Leg Smackdown: Tina Turner Vs. Rob From Florida

 

Last post, Rob had the audacity to compare his Gold's Gym jackhammers to Tina Turner's gams.

Don't even go there, Bruh...

:)

Thursday Fun Day Fom Rob

 

Paul,

I had a blast on Thursday at Hanna Park with Mariah and her Mom, who was in for a visit from Oregon. The water was still a little cold for the ladies to get in, but it was a beautiful day to be on the beach with Family.

The Polara screams for me on anything over 2 feet! I love this mat when the inside is working. I’ve been catching as many session as I can, and exploring different tides and breaks, sometimes catching as many as three sessions a day, if I’m off work.

My body is starting to respond by trimming down, and my baby rhino sized wetsuit is getting loose on me. Mat surfing has given me some Tina Turner legs too (see shot #4), but Mariah says my fin feet cancel them out!

I’m so in love with the Ocean, I dream waves, and not even a shark bite could keep me out of the water yesterday at the Poles. The Ocean has healed me and filled a void I didn’t know I had in my life. She showed me that people can change, and washed away my fear and anger, so she could replace them with Love and Joy. I owe the ocean my life, but I owe you for the introduction.

I say it a lot, but I always mean it, thank you so much for your time and for making these wonderful surfcraft. Keep Spreading the Stoke!


Super Stoked,

Rob

PS   Mariah loves her new lens!

From Bretto

 

Hi Paul,

The first few days of our trip were a bit too solid for matting, but yesterday and today I got a go out at this new spot I found which is just awesome for mat riding. The Standard went really good and absolutely sizzled.

I'll try and get some more pictures for you, but it's a bit harder as we only have phones at this time.

This is the spot. There's a right and left...

No Sunday Fun Day Pics From Rob This Week ...

Paul,

I'm still going out today but Mariah has too much school work to come with us, so I won't have pics this time. Just wanted to let you know since last night I was talking about pictures! I'm off to spread the Stoke!

Super Stoked,

Rob

From John ...

You know you're getting old when an inflatable box of popcorn starts to look better to you than an attractive young woman.

From Adam ...

Hey Paul,

Had a fun surf with Neal yesterday, with him riding his Vespa RT and myself giving my trusty Omni a run as well.

The waves were only small, but at least we had it to ourselves.

After a post surf coffee at the local cafe, we called into the factory where Neal does board repairs and spotted this beautiful Steve Lis fish. To the untrained eye, most people would just walk past it. But as soon as I spotted the logo I was instantly frothing...saw $80 written on the bottom and was about to whip out my wallet, then realized it was for the ding repair and not for sale!!! 😉


Adam

 

From Rob ...

 

 

Paul,

We made it home from Universal Studios, and I was able to make it to a Dawn Patrol session with some friends! What a great day full of smiles and Joy!

Chris grabbed a couple great shots from the session! Gotta run trying to catch DP this morning before work! 

Thanks for all you do 🤙🏼! Keep Spreading the Stoke!

P.S. My buddy Ryman is starting to get the mat itch! He rode the Fatty in shore break and had a blast! I tried to get him to buy one when the sale was on, but he missed the boat! It's only a matter of time ;)!

Super Stoked,
Rob

From Bud ...

I started on a mat, and I've come back to the mat.

With my sister Susan, 1959. Ocean City, MD.

Bud

Another Sunday Fun Day From Rob ...

 

Paul,

 

I just had an amazing time with my Family at the Poles. There was just a little bit of swell left and my Son Tristan wanted to try and tandem surf the Vespa! We gave it a go and had such a great time! 

 

My Wife Mariah took the pictures. 

 

I can't tell you with words what these memories mean to me! Thank you for creating these vehicles of Joy!

Super Stoked,
Rob Pollard

From Mike ...

 

 

 

 

Paul, 

Omni goes great. Been having a blast!

I think mats are one of the most challenging craft to ride a wave on. So much fun, once you start to get the hang of it. 

Thanks again for the great mat. 

Mike

From Rob ...

Paul,

We have been blessed with swell...and the new Vespa Flies! I rode mostly shorebreak today as the waves where pretty soft until they got inside.  I was able to get into them early and set my line to get closeout barreled nearly every time :)! I had so much Fun! I'm so grateful for the time I spent out there today!

There was a tequila sunrise that was so beautiful it took my breathe away, and I saw a pod of dolphins taking party waves :)!

