50th Anniversary of The Isle of Wight Music Festival

So what does the Isle of Wight Music Festival of 1970 have to do with surfmatting? Our man Kenny Hughes was there with another legend of alternative surfing, the late John Brockway!

 

                              Globetrotters Kenny and John in Central America, a few years later.

 

Using modern facial recognition software, we were able to pick the two, very young San Diegans out of the IOW crowd with a predicted 99.997% accuracy.

From Greg

 

 

It got a bit better, but my camera battery died.

 

Greg

From Lou

 

 Hey Paul ..

A good mate purchased this in '71 for $25..left under a bed at his mums house ,flat and coated in Talcum Powder..just pulled it out the other day,still in good nick..

 

Think Bob may have purchased a Flyer from you a couple of years ago for his wife..

 

Take it easy.😎

 

LG

From Grizzled Veteran Hazel

 

From Kevin

 

 From Kevin Mirsky. He’s a surfer/artist from Marin.

 Steiny

From Lou -- 1965 Australian Beach Fun

 

From Ward

 

Dear Paul,

Thanks Paul!  Ky and his kid sisters worked last weekend to try and make some mats out of pool floats and a hair straightening iron.  The smell of melted plastic and laughter.  They took them surfing straight away and had a blast except he had to inflate his mat with every set of waves on the horizon.  Ha!  His first version was an old thermarest I had in college.  Before my living room became a wasteland for prototypes I told him to just get the real deal!

Thanks again,

Ward

From Kazuhiko

 

Mystery Event ???

From Brandon

Even with only 55% power on hand, and 22 Brandon Carlsons ahead of him, Brandon still manages to convey is stoke!

SCUMM Surf/Shill Session

i Paul

Weird & Wacky times here at the moment as we hurtle towards a 2nd lockdown!

I have been loving reading all the posts on the Surfmatters site but unfortunately cannot share any on my FB page as apparently 'it does not meet community standards' so you must have a real fan there or a frustrated mat rider, either way its weird!

Yesterday morning we were lucky to score some fun waves out at Gilligans with our usual cohorts of friends and would make a point of recommending these Soft Surf Helmets from DMC Fins, considering we surf low to the water it offers extra protection to the head while surfing on those crowded days and helps also with sun protection on the back of your neck and throw in the amphibious eyeware from Barz Optics and you can roll with the whole package!

Stay Wet & Safe

adam

Adam and Bigshot Neal

Neal in Bigshot Evening Wear

From Cher

Dear Paul,

We hope that my email finds you and Gloria well and enjoying July.

Steve and I have been enjoying dawn patrols on the low tide curve. This week there has been a fun NW windswell and small SW swell mix. With days of onshore winds, the water dropped more than ten degrees! One morning measured 56 degrees on our friend’s dive watch. Chilly but refreshing! We’re back in our full suits. Water was a bit warmer this morning.

As promised, here is a scan of the mat surfing photo of me by Sarah Lee that was published in Lauren Hill’s book "She Surf." This photo appears in Sarah Lee’s feature in the book. I’ve also attached a cover shot of the book. It’s an honor to be featured. Later in the book, there is a story and photos of me surfing my boards.

Thank you Paul for the amazingly fun surf craft that you make for us. Steve and I are all smiles. 

Love and Aloha,

Cher and Steve

From Steiny

4 plus years old? Don't want to spend more than 35 bucks? Wanna get in the water, but feeling a little peckish at the same time? Problems solved!

From The Washington Post

Link:  The inflatable pool is the official symbol of America’s lost summer

From Ben

Thanks Paul.

Received it today.  Getting in the water tomorrow!

Ben

Drone Footage From Warren

Fresh Water Matting

Dear 4th gear,

I’m a landlocked surfer in Denver, Colorado. We have some standing waves that range from steep and fun to ankle biters.

Here is a 1984 Intex mat I was surfing couple days ago at a standing wave 15 minutes from my home that is surfable 12 months out of the year.

Thanks,

David

coloradoriversurfing.org

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My partner is Ellen, and fresh flat water is her favorite place to take the mats out these days. We’re headed up to camp at some alpine lakes in the Trinity Alps this week, and once again the mats will be lashed to our frame packs!

Here's a photo of me (with Ellen behind the camera) taking the mats out on their maiden freshwater voyage, in the slot canyons of Arroyo Seco. Once again, they proved to be the most fun and versatile watercraft I saw anyone riding...

Take care,

Sam

From Jonathan

Hi Paul!

Diane and I are cat sitting 16-year-old Rufus. His play-pounce stance gives a strong flash of mat body positioning (and a facial expression one might have entering a pitching section.... )

Jonathan

AKA Tusked Beast

From Mike

Hey Paul,

Still having a blast on my mats.

I was on a road trip and had the Standard with me not my favorite, the Lotus. But finally got to ride it. It's so much fun!

Mike

From The Depths Of Hell...

...otherwise known as the SCUMM House Of Fashion.