The UKMS Forum is BACK!

-----------------Hello there.As you may be aware, I recently had my Google account hacked meaning I lost access to the UKMS blog. After some internal chit-chat we decided to go with relaunching the forum, although in a stripped down version.Anyway, it's up now HEREPlease follow the rules and enjoy!CheersG

Forwarded from G...

My Gmail account has been hacked. If you get an email from me saying I'm in Spain and need money it's b*ll*cks. Any tips on how to get Google to move a bit faster will be much appreciated.

Cheers

G

Sunday Service at the Bowgie

Hi there.I'll be riding Vugga Cove tomorrow morning,from about 7.If anyone's about,join in!Parking below Bowgie pub at West Pentire,beyond Crantock.

Turtle Roll

I seemed to stumble across something interesting today.  An addition to the getting under waves repetoir.

Surfmatt and I were surfing in fairly heavy waves with sneaker sets dumping on your head every now and then.  I've always been one to just duckdive and hang on tight but we had a stonking set come through and I was properly for the chop!  I went to duckdive as normal but, instinctively, I pushed down for the duckdive and then rolled over the nose of the mat and switched to a full 4x4 (arms and legs) bear hug.

Basically, as the lip hit me, I was head down, arse up and rolling forwards in a somersault with my arms and legs wrapped around the mat.  I was expaecting to go through the wash but to my surprise I came up almost straight away behind the wave!

I wouldn't do this all the time as you have to pfaff about with getting back on the mat and stuff but last second when a thick, pitching dumper is about to cut you in two?  Definately the way forward.

Cheers

G

BARGAIN!!!!

Super bargain this is!!!

Alder Burn 4mm socks for £13.95 inc p+p!!!

CLICK HERE

These are the best there are and this price is amazing!

G

Matmeet 8 - MOVIE!!!

Well here it is.

Please take the time to set to HD.

Enjoy.

Cheers

G

Matting Mythbusters (Part 1)

Hi there.Just going to blow apart a few commonly held beliefs about matting!
First,wind.Don't worry about it!Recently,I've been out in pretty breezy conditions.Today had gusts up to 40 knots offshore(see pic).No problems.Just as easy to catch waves and speed pretty good!
The mat seems to adhere to the water well,like a pondskater.Easier than riding a rigid board,cos the mat isn't chattering over all the wind ripples or flying backwards off the peak.
So there we are.
Any mat disappearances I've heard of were caused by rip currents rather than wind.
Let us know of your close calls and any worries you may need dispelling(especially non-matters wavering about starting and beginners).
Bye now!

Matmeet 8 - Report and Pics

Hello there mat fans!

Well then, Matmeet 8 finally went off and has to be considered the weirdest meet yet given the chunky closeout conditions! There was a clean pointbreak in the area but it isn't for the faint-hearted as getting caught inside comes with a serious risk of getting nailed on the rocks so certainly not the place for first timers and inexperienced mat surfers.

That said, our newest recruit Anthony (don't know your last name, sorry) really showed some determination taking on head+ closeouts at Crackington Haven. The fact that he came out of the water saying that he's hooked on mats spoke volumes given the testing conditions, Just think how much he'll love it when he rides some better waves!!! Not bad for a bloke who's never ridden prone, let alone on a mat!

Anyway, despite the conditions everyone had a laugh. It's always good to hook up with everyone and the sun was out. :-)

So then, the turn out was pretty good with the following making it:

Ian "Piskian" Wraith
Bob "Bob" Booth
Jerry "Blimp" Phillips
Dan "Surf Empty" Lawrence
Adrian Paterson
Phil "Sinclario" Sinclair
Anthony
Moi

We also saw John (who's name I also don't know) and my mate James Burke make it although both were heretics with John sponging and Burkie riding a shortboard of all things!

