Surfmatters 2017 Awards

Well, gentle readers, most of us managed to get through a year that, initially, seemed like a relief when 2016 (the previous "worst year ever") mercifully ended.

Let's enjoy the fact that 2017 is finally over, that we're still here, and that salt water immersion is still cathartic!

There were some bright spots amid the chaos of the past 356 days...

To wit:

Best Political Collusion Theory, "Mat Surfing The Baltic-Sea" Category ...

Best Unbroken Mat Track, "Lower Baja" Category ...

Best Saltwater Dome Rinse ...

 

Best Reaction to the Brexit Vote, "Futurist" Category ...

 Best Low-Tech Alternative to a Go-Pro ...

Best Electronic Gizmo, "Relevance to 2017" Category ...

Best Surf Photographer, "Land Based/Wide Angle Lens" Category ...

Best Mat Levitation, "Non-Believing-Australian-Heathen" Category ...

Best Mat Customer, "Don't Worry Dad, He'll Grow Into It" Category ...

Best Mate Who Passed, "Won't Be Forgotten" Category ...

Best Unintentionally Profound Front Page ...

Best Candidate to One Day Become a Mat Surfer ...

Best Leggo Mat Sculpture ...

Best Apres' Mat Surf Meal, "Brain Dead American With Heart Disease And High Cholesterol" Category ...

Best Small Wave Takeoff, "Come Hell Or High Water" Category ...

Best Shit-Eating Grin, "Shark Infested Waters" Category ...

Best Takeoff Schematic Drawing, "Pen and Ink On Paper" Category ...

Best UDT Fin Reworking Session, "Sans Dust Mask" Category ...

Best Testimonial Pull-Quote ...

Howdy Paul, 

I was amazed and stoked to find your package on my doorstep this afternoon! My new 4GF Standard, shipped 12/22/2017 from California to Victoria, Australia in 8 days... staggering!!!

Even more astounding, there were waves this arvo. I surfed my local point break, uncrowded, waist to head high and had a blast. I was a little hesitant to fork over the greenbacks for an imported mat but had heard nothing but good about the 4GF range. So, cut to the chase, my first surf, first impressions -

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"She didn't put a pontoon wrong!"

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The deck material is ideal, not too slippy, not too grippy. On a wave...takes off easier than my ''Brand X/Made In China" mat, holds a line better, runs through flat spots better and handles bounce better, seems more controllable.

Paul, I'm stoked!

Only my first surf but in very fun waves. She didn't put a pontoon wrong!

Can't wait to do it again. Maybe tomorrow? Swell is supposed to be kick some more ;))

Thanks so much mate,

Simon.

Best Use of the 4GF Logo, "Rash Guard" Category ...

Best Geezer in the Water, 10th Year Running ...

Best Micro Wave, "Mile Long" Category ...

Best Rail-Hang,  "LA County" Category ...

Best Home Invasion Burglary Caper, "Western Louisiana" Category ... 

Best Takeoff, "In-Your-Face-You-Old-Mat-Farts" category ...

 
Best Longboard Photo, "Ever, Of All Time" Category ...

Best Photoshop ...

 

 

Best Mat Surfing Pic, "Mystical Experience" Category ...

Thanks for all of your support in 2017!

Paul and Gloria Gross

Happy New Year 2018, Goodbye to 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Howdy Paul, Adam here...

Hope all is well and that you enjoyed a fantastic Xmas with  Family & Friends!

2017 has certainly had its ups and downs , especially with us losing our Mat Man, Eric Bridges back in August...

...But life continues to peddle along, so looking forward to a better and healthy 2018, best wishes to all the fellow Frothers  & Stoke Masters who continue to Share the Stoke globally on this site, and to you Paul, many thanks for the great rides via your hand made surf mats!

Froth On!

Pool Toys R us!

Well the surf has been dismal and small, true summer slop conditions, but if you have the right craft and the right frame of mind, the smiles & laughter will follow you....last Monday we (Paul and I) headed down to one of our local breaks, not expecting anything at all, so I just threw in a cheap $16.50 softop kick board, while Paul had his Omni, well there was a spike in the swell, hardly anyone around, so just the 2 of us sharing some froth and waves...




