From Mat Max

 

Take it from me. Because your lowly 4GF is the most sophisticated wave riding vehicle on the planet, designed and built by the premier surfing geniuses in the world, you can ride it at whatever volume of inflation you like. I'm incomprehensibly stoked on leakers so as to experience the full spectrum of potentials. I let them become outrageously flaccid and they merrily soldier on with aplomb and dignity, serving up mach 11 speed runs at ridiculously minimal inflation. And, at the other end of the air volume spectrum, more and even more air creates a rigid bodyboard that can handle anything up to and including the humunga cowabunga from down under. Thus, as demonstrated by the above testimony from a seasoned matting veteran, it just doesn't matter.

 

Mat Max

From Ben

 

From Los Boogieman

 

Mat Meet Re-Creation

 

Halloween Mat Meet -- San Diego Style

From Bryan

 Hi Paul,

In the past, I’ve often come across fun looking waves during non-surf travel and had to mindsurf them. I’m traveling in Europe with my wife right now and packed my Fatty and a pair of fins in my carryon. After cruising around on trains and bicycles in The Netherlands, we arrived in Portugal and there’s a fun little right reef point within walking distance of where we’re staying. I’m able to grab some very fun matting waves for a few hours in between cultural stuff. 

It felt great to squeeze in some water time while not even looking for waves. The mat is an awesome just-in-case vehicle to have in the bag without limiting mobility like traveling with a couple surfboards does, especially since we are using public transportation exclusively on this trip.

I attached a clip of one of my rides.

Hope you are well

Bryan

From John

 

 Thanks Paul,

Recent action from Fiji on the lotus!  10/11/23. 

I was loving it in Fiji on the Lotus! Most fun ever !!!!

 

Mahalo,

John L

From Bretto

 

A Mat Meet With Halloween Costumes...WTF???

 

No telling what will transpire on 10/29...but there's donuts, and a 4gf Omni will be raffled off!

                                                 Mikey Ratt getting tuned up for the big event!

 

 Some variations on the flyer by Nick Simich...

From George S

 

                                                    Bretto on an early Lotus proto back in 2013

 

I tried my new Lotus today in 5ft+ surf and had zero issues adapting. I felt it has more maneuverability / hold / speed for me over the Standard.

I'm kind of long and skinny so the Lotus fits me better. I like having more room to paddle. I feel more planted over the mat through the torso with better feedback from the pontoons interacting with the water = hold. I had no issue with the reduced volume since I had it inflated to just under 90 degrees. Less air = less work to get out the back, and at ~145lbs (including fins and wetsuit) I could ride the 2ft mush all the way to the beach when I wanted to

Perhaps a blessing in disguise that I lost my first mat. I'm excited for more winter swell. I've grown more comfortable in bigger waves so I feel ready. It's just so fun getting LAUNCHED down the line: "3rd gear" I suppose

Cheers,

George

 

 

From Bryan

 

Hi Paul,

 

I've been having a lot of fun on my Fatty. I'm about a half dozen sessions in and getting the hang of it as a new surf mat rider. I had a really fun session last night mid-beach OBSF in what I'd normally consider unspectacular conditions. I attached a video clip of one of my better ones that the surfline cam captured.

Hope you're having a good week!

Bryan

From Hula Surf TV

 

From Joe

 

New England Mat Meet Up

From Nolan

 

 

Hey Paul,

Here’s the flyer, and quick description of us & the show. Thanks for posting!  

Possum makes stuff: magazines, photos, videos, product, phone calls, installations….half publishing house and half art department for hire. It's a concept that Hayden Brosnan and I, Nolan Hall, don’t put much time in trying to define. What Possum is depends on the project, mostly, it’s a place to make what they want with the people they want.

Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming release of their newest issue of Possum. An all San Francisco issue, guest-edited by Jeff Canham.

'Water World' is a celebration of the parking lot. Talking story about waves, boards, characters, and trips, whether on this astral plane or others. Part art installation, part yard sale In the gallery, a group show featuring original works and surf paraphernalia by some of our favorite artists and personalities within the community.Out back, a yard sale offering prints, stickers, original pieces, zines, books, and shirts by the artists featured in the show. You’ll also find boards by some of our favorite shapers, swim fins from Yucca, surf mats by Paul Gross, Tanner Gudauskas will be offloading VHS tapes, surf fins by True Ames, and Buddy from Stitchbox doing some wetsuit repairs. Drinks from Juneshine. Come hang out and talk shit.

Nolan

From The Tusked Beast

Hey Paul,

 

Hope you're well. Here's something for the blog, if you like...

After a demonstrably AWFUL year of surf, we finally got some fun waves in San Francisco! Nothing epic, but good, lined up south swell, and lo! the sandbars that were pulverized by the winter/spring rains seem to have organized- we've been getting those beautiful A-frame peaks in out little summer cove.

I've had a couple of surfs with the Lotus, and have been (as usual) impressed by how perfect the craft is for the varied wave situations, linking flat spots to set up for fast reforms, handling both steep and sloping drops with ease... squeezing every bit of speed from imperfect waves!

It feels soooo good. Looking forward to a great fall! 

From Decker Brandts

 

Surfmat Stud from Pantopia Studios on Vimeo.

From Social Media

 

From Surf Sister

Some Fun Stuff ...