Anyway, most had at least a few good waves (apart from me... I can't remember the last time I surfed as badly as I did today).  In fact, Crackie cranked out the odd cracker and Piskian took the opportunity to remind us all that he is a seriously talented mat surfer.  Seriously... The "Wave of the Day" award is normally a half-arsed affair with little thought given when voting (as it should be) but today it really did mean something. Ian's surfing was inspirational, showing exactly what mats can do in talented hands in testing conditions.

Anyway, before Piskian starts trying to get Patagonia to sponsor him, or some such, I'll move on:

WAVE OF THE DAY was obviously Piskian. We didn't even vote. It was just a given. Like Kelly Slater hanging out with a surf school.

BEST PARTY WAVE went to me, Bob, Piskian and Anthony but video evidence now shows that Blimp should've been in the mix too! Your hat will be in the post!!!!


The next meet is on the Dorset South Coast around February (definitely).  Thanks to Burkie for filming/shooting in the car park. He's committed to coming to the next meet and will even ride a mat at it! Good lad!!!

Shame to see some significant absentees such as Juan, Cookson, Bluey, Matt23, Surfmatt and others. One of these days we'll get everyone there... WATCH OUT STAND-UPS!!!


Anyway, to finish, really good fun as always. Not the best surf for exactly the opposite reasons that MM7 was but still... We were all smiling.

So then, here are some photo's and screen grabs. Video to follow.

G

--------------


Lineup

 Sneakers were fun!

Phil takes on dumplestiltskin on G-Mat 4

Jerry on a rare right.

Bob showing that the scorpion lives on! Bob surfed well today.

Dan. If prizes were given for commitment to matting Dan would be putting up new shelves every week! 2 years ago he didn't even surf. Now he's one of the most surf-stoked matters I know and put in a good shift today.  

Bob again finding a decent line.

Jerry finds the pocket on his Standard Blue Streak with DIY grip. Another relatively new convert who's fallen head over heels.

Post-surf mat-chat; Blue Streak Bro's Dan & Adrian. The latter tried a BS for the first today. "Zooooooom!" was the verdit!

Parrrrrrrrrrrrrr-tay!!!! Near-to-far: Bob, Ian, Jerry.

 Ian get in a wee one. Exceptional surfing.

Bob on the next on in the set. I opted to duckdive these ones and wait for the dumpers.  :-(

No retreat, no surrender! Jerry eyes an unlikely pit.

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaar-tay!!! Beach-eye-view.

Dan and Phil on the road to nowhere.

Ian, bottom turn.















8 happy matters. The waves might not have been perfect but at least we didn't have to share them!

Calling All South Coast Matters

For all that don,t fancy the long drive to Widdy how about a Dawnie on Saturday G is sending down a camera

Fin/Mat Bundles Available at Matmeet 8

Hello there. 

As you will know MATMEET 8 is on this weekend. As a special treat there will be an oportunity to buy brand new 4GF Standard Blue Streaks with a set of DaFins for the unbeatable price of £170!!!

Blue Streaks are super pliable and come with GRIP Stippleback S-FAHT grip and go like stink!!!

DaFin are the favoured fin for many of the UK's matters. They offer the perfect balance between the manouverability of shorter bodyboard fins and the drive of longer, traditional surfing fins.

The result is a great area to drive return and exceptional hold when needed.

Cash on the day please!!!

G

Matmeet 8 - Signed & Sealed

UK Mat Surfers

MATMEET 8

Widemouth Bay, Cornwall

Saturday 12th Nov, 2011

OK then mat fans, after much deliberation and chit-chat between me and Papa Joe, we've decided to settle on the north coast for Matmeet 8.



Saturday looks to be the best option now as Sunday's forecast has gone flat to tiny!!!  We might need to have a bit of a snoop to find the best wave but I suggest meeting by the Lifeguard Hut in the Widemouth Bay main carpark at 08.30am. 

See the map below for details of where:


View Larger Map

Sorry to the south coasters. We'll aim for Feb up there. Unfortunately the swell and winds just look like too much of a gamble in the channel without calling things last minute.

