Things no-one told me before my first ever surf mat session. In no particular order...
1. Harder to balance than logrolling or pilates.
2. Arm paddle at your inner upper arms' expense. Or, alternately, you can paddle out like a landlubbing backpacker.
3. When paddling out it's - over the falls we go - in big sucky waves.
4. Stares from the local shortboarding thug with tatts.
5. Expect comments from those in the lineup.
6. Musn't let go when wiping out near rocks.
7. Needs wax.
8. Nipple rash even without wax.
9. Really gotta be Johnny-on-the-spot for takeoffs. No: way down the line stuff.
10. When trying to sit up on it in the water it will look to others as though you're playing with yourself.
11. Way higher kook factor than expected.
mat surfing
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- Legend (Contribution King!)
- Posts: 1113
- Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:27 am
- Location: orange county
Definetly get some neoprene armor.. Use the ancient kneeboarder techniche of catching waves.... hold the mat way out in front of you and kick hard... Accepting the kook factor is a major advantage... Teaches you to not take it too seriously and just have fun...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eA8l_Tw ... NX2Xa7U_tf
"The best surfer is the one having the most fun" ... Check out these pros: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... NR=1&gl=GB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eA8l_Tw ... NX2Xa7U_tf
"The best surfer is the one having the most fun" ... Check out these pros: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... NR=1&gl=GB
Tide is the master, tide can be a disaster...-Dub side of the Moon
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- Ripper (more than 100 posts)
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 4:58 pm
- Location: san diego
the duck diving gets easier the more you ride your mat. i seemed to go over the falls pretty often the first several times riding the mat.
i find that if i hold by the outer edges and pull in towards the middle i can push through more easily.
something i found out the hard way - keep the fingernails trimmed. had one almost torn off holding on to the mat in the white water.
i find that if i hold by the outer edges and pull in towards the middle i can push through more easily.
something i found out the hard way - keep the fingernails trimmed. had one almost torn off holding on to the mat in the white water.
- waka
- Legend (Contribution King!)
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:24 pm
- Location: wandandian.south coast..nsw..Oz
- Contact:
Welcome to the world of riding a Jellyfish...Mats are fun to ride
http://youtu.be/TzybUi0lK8Y?hd=1
Some great info from Mark Thomson of Krypt Surf
http://youtu.be/0jyaxsL599g
There is more links on my blog http://kingwakaskorner.blogspot.com.au/
have a look at Fourth Gear Flyers... surf mats by Paul Gross
Have fun and enjoy!!
waka
Just call me 'Poppy'
Wandandian Devil
Wandandian Devil