Hi All
Managed to pick up a surf mat over here in the UK.
I haven been asking around and the general talk is that the paddle out will be a challenge!
Anyone got any experience or tips on making it out through a beach break.
I expect i will be using some cut down manta propel fins for a bit of extra push…
as ever
keen to learn…
Wait until october or the next time Brighton gets waves…
A roll and grab technique seems most effective for getting under waves, roll onto your back and grab the mat, pulling it under the surface with you. This has its limits, and can really jar your fingers though.
I use manta blades, they work fine. Some people rave about Flips, they are meant to give greater boost and be v comfortable.
Enjoy your matting!
Dan
Stay on top of mat unless surf is very large. Grab solid handfuls of both front corners. Straighten arms downward and pull mat down while lofting your body over it to drive downward w/ your weight. Same time, squeeze hands and elbows toward each other to stabilize mat in relation to your body. Then aim back up w/ hands and arms following w/ body. It’s like a duck dive but modified to keep the otherwise floppy mat aligned w/ your body. If you time it right, you will end up on top of mat behind the wave.
For smallish waves, just slightly lift front edge and keep kicking HARD and you will pop up and over, much easier than on a hard board.
Hi Dan
Thanks for that - October, you should have been here yesterday! Unless you are on the south coast in which case you know im bluffing… ;0)
DrStrange - Thanks for the tip, i will give it a go, i am soooo looking forwards to the next swell…
Anyone know much about other surf mats that are available / where / prices ect?
as ever
keen to learn…
Regarding fins - flips seem to be the choice, if you can get them…I’ve been trying for months, otherwise a good big fin usually suffices…bb fins are useless. The best technique is as described above [ basically hug and squeeze] don’t be tempted into a leash- not good for the mat. If it’s really big deflate, roll up and swim out and blow up outside. When it’s like that I generally go home right after the rolling up bit 
Don’t know what mat you have but Ben over on Magicseaweed.com has Redbacks and Surfoplanes.
There is also a new web outlet at http://www.surfmat.co.uk/products.htm which purports to be selling the above plus the Neumatic contrail. It’s a hyped up site with no history - “Supersonic Surfmats - the world’s leading surfmat specialist!” yeh right! but who knows it may come good 
Personally the Neumatics are the d/b’s and if I was looking to get another I’d go directly to Dale at http://www.surfmat.com/ and be prepared to wait a few months.
Another good resource is http://surfmatz.com/forum/index.php and there’s a few of us Brits lurking there.
Cheap adequet fins if available in UK are regular DuckFeet. NOT the V-Ducks that are cut down, the full size ones. Not as powerful as Flips but you will still be able to catch waves pretty well
You still riding mats Keentolearn? We’ve got a mat meet coming up so come along:
Cheers
G