Can people PLEASE reply TO THIS POST on the blog rather than via email/text to make sure we are all talking to each other.  Thanks.

Looking for a fun one. We have HD cameras both in and out of the water so come along and make yourself an internet star!!!

Cheers

G

Great White in Channel

According to Chav-o-licious tabloid the Mirror, a Great White has been blamed for wounds on a Blue Shark washed up on a beach in Essex.
HERE THE STORY

All I can say is fingers crossed. We need to fill out the numbers in the water and a confirmed sighting would scare off at least half.

Slightly worrying that the vet nurse called the Blue Shark's fin a "flipper". Don't think I'll be taking my goldfish to that practice!
G

Over it?

"Over it" is a strange phrase.  Kinda suggestive that the thing you've moved on from was a problem or, in some way, trivial.  In this case it certainly is not. I'm talking about kneeboard surfing.

I'm not sure I'm "over it" but it is a possibility.  I took my board out for a spin earlier today after riding my mat for a few hours.

It was the first time I'd been on it since Jan/Feb this year and it felt dead...
Dead and cumbersome.

Granted, by the time I took it out the wave has gone pretty soft and junky but it wasn't just the riding.  Also, I'm pretty much up for taking on any conditions on the mat, including solid heavy waves, particularly now that I have G-Mat 3.

Finally, the space the board takes up in the car just makes it a hassle.

Anyway, I got home today and my kneeboard went straight in the garage again. I don't plan to get shot of it or anything. I just don't really see a plan in the near future to ride it either though.

Cheers

G

South Devon Pointbreak

Today.

G

Delux!!!

Apparently...

Mats on ebay...

Stylin'!

G

Challaborough is Saved!!!!

Hey there surf brethren. Today is a great day (despite my missing some lush local surf).

As you may remember my local break Challaborough (AKA Chally) was recently at risk from a ludicrous planning application which threatened to directly affect the iconic inside left hander.

In case you don't recall, HERE IS THE ORIGINAL POST about the issue.

Well, the South Hams planning committee have met and have listened to us! The appeal has been overturned with the developers withdrawing completely!

 Thanks again to all who've done their bit on this. I can't say how stoked I am right now!

Cheers

G

For a detailed report visit the Surfers Against Sewage website

Working Sucks!

I'm sat at work and a nearby reef is empty and shoulder to head offshore by the looks of this:

Gutted....

G

More Genius from Pranaglider

Another fine read from 23 Breaths:

http://23breaths.blogspot.com/2011/10/riding-mat.html

Enjoy

G

Chunkiness Anyone?

Hello there all.

As if anyone can have missed it, we have a thumping great swell heading our way.

Seems to be something to do with this:

Yowza!!!!!!

Anyway, I've been chatting with Cookson and we're gonna look at Hayle Rivermouth. Meeting at the McDonnald's carpark at Hayle at 0700.  Gonna be PUMPING!!!!!!!!

Join us...

G

PS Dont forget the clocks go back the night before.

Facebook Group

Hello there's a UK Mat Surfers group on Facebook for them what use it.

It can be found HERE.

Anyone who has made a meet or is already a member of the UKMS Crew is eligible to join.

Cheers

G

Article by Surfsister

Many of you may have read this but here goes anyway.

Mary Mills (AKA Surfsister) has written THIS PIECE for the Surfmeisters blog. An excellent discussion on what we do I think.

Enjoy

Cheers

G

Video from Mawgan Porth 22.10.11

Here's a short vid from yesterday's session. Not great waves by any stretch but we had a few in among the close-outs. Crazily busy by Mawgan Porth standards too but we managed to keep ourselves to ourselves.

Enjoy

G

Mawgan Porth 22.10.2011

Had a frustrating session today in backing of Mawgan Porth. More size than expected but not that good and a strangely large crowd.

Anyway, I got a couple of screen grabs from the GoPro.

First up Piskian (Ian):

Here's one of Surf Empty (Dan):

I'll be honest, the footage ain't up to much cause the waves were pretty poor.

