what size mat should i ride? I weigh 115 and i am 5 foot 8.5. Sorry Dale i can’t afford one of your nice mats i am getting a cheap one to ride for a few summers.
hi riderofwaves
I have an extra homemade mat that you can use.It has some leak issues but if you were to keep after it with some aquaseal,which works good for it,it will work.It is on the narrow side and would be perfect for you.It’s made of vinyl and you will have fun with it.
these sound perfect for va beach! i hear u can get them w/rocker in them where can i get 1?
I don’t think you can get them in america but redbacks are incredable mats for fairly cheap. I love em’. I spoke to Rasta who also agrees that they ride really well. no neumatic but incredible none the less, try and find one.
Started searching for redbacks and found a site that ships to US. Surf mat for $20. I am going to get one, always wanted to try a mat but couldn’t justify 300 bucks to see if i like it.
are the redbacks similar in feel to Dales mats? Do you ride them at a lower inflation? I’m definatly gonna order a couple at $20 just for some fun on big blownout days.
Any info one the redbacks would be great.
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I don’t think you can get them in america but redbacks are incredable mats for fairly cheap. I love em’. I spoke to Rasta who also agrees that they ride really well. no neumatic but incredible none the less, try and find one.
from surfing world magazine …
in december 1974 , future world surfing champion Peter Townend used the O’Neill air mat …
…by november 1975 , the red bottomed , blue topped "merrin surf mats " were a big seller ! [does the “Redback” you mentioned look like this, Josh ? does it have fins on it ?? ]
Josh , I think I may need to get you a copy of “on any morning” …1974 mat riding at whaley wedge , Michael Peterson at fairy bower , paul neilson at burleigh on a 3 fin bonzer , midget farrelly at BIG north narrabeen , hawaiians and aussies at the coca cola surfabout [narrabeen ] , l’av water footage …
I think you’d probably enjoy it …it even has , on a side trip to NewZealand , footage of a guy with a kneeboard with weird looking keel kinda fins on it .
An interesting movie , surfboard design wise anyway ! [oh yeah …did I mention “M.P. winning at 6-8” + Bells " footage too ?]
chipper the one PT has is close here is a photo of a neumatic and redback.
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Quote:…by november 1975 , the red bottomed , blue topped "merrin surf mat " were a big seller ! [does the redback you mentioned look like this Josh ? does it have fins on it ??
Josh , I think I may need to get you a copy of “on any morning” …1974 mat riding at whaley wedge , Michael Peterson at fairy bower , paul neilson at burleigh on a 3 fin bonzer , midget farrelly at BIG north narrabeen , hawaiians and aussies at the coca cola surfabout [narrabeen , l’av water footage …
I think you’d probably enjoy it …it even has , on a side trip to NewZealand , footage of a guy with a kneeboard with weird looking keel kinda fins on it .
An interesting movie , surfboard design wise anyway ! [oh yeah …did I mention “M.P. winning at 6-8” + Bells " footage too ?]
Hi Ben! Yeah my redback is Blue on the bottom and red on the top.
Josh.
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are the redbacks similar in feel to Dales mats? Do you ride them at a lower inflation? I’m definatly gonna order a couple at $20 just for some fun on big blownout days.
Any info one the redbacks would be great.
Well I havent tried Neumatics but I can tell you the redbacks feel great and like an surfmat not pool toy. They are excellent in comparrison to lilos and ‘palm beach’ / clark rubber mats.
Remember though when you first try a mat it might be a abit of a shock. Dont ride it like a body board and dont try to hard.
and yes redbacks are good riden at lower inflations, I like about 80%
Josh.
forgot to add, no fins.
LESider…
Neumatics are custom, all different dimensions. Some are even larger than Redbacks.
Dale
believe me if I like whats going on with the redback you will definatly be getting a call, I was just trying to find out if anyone had expierence with both.
For twenty bucks you can’t go wrong and have something fun to share with others.
Not looking for a replacement for a neumatic just looking for an affordable introduction to matting.
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Dale
believe me if I like whats going on with the redback you will definatly be getting a call, I was just trying to find out if anyone had expierence with both.
For twenty bucks you can’t go wrong and have something fun to share with others.
Not looking for a replacement for a neumatic just looking for an affordable introduction to matting.
Took the words right out of my mouth LESider
I encourage the purchase of Redbacks and similar craft. Owners include a number of the most experienced surfers in the world, such as David Rastovich, Warren Pfieffer, George Greenough and Greg Deets… in fact, that’s his Redback and one of his Neumatics in the photo. Greg sometimes posts here as “UDeeTs”. His email is:
I know of a guy in Australia who can’t even afford a Redback… so he rides slippery vinyl pool floats that cost .75 cents each! They don’t last for long, have sketchy control, but he can go faster than a lot of his friends on conventional boards!
LESider…
“are the redbacks similar in feel to Dales mats?”
Aside from the fact that they both contain air, there are differences in feel: first generation mats are often only available for a year or two, they’re generic “one-size-fits-all” mass-produced designs, fairly stiff, less responsive and heavy, several pounds vs. mine at only 18 to 20 ounces. Neumatic are custom designs (for surfing), very supple, subtle stretch rocker and internal structures, offering much more speed, control, sensitivity and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Neumatic’s valves are made to allow easy fine-tuning of the mat’s buoyancy and air pressure… which dramatically influence overall performance and sensation. Old style mats have cloth decks, Neumatics have custom grip polyurethane nonskid… both have an entirely different feel. My equipment’s internal structures are designed to regulate how a particular mat’s separate chambers “breathe”, directly affecting response.
The devil’s in the details. It all translates to feel.
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I know of a guy in Australia who can’t even afford a Redback… so he rides slippery vinyl pool floats that cost .75 cents each!
would that be a “li-lo” you’re referring to , Dale ? [inflatable matresses …GREAT for camping …
Because I’ve ridden a couple of those we found next to Anglicare clothing bins , and before I blew the divider up in one doing an airdop [“BANG !!” … ‘sounded like a gunshot’ , a person on the beach told me later !!] I had HEAPS of fun on one !!
ben
I especially loved how all the grommets on their boogers were smirking , and asking me , “what the fuck is THAT??” …until I started outpaddling them , and taking all “their” waves !! [then, they didn’t think it was so funny , all of a sudden !] I was however glad that none of my mates were out surfing that day
…ahhhh…the beauty of howling onshore ‘crap’ surf !!
chipfish61-
Not a “li-lo”.
The $.75 vinyl float’s internal structure runs widthwise rather than lengthwise. Kind of like this:
greg l. dropped me a mat to try that is of the inexpensive ilk try these ?
YA SAY YA WANNA REVOLUTION…
they fold up real nice in the truck
Dakine links to mats:
http://www.waveblasters.com/surfridermats.html
http://www.qualitytrading.com/shippinginfo.html
praise be onto Liddle
…ambrose…
Ambrose from your other post i think your the shakespear of sways we should study your work in English not some sonnet about life 400 years ago give me more of that beautiful prose that flows like water over a good handshaped board, and always leaves you wanting more.