Not to be negative but the growing popularity of these things is beyond me. Save your $100 and put it towards a new surfboard. Granted, I’ve never tried one of these things, but I have ridden boogie boards and these seem like little more than an inflatable and unmenuverable version. Why would someone lie on their belly when they can stand on their feet? If you want to really feel the power and ferocity of a wave grab your fins and go body surfing. There’s no greater “getting back to basics” or being more involved in a wave and the ocean than that. Leave the blow-up mat for your tent and your camping trips.
why do you have such a strong (negative) opinion about something you’ve never even tried ???
Yeah, I guess on reaing back my post it was a little negaive. I think surf mat’s are fine if that’s what you want to use, more power to you! As long as your having fun, do it. I just have trouble wraping my brain around the idea of laying on a mat and kicking into waves. I also wonder what the big difference is between these things and bodyboards, which for all intents and purposes seem more functional. Is it speed? I guess i’ll have to ride one. Obviously there’s a consensus of people who really dig them. My only experience of seeing the surf mat in action was in the surf flick Sprout and they seemed a bit lame. On second thought, maybe it was Ozzie Wright and Rastovich being lame and not the surf mat! But, if there’s waves, choppy or not, I’d rather surf! I’m new to the Swaylock’s and I don’t want to piss anyone off! Keep on Surf Mating!!!
Hey no problem – that’s half the fun of Swaylocks, “wrapping your brain around new ideas…”
It’s cool that you re-thought your original post. Shows you’re open minded.
You should ask yourself why is it that the majority of matt riders on this site and others, who are very experienced boardsurfers, have found something about the matt surfing that they don’t experience boardsurfing. Does the matt replace boardsurfing or is it an additional/different way to enjoy the surf? For most folks its the later.
I’ve been surfing 40+ years and currently ride shortboards, kneeboards and even surf kayak on occasion here in Nor-Cal . I don’t longboard but thats a long story.
So why do I matt surf?
Because it’s a completely different beast from any other type of surfing. A different horizon, so too speak. Totally different surfing experience.
Learning to surf the matt is difficult and challenging. You want to feel totally inept out in the surf? Your first day out on one Dale Solomonson’s matts will make you feel like a complete goof. These things aren’t “pool toys” as some lame asses have labeled them.
The matts are surfed at about 60-70% inflation. Basically they look like your carrying a garabage bag as you walk out into the waves but once you learn how to position yourself on the matt you’l find they move easily thru the water can be arm paddled as well as kicked.
The real magic happen when you slide acrossed your first wave face and experience a sensation of what I can only describe as “slippery” speed. You are aware that you are hanging onto the matt but there is only a vague sensation of riding on something. Some have described matt surfing as “turbo powered” body surfing just for that reason.
Matts leave very little wake and carry their speed and forward momentum through flat sections and chop much better than surfboards, KB’s, Sponges. They literally snake over chop without losing speed since they conform to the water and ride over it instead of blowing thru it as hard boards do so the ride is incredibly smooth.
I could go on and on. It’s just something you’d have to try before you’d understand the attraction.
Yep, I’ll have to try one. I should probably read the entire post before I shoot off. Thanks for the insight. It just looks so odd when people ride them, like they just pick a line and go for it. I’m sure the sensation is very unusual and the speed must be intense. I’m not at all opposed to riding different tools in waves. I’ll try anything. If I like it I’ll do it again! Do you actually take them out in a crowded spot? If so what’s the reaction? I feel like you’d probably get dropped in on pretty quick on one of those!
wait till i take my inflatable pool toy out at uppers.
http://allaboutsurf.com/0411/articles/solomonson/index.php
A great website. Stoked to see them do a story on Dale and his Neumatic’s. Congrats Dale!
Getting dropped in on…once I passed a longboarder that dropped in on me - underneath him - left him in the dust. Mats are really fast when you find the sweet spot. Another time caught up to the guy and stayed with him. When I pointed out that he dropped in on me he claimed he didn’t see me (didn’t believe him) and then he told me I should go where “people aren’t surfing.” That led to a longer conversation and we both agreed the guy hadn’t been surfing long enough to make any kind of claim at all.
Most people don’t pay any attention to a mat, but many are genuinely curious. A few relate it to George Greenough and a very few know they’re from that guy in Oregon. People in the parking lot ask questions and all wince at the price. When I point out that I haven’t had this much fun for years at the cost of a mediocre used shortboard, they give that “hhhmmmmm…” look.
Yeah, 300 bones isn’t too shabby compared to a Merrick retail price of 600!
It’d be interesting to get crew of 30 guys on surf matt’s to paddle out at Lowers! It’d be coup d’état and maybe teach a few of those a-hole kids a lesson.
Hi Peter,
I don’t have your E address or I’d PM you.
I’ll be out at Shark’s on Sunday if the swell hits as predicted with boards and matt in hand. Hope to see you there.
Gary
I consider my 300 bucks to have been well spent. Dale is a straight up guy with a customer service policy second to none. After buying one, I feel like a patron of the arts.
Such a great issue of All about surf.com . Dale Solomonson and Rich Pavel and others. These two really are special characters and artists for the surf culture. Dale has some of his art in the article and it didn’t even suprise me to see that he was a fantastic painter also! I almost expected it… I have to get another mat in case something happens to this one.
Hey there - was your mat one of Dale’s pro 200/70 models with the thinner bottom skin? I’m trying to decide if I should get the more expensive model or a basic 200/200 with a thicker but I guess more robust skin. Wondering about strength factor tradeoff for increased sensitivity and speed.
Thanks…Jon
I think I mentioned it once before…in answer to someone’s previous question …
if it’s mat riding you want to see …check out George at the end of the video [dvd also?] “fantasea”…
cheers !
ben
as well , as has been mentioned , check out "the innermost limits of pure fun ", "children of the sun " [from the 1960s !!] , and “crystal voyager” …