Riding swells on a magic towel

How early can you take off?

February 6, 2006

http://www.funfotoz.com/

How do we know it’s not just a big backed off section, hmmmm??? Ha! I saw video of Roy riding little rippels. Maybe Carvu could paddle his big board fast enough. Hope all’s well, I’ll bring the new board buy soon, just doin’ the finishing touches. Taylor

I was thinking the same: what if the wave jacked up, and then backed off? but apparently it’s done.

However, if you go into dale’s site www.surfmat.com - there’s a pic of GG ‘skimming’ a chopped up unbroken swell that is just unreal.

I think he got towed in on that monster…

taken from www.surfmat.com

The only problem with the mat thing is that it looks so goofy…

sometimes looking and being Goofy is major FUN!!!wonder if he ever scored with Minnie?

Hi DAle, how’s my mat coming :wink:

towing in on a mat, Now there’s a concept!!!

Quote:

The only problem with the mat thing is that it looks so goofy…

the only problem

Walrus,

i have a mat coming from Dale too. I’m in DC and have been wanting to surf the lefts at Cape May. Spent any time down there?

We should have an East Coast mat gathering when Dale puts them in the mail.

Jamie

Quote:

The only problem with the mat thing is that it looks so goofy…

-----when has that ever bothered you??I’m in it for fun…What are YOU in it for?

No surf craft fashion police.Can’t wait for my Dale Solomonson mat to show up.

Quote:

What are YOU in it for?

Haven’t YOU heard? there’s PMRA Gran Prix - Professional Mat Riders Association circuit = Big money, sponsorships, beautiful women throwing themselves at you. (or if yr a woman member of the PMRA, men throwing themselves at you) And all the while you’re getting paid to surf the world’s finest waves on a mat.

the best part is if you get selected by Dale - you get a real cool black 200 denier Neumatic windbreaker/rainjacket.

It’s not about fun.

Count me in. But i got dibs on Viagara as a sponsor, therefore the mat groupies will flock to me first!!!

We could hold the Tampax 200 at Pipe. I bet it’d be the only time a mataholic could get some respect in the lion’s den.

this thread’s good fun.

J.

Just received from photographer Harold Ward:

"My take on George’s ability is that he works with momentum and the low resistance of the matt- he generally catches waves anywhere a longboarder might, but once he gets slipping along he can out run sections and connect power points by gliding across the flat, or nearly flat sections of waves better than anyone in the water with him.

“Now, remember that he always surfs in lumpy, b and c-grade surf. The last photos I sent were of a peaky swell which George then tries to run through from peak to peak, thereby getting long rides which most boardriders cannot accomplish. Obviously something like a long surf-ski might glide through the flatter spots, but they are limited in speed and cannot outrun the whitewater sections like George can. It is amazing to watch him work a wave- pulling every inch of travel out of it he can… cheers, Wardie”

“Trim and variable pressure are the keys” - George Greenough / February 7, 2006

“The only problem with the mat thing is that it looks so goofy…”

Well, I used to think that way, too… because I didn’t really understand what I was looking at. I had no frame of reference. But with learning came appreciation.

I often receive phone calls and emails from experienced watermen who gleefully describe their surf mats as being “alive”, “sensuous”, “gorgeous”, “beautiful” and…“sexy”. hee hee

J, you got me thinking. Has anyone seen a mat ride Pipe? I’d love to see pics.

I wonder how a mat would hold in a real steep hollow wall like that? So much for the life of the mat too.

no idea…we should direct that ? at Dale, if anyone, he might know.

i would think that if you got in early enough it would hold like a rocketship, but try to make a late drop and there goes your mat, and maybe your skull.

if you could get one of those rolly second reef bombs that stand up on the inside, catch it from waay out the back, then pull in already at top speed…mind blowing

Hope all is well down there

J

the only thing goofy about it is the big, goofy,era-to-ear grin i have on my face every time i ride my mat-regardless of the conditions…

Jason,

All kinds of hollow waves have been (and are) surfed on mats. The Newport Wedge, Shark Island, Sandspit, etc. Pipe has been ridden in years past by Bud Browne and George Greenough, among others. But for most experienced mat surfers, the over-crowding of quality breaks is more of a serious issue than how critical the waves might be.

As for the life of a surf mat when used in extremely hollow and powerful waves… remember that all manner of surfcraft are frequently damaged and/or broken in those conditions. A direct hit by a massive lip can destroy any surfcraft… and sometimes their riders.

How well a mat can hold in on a steep hollow wall? That’s like asking if an expensive musical instrument can play a complex song. We all know the quality of sounds created are largely dependent on the skill of the musician.

The largest, deepest, longest tube ride ever filmed (from the inside out wearing 20+ lbs. of camera gear) was documented over 30 years ago by George Greenough surfing on a $20.00 discount store rubber and canvas air mat.

For reference: The Surfer’s Journal, “The Tube” by George Greenough, Volume 13 Number 4 - Fall 2004. Also, George Greenough’s final tube ride sequence (“Echoes”) in Alby Falzon’s film, “Crystal Voyager” (1973).

great analogy, dale. musician/instrument like equipment/rider. I guess would have to agree… it’s still a pretty impossible-looking situation to the unexperienced mat rider. (like moi)

well i just hope someone posts pics of mats in big, huge, top to bottom barrels here.

speaking of CRYSTAL VOYAGER- i’ve been looking all over the net, and note that almost all are located in the UK or Australia - anywhere online and in the States I can pickup that Dvd? (and when’s INNERMOST LIMITS OF PUR FUN gonna go to Dvd?)