Next day the swell had dropped, but still enough for the 3 of us to share...




...With Phil on his softech, Paul on a timber paipo, with me waving the flag for inflatables! The following morning continued with similar conditions, very weak and full waves...

 


...But finally, yesterday we had a nice spike in the swell, and I was able to share a few mat waves with Phil ( and another zillion happy holiday makers) out at the bogey hole , such a funny morning and a great surf to end this year on ( ithe swell was gone this morning)




One Last Joke for 2017, many thanks to our Neal Cameron!



See you in the New Year!

SCUMM Love from Oz,

 Adam

From Marc

Hi Paul,

I hope under the given health circumstances that you will have a nice new year's eve.

That 2018 may a fantastic year for you and Gloria. 

In my hometown they work 24/7 on the bonfire. 

See this video...

Good surf this morning in Scheveningen. 4 /5 ft and offshore. 

Nice way to close 2017! 

Marc

Bonfire from new year's eve 2015 ...

From Mister Dirk

Dirk and Decker Brandts in prep for their starring roles...

California mat riders -- our film making colleague Tim Ciasto is coming to visit California from Jan. 3-19, 2018.

Tim Ciasto

He'll stay with me (Dirk Brandts) in Santa Barbara, but also make some jaunts up and down the coast. He wants to film mat surfing and interview mat riders while he's here. I would like to plant the idea of a mat meet during that window, and ideally hold it at one of the right points in my area. The winter groundswells haven't been happening like they should this year, but it could happen. Fingers crossed! Let me know in the comments if you'd like to join in.

We also are working on some planned shoots. We need about 6 to 15 characters in black wetsuits to help recreate a band of hunter-gatherers. This would involve 2 sunrise sessions, one on the coast here in SB, and one inland in a dry stone landscape nearby -- in other words, 2 separate mornings. If you can't make it to both, no worries. No budget for this, since this is a non-commercial passion project, but it will be quick, easy, and probably pretty funny once it's done. Comment if this seems interesting, and I'll add more details as it comes together next week.

From Rob

Paul,

Mariah got me a Sony A6000 Christmas! That’s the same camera Chris takes his pictures with. Im super Stoked and looking at housings to save for! 

The Standard SS arrived yesterday right before my date with Mariah. I am going to Slide the protomat today around high tide after I run some errands! I’m so Stoked I could explode! 

Keep Spreading the Stoke! Positive Vibes and Healing Energy my Friend! 

Super Stoked,

Rob

Here are a couple of Snaps from Chris on Christmas Eve! We where so Stoked on this Shore Pound, it was a great way to get ready for Christmas!

 

 

 

 

From Instagram, via Surf Sister

From Jonathan

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Paul,

I'm so glad to hear you're back in the water. That also means I can now report: we've had a great early winter here in SF. I've felt a little like Nero fiddling on all these high pressure, offshore days that have made for such devastating wildfires down south. But have been blessed and lucky. Morning checks show ludicrous crowds. Afternoons have been uncrowded, even empty! Don't know why, don't need to know :) The SS Standard and SS Polara have preformed beautifully in the unusually user-friendly 3-6 foot beachbreak we've been having.

It's been a hard year for a lot of us, and much harder for the most vulnerable. But this time we're passing through has also been illuminating and motivating. I truly feel that a lot of unsustainable practices are coming to an end... that certain paradigms are truly shifting. I'm feeling gratitude for the simple, real, true things.... like a card from my beloved, with her rendition of her tuskedbeast riding his favorite glorified pool toy :)

Thank you for all you do, Paul. Best wishes to you and Gloria. All best wishes for your health and happiness in 2018 and beyond.

-Jonathan

From The UK, With Love

I had a surf yesterday in passable waves. It's been a terrible year for waves over here.

Bumped into a fella on a 4GF from Russia! Any idea who that would be? His English was terrible. Better than my Russian, though.

He was surfing pretty well.

🎅🎅🎅

G

From Simon

A rip curl mat, 1977. Shot for an ad with my mate Marc McEvoy, who, as you can see, had no clue :))

George, laying down on the job!