From Dan ...

 

Paul,

A little matt action the other day at the paia bay contest. Stolen from mauisurfreport.

Dan

From Kendog ...

Saw the cover photo on your blog this am. Great shot. Made me wonder where Sevo got the inspiration for this piece of art. Either way both are classics in my head.
 

Kendog

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The photo in question...

 Woody Woodward and Mike Mulkey, CDM, 1971

From Surf Sister ...

From Eric ...

Hi Paul

I was in Byron Bay last week and was Lucky enough to bump into George as he came out of the surf at one of his favourite spots. I managed a quick chat and photo with him, have not seen him since the mid seventies...

 

One thing I did notice up the North coast NSW was how many older guys are sliding on mats, which is great to see. Had a couple of good small clean mat surf sessions & was able to chat with many local matmen...

 

 Hope all goes well with you now and all of 2016.

Eric Da Bolt 

From Keven ...

First mat rides...Milo and Betty!

From The Scuttlefish ...

Very cool...this would make a great mat surf movie soundtrack! (Are you listening, Mister Dirk?)

This Scuttlefish posting has links to other 'sea organs' located around the world...

From Grant ...

Hi there,

This is a shot I took of George a couple of years ago...
 

I spent 2 weeks with him off Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef in the early 80's as a boat driver and safety diver with him while he shot footage for a Sprite TV commercial for the States. He had his spoon windsurfer with him and would go out each afternoon when the wind would pick up. He had a blow-up mat that he would carry with him that velcroed into the spoon if he needed float the get home when the wind dropped off. I think the board had a stainless steel fin from memory, and rubber inner tube across the swallow tail that could flex up if it needed to.

We would use the ham off the sandwiches they sent out with us to fish for reef fish between takes and waiting for the right conditions. George had a big, box shaped camera housing that he had used on Big Wednesday. I believe and he would rest it on his half inflated mat to support it, to pan from above water to below as required. It was very heavy!
 

Kind regards,
 

Grant 

www.SurfboardsByGrantNewby.blogspot.com
http://www.thealleyfishfry.blogspot.com/

From Chad In The OC ...

Paul,

Here's Ben Decamp Riding your mat in the river enjoy!!!

I hope all's well.

Chad

Crazy Assed Idea ...

 What about a surf magazine that published photos of waves you actually would want to ride???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As opposed to this...

From Mister Sowell ...

paul

 took my tracker round tail out  today and got some great waves.

even pulled a nice el rollo /barrel roll

the TRT was able to handle the  bit of extra face bump with out loosing rail grip really  nice for these conditions

 these are video grabs from chad stickneys video


Take care , James

From Jamie ...

Woke up this morning to a jump in size and a little offshore wind. Took the Lotus out as it was head high, hollow fast and wedging. Surfed from 6:30-8am and had to dash off to work.

The Lotus is a sure thing in those conditions!

Jamie

From Mike ...

We all know that Michael Collins was a super cool, mat surfing Dad....

But did you know...he was an astronaut too?

 

Jethro Tull even recorded a tune about his experiences in space...

From Jamie ...

The basic rule of thumb: You can start mat surfing when you're taller than your swim fins...


Jamie

From Philippe ...

 

 

Dear Paul!

Thank you so much for the great mat! I’m currently surfing in Tanegashima, Japan. 

Here are a few snaps!

Best regards

Philippe

From The Jungles Of Costa Rica ...

Ohh what fun!!!

Chuck

From Steiny ...

Santa Cruz morning fun!

From Aaron ...

Hi Paul,

Haven't seen much surf up this way all summer.

Today the swell picked up. I went to north reef and it was going off. I pulled up during a set that must have had 100 waves in it. The reef was doing its thing with waves breaking all the way to the sand. I made 2 phone calls and suited up, with waves coming in non stop.  I walked down the trail and out on the sand while watching countless waves coming in. I put on my suit and inflated my mat, then entered the water with the same set of waves still pouring in. I got clobbered in the beach pound but finally punched through. Waves were still coming in as I made my way to the outside. I got closer and closer to the takeoff zone and all I could see was waves stacked to eternity.

As I was just about to the lineup spot I had to go over one more wave, then I would be in position to flip around and go on the next one. To my surprise, the set ended and there was no next one. No problem, I will catch my breath and get ready for the next set.

Well, I sat for 2 hours and nothing came in. It was as flat as a lake. I eventually ran out of time and paddled in. Oh well!

Aaron

From Surf Sister ...

I was handed a bunch of pictures when I got to the beach today.

SS

From Kathleen ...

The Maui surfer girls !!!

From Jonathan ...

Hi Paul,

I know this is REALLY pushing "mat" content, but this headline at least caught my eye!

I hope all is well with you. I've got another work/play trip coming to Raglan (for six months starting in late November), and am looking forward to the fun surf. Also going to bring a Liddle, which I haven't really had a chance to surf frontside in good point surf, so that will be neat.

If you still have them, I'd love to bring some of those wristbands to hand out -- always get a lot of interest there on the "lilo".

Best wishes,
Jonathan

“I designed something that could solve the problems I face when I go to the beach: My phone runs out of battery, water warms up in bottles, I can’t relax because mattresses cause back pain,” the 23-year-old inventor Antoine Sayah said.