I also noticed something that I've never noticed until mat surfing. Shells are tiny perfect waves breaking! It blew my mind :)! Thanks for everything Paul! Your mats give me so much Joy! I can't stop smiling! Keep spreading the Stoke!

Super Stoked,

Rob

From Maloney ...

Greetings,

I have not been lost, just trying to retire. A miserable failure so far at it.

Hope all is well with you and family and you had a good/great 2016. Just starting to go out in water after being sick for a few months, down in NZ for a few weeks.

My friend who takes me surfing sent me this photo, just thought it was kind of funny, head buried in wave. (At my age, everything is funny.)

 I’m looking forward to more water time as things warm up.

All the best, Michael

PS My wife said if I bungee jumped down in NZ not to come home. I don't think you can go down to NZ without jumping off of something!

 

 

Tips From The Prones ...

 (Max, mid-60's)

Lately I’ve been getting into crossing my outside leg over my inside knee when turning and trimming. This body configuration seems to allow the mat to lay flatter on the wave while changing directions and holding lines so as to carry more speed. 

I’m guessing that weight shift has a lot to do with it. Plus, the outside fin becomes an inside fin that is on edge, so as to cut into the water for steering and traction. This technique took quite a while to comfortably incorporate into my repertoire. However it’s second nature now, and gives great results, plus enormous satisfaction from having a new dance move. 

The flipper crossover is good for bottom turns, hanging on steep faces, and especially pulling hard cutbacks with big slams off the foam. Give it a go mates, and see how you fare...

Sorry no pics yet.

Cheers Mates,

Mat Max

 (Max, late-oughts)

Another Sunday With Rob ...

Tips From The Pros: Zig-Zagging Over Flat Spots ....

On smaller, weaker waves, Greenough will often unweight, and guide his mat back and forth across a crumbling wave face as it rolls to shore. This is in lieu of the more instinctual approach of simply laying on the mat and going straight off.

Right after his takeoff on this wave, George maneuvers around a puzzled longboarder, then gently moves back and forth. His speed over the water is faster than if he traveled in a straight line towards the beach, so his mat stays up and planing...




On this wave, at the 1:10  mark, George employs the same technique. It's a subtle move, but effective...

Sam Cody ...

Anyone in and around the San Diego board building milieu knows all too well that Sam Cody is a major talent. His work as a surfing-related artist is rarely matched. And he's been doing it for over 50 years!

I had the privilege of working at the old G&S factory on Gaines Street in SD when Sam was there, and marveled at his talent on a daily basis...

 

 

So where did it all start you ask? Let's let Sam explain...

"I started bodysurfing in 1956, and by 1958, I was mat surfing around La Jolla Cove (see photo). I’m the one on the left with the glasses. You also might notice the early stages of “Surfmat Graphics” on my mat which might be showing you a direction I was heading."

George Greenough, 1969

Some frame grabs from The Innermost Limits Of Pure Fun.

The top shot is from Lennox. The side slip sequence is probably Evans Head.

The mat is a "Stripes Down" Converse-Hodgman mat...which was a long, thick, narrow design that was never intended for surfing.  They were a handful to ride due to the high air volume, but George got them to go!

Last Saturday In Florida ...

Paul,

I had a blast yesterday. The Polara and the Fatty performed well! It wasn't exactly what I expected from the forecast, but it didn't matter, my face hurts from smiling! I surfed for 5 hours and I am super sore today!

It was a strange swell as it often is here. I think I ran out of gas before I figured it out, but man was it fun trying! I wasn't able to connect from the outside to the inside, but I did catch some amazing closeout barrels! I can still see the face heaving over me and the door slamming shut as if it's in slow motion. I dropped in a little too low a few times and got caught by the lip horizontally, each time I was driven to the ocean floor and pinned for a few seconds. It was like being body slammed by a giant, and frankly I enjoyed it ;)!

Thank you for building a surf craft I can experience such things on. The day was full of smiles, friends, and Joy. I couldn't have asked for a better Saturday powered by 4GF!

I was so excited I forgot the GoPro in the car :( and didn't remember it until I was exhausted. I've got all the memories though and they will last a lifetime!

This was the only photo Chris got from yesterday.

I need to plan a trip to a point break soon! Any recommendations?

Super Stoked,
Rob

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Fun in Jupiter!


Bud