Bluey was planning to joining us but broke down en route. :-(

Cheers

G

UK Mat Surfers on Twitter?!

Hello there.

I've gone and set up a UK Mat Surfers Twitter account.  I've kinda avoided doing this as I've never really got the whole Twitter thing but you have to move with the times I guess.

Anyway, you can find it at @UK_Mat_Surfers

You'll allso notice that there is a box showing tweets under the Chat Box.  If you're on Twitter and want a tweet to show up in that box add #ukmatsurfers at the end of your tweet!  You can also search that via Twitter to see what people are saying.

I've also set up a UK Mat Surfers list although I dunno if that's actually as useful as the box on here.  I guess it could replace the Chat Box if people prefer it.

Cheers

G

Surfmats for sale on UKMS

Hello there.

I'm pleased to announce that we now have 4GF Fatty and Standard Blue Streaks in stock in the UK Mat Surfers shop

These beauties feature light weight pliable 70/100 denier blue twill top and bottom and come with GRIP Stippleback S-FAHT grip applied.

High performance mats and grip that keeps you stuck!

Free UK p+p too!

HERE to get one.

Cheers

G

My new blog

I have a new blog to show my pics and vids on. Flickr is OK but they seem to delete accounts at the drop of a hat and really don't like links.

Anyway, HERE IT IS so if you like it please follow it.

Cheers

G

And people say I pull a sex doll face!?

From Handplane Goodness

This is the master of the art of sensual gurning if you ask me. I am but the pupil...

G

anybody up for a session next week ?

Hi All

Will be staying in Bude for a week from Saturday arvo.

If anybody is up for a mat session, let me know.

Cheers

Henry

Watch That Coast Path!!!

Cornish cliff collapse. Worth watching in HD.

Yikes!!!

G

Mat Surfing with Mart

Go an email from Old Surfer yesterday. He's since signed up and I'm sure will be adding posts of his own in due course but he kindly agreed to me putting this one up.

Enjoy.

Cheers

G

-----------------------

Hi G,
Thought you might like the attached pics and following spot review.
Where is it - Alderney in the channel isles, total land size 3.5miles
x 1.5miles, breaks- one beach and a few reefs in precarious offshore
positions known to the few local surfers but due to vicious tidal
flows, times and rips, reefs are best left to locals.

The beach break is Corblets bay, best conditions 3hrs after or before
high with southeast wind (offshore) and swell from north west ie across
from the south west of cornwall.Thankfully thats what I caught when
visiting my island resident sister in law this year.

Been visiting on and off for 30 years and usually get in at some time
board, bodyboard or bodysurfing.

Managed to get in last year after PG, bless him, sent my RTT just in
time for me to catch the plane two days later but as surf and my
matting skills not up too much had a good play around to christen lilo
lil'.

So back to this year end of september, matting skills still not up to
much but had studied all manner of matting videos on line and thought
it time to get going and enjoying my surfing again.

Had the beach to myself one day and two hours later felt I had at least
managed to take off and pull myself onto the mat without fluffing the
top of the wave down and be left floundering and kicking like a paddle
steamer trying to hook back up with the now breaking wave! No pics and
a 2 mile bike uphill still didn't wipe the grin of the stoke off my
face.

The second day was best and thanks to my ever patient wife handling the
camera was able to actually see that hey yes I did manage to catch a
few and look sort of composed whilst doing it.

Oh and by the way if I look a bit scary in the goggles and the
bandana.

The goggles are because without them, I have, to the delight of my
fellow lineup, been known to paddle for an approaching darkening rain
storm on the horizon thinking it was the set of the day mmmmm short
sighted see, and the bandana, well, I can tell you skin cancer on your
forehead hurts when they cut it out and takes a while to heal all them
stitches, so don't want to repeat that eh.

Thanks for taking the time to keep the UK mat scene going and for
reading these ramblings of the old surfer,

Hope to meet up at mat meet 8, cheers for now, mart.