kite boards - they have all been drying out, except for my surfmats; they're hardly ever dry!
gary 163 - 170 lb

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Hello Paul:

I want to thank you for your expeditious shipping of my 4G Flyer Classic. I received it today, and I am very impressed by its design and construction. I especially like the custom touch of personalizing it for me!

-Jim

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Paul.

Thanks for the speedy reply. Heard great stuff about your product from Lars Bergstrom from Hood River, Or. Looking forward to the beach and the waves.

Chuck

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Looking forward to it. We used to use these when we were lifeguards. We rented them to tourists to float around on but we used them for wave riding. Plan to use in Virginia near Virginia Beach.

Chris

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HI Paul,

Got some small beachbreak a couple of times in Brazil. Arm is still a problem, weak and healing. Despite that, it was great fun! Lots to learn and unlearn, so the stoke factor will increase as time goes on. [It's already 8.25 on the "I wanna surf every day" richter scale.]

Thanks for a great piece of neutral handling equipment!

George

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I travel carry-on with a 10kg limit on a discount airline called Jetstar, so I can take two or three mats if I limit other kit. However the single mat ethic is very appealing because this approach shows faith in one surf machine serving the purpose. This zen minimalist gig is highly satisfying due to the reverence inspired towards my holy 4GF and flippers. Plus having just a single design to work with promotes intimacy, perseverence and adaptability... : - ]

Max

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HI paul,

there was some waves, but pretty infrequent and lully, maybe 2'-3' and every once a while 4' but very crowded...

i only managed to get 4 waves altogether, two on the udt and two on the omni...

the udt is really a huge mat, it catches waves really easy (the two waves I got I wouldn't been able to on a regular mat) and then it went pretty good, only in the hollow inside section the width became really noticeable... this mat might actually work good at pv cove as there's no particular hollow part of the wave...

the omni felt really good in the steep sections as far I can tell now, it feels volume and width wise close to the tracker... did you make it an inch longer for my body size ?

hopefully soon more waves but still stoked,

florian

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Thanks Paul,

I will order on the web for shipping in Italy….it will be parfect for Italian summer waves !!!!!

Many thanks for providing me this new surfing toy!!!!!!!

As soon as I receive the surfmat, and learn to use it, I will do my best to spread the knowledge ... in Italy all make surfing with the "materassino"( water bed) and make the move to something similar but more radical will be easy for the many who enjoy waves only in the summer!!

Ciao, Piergiorgio

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Hi Paul .

Just Clocking in ,Rode one of the Mats that i took to PNG for the Past Surf season ,Only rode it down the East coast at One Break ,pretty shallow Reef and Kinda Bit Nervy at First but got My Confidence and really started to get a Bit of a Groove Going ,Mainly surfing Close out Rights on the High Tide But a Real Blast local Kids were really Checking the Mat Out as They just Ride Old Bits of Timba .Back in Aust Now for a Break and coming Off a couple Of Injuries ,Shoulder Body Surfing and Hip moving Furniture .....Nothing Adventurous but any way to Cut a Long story short Been Back out on the Mat on the Beach Breaks where i live just up from Nth Kirra and really starting to Take to Mat Riding ,I never Get Barols on My Board But I do on the Mat ,Some times i go out when its real Shitty and have the best Time and come in with a grin From Ear to Ear ,and get Lots of waves to Myself ,and Hey Mainly i am Just Riding Close Outs But every Now and Then i get a wave with a Face and go across and just get that incredible feeling of Speed and Planing .Any way at the end of the day i tend to be leaning More to Mat Riding than the Surf Board ,I really like the Fact that you can just go out and get waves to yourself and have a Lot of Fun ,Plus its a Little Bit Left Of Centre and No One on this whole Stretch Rides One .....Bilinga Beach ...So Thanks for a Couple of Great Mats ....Totally Stoked ,long Way to Go to get Them worked out But the Buzz is trying to Get it all worked out and Throwing the Rule Book out the Door .The Other Plus is The Mat has Been great Rehab for the Injury recoveries .

On another Note ,I watched an old Movie The Other Night and if My Memory serves Me Correctly Pretty sure your Name came up in the Credits .....Super Session .There's a Couple Of Back Hand Bottom Turns Of Sammy Hawk at Pretty Big Pipe That are Just All time ...Stylin .Hope Biz Is Brisk and you are In Good health ,Its so Bloody Important the Older we Get ...Health is Wealth .

Take It Easy and Thanks .

cheers Lou

SURFMATTERS

Jul 29, 2013

Taiwan bound...

Jul 28, 2013

From 2 of the 4 Corners of the Earth!

Jul 27, 2013

Steiny On The Omni...

Jul 21, 2013

Sorry for the OT Tangent...

Jul 17, 2013

From Peter ...

Jul 11, 2013

Over-The-Hump Testamonials....