MyPaipoBoards Forums

Here is an article mat for all you mat lovers. http://www.liquidsaltmag.com/2012/05/the-revolution/

nice, that says alot of the surfing mind set

I am getting ready to get a surfmat.

Any advice for mat choice suitable California summer surf, Hawaiian windslop and backup travel "board"?
4GF has many options (Tracker Roundtail looks interesting to me); Krypt has one choice, the MT5 Surf Mat.

can't go wrong with the roundtail tracker I have a mt5 also but I like the tracker the best good all around mat

I really love my 4th Gear Flyer Fatty but I'm also very intrigued by the new Mini.
Paul Gross knows more about mats and mat making then anyone on the planet and his mats are made by him here in California.
FWIW the Krypt mats are factory made in Asia.

Ted,
I've got a roundtail tracker that Paul made me.. It's been used 3 times (I have others').
I'll sell it to you for $100..if interested , email me.
Surf on.

Krypt MT5 surf mats may be mass produced out of Asia but don't be fooled, they are one the best performing surf mats available as the designer Mark Thomson shows in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e6-djfp3BM&sns=em

you got it right uncle G. friends don't let friends buy cheep china junk

Amen Brother!

Umm, interesting and slightly outdated attitude for the 21st century. Hopefully, you guys actually took the time to view the best exhibition of surf mat riding to be released to date. Might get some of you off those unyielding slivers of wood you chose to ride.

Saw the video months ago; Greenough was doing that on Hodgeman and Converse mats 40+ years ago.........
My quiver contains, among other implements, 2 Fourth Gear Flyers and a Neumatic. All Handmade In America By Americans.
Stick that in your 21st Century didgeridoo

I have a 4GF Fatty. Its awesome in pretty much all conditions! Paul's service and supply was A1! He is also easy to contact and always happy to answer questions and give advice. I'm from Oz, but I like the idea that my mat was handmade by the guy I spoke to!

can't beat an item made by hand with pride with his name on it

Ramsnake,

When I read where you were from, I didn't read carefully enough. I saw Denmark, but now realise this is Denmark Oz. Many years ago, on a trip to WA I went for a surf at Denmark, jumped off the rocks and got hit by whitewater and didn't realise my fins were knocked out until I got out. Got them fixed that day but by then the swell had dropped off. A benefit of finless surfing is this wouldn't have been an issue.

I don't surf wood boards much these days, but one of their attributes, if not too thick, is the abiity to flex. Nowhere near as flexible as a mat, but it can be noticeable, especially in bigger waves.

For something that is not a mat, but has flex, there is surffoils threads:

http://mypaipoboards.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=215
http://mypaipoboards.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=205

As for Chinese versus US mats I'll leave that to others, for an Australian they are both imported. Paul Gross does however deserve recognition as a long term contributor to mat development, who has also dabbled in paipo.

Bob

I ride 4GF Vespa Roundail and Mini as well as Austin 52" Paipo. (I am 6', 230lb) I mostly ride E Coast but log some other trips. You have to learn subtitles of steering a mat compared to paipo. You can man handle a paipo to control it whereas a mat requires more sensitivity to the wave and your position in it. After a year or so of riding both I can still more readily control the paipo but find the experience of riding a mat luring. Glad to say I am gaining more skill on the mat and expect to catch up to the paipo (skill wise) soon, Travel is a slam dunk in favor of the mats.

The 4GF round tail glides better than the mini when there are longer sections to be found.. where you can drop in and turn with more face time ahead. The mini is faster to take off on and go when you have closeouts or short junky rides at best... situations where the larger round tail gets in the way and you just need a quick take off, immediate turn and sprint from a very late take off. I would still get the round tail as an all round mat and add a mini as a more specialized option. Likewise, perhaps a 5GF for those exceptional great days.

Having said all that, a mini might be just as versatile as a round tail if you were only ever riding closeouts and junk.. you will not get as long a ride but you can make that 10 yard section more easily coming out of the shoot. I also have to say that some of the advantage of the mini might diminish for me as I get more skill on the round tail. I also noticed that riding the mini made me a better round tail rider .. no explanation except maybe I was able to focus on the moves and less on the mat. I am looking forward to E Coast hurricane season .. last year I pulled out the paipo when things got nasty on my 4GF round tail. This year I have more skill duck diving the round tail and have the mini option (much easier to get out). Also.. as you get better on the mat you use less inflation.. as you use less inflation duck diving gets easier. Film at 11.