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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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Are you experienced?????
I figure the folks that gather around here are open minded enough for this seriously esoteric surf stuff..........
If you have the stones to ride something different and stand out from the glassed over thruster crowd......
After years of enjoying but being held back by lesser vehicles;delivered in yesterday's mail, I received a 4th Gear Flyer.
At this point in time there are only two people in the WORLD with the expertise and experience to build these types of craft and I also have an order
in with Dale Solomonson who's backlogged at least a year......
A state of the art surf mat; superbly portable, it weighs mere ounces, is capable of surfing ALL types of waves and is the surf vehicle of choice of
many in the know waveriders including my boyhood hero and certainly one of THE most influential waterman of all time; the amazing George Greenough.
George is famous for all kinds of things and is known to say stuff like...
"A surfboard needs a pointed nose like a fish needs a bike"
GG was getting shots like this 25 years b4 anybody else...........
Imagine riding a wave on a bubble that wants to follow the fall line.
The first Vid is at least 30 years old; Paul Gross is the guy with the 'stache and also the builder of the current 4th Gear Flyers.
The second Vid is of GG discussing mats and was shot fairly recently as it shows him with a mat identical to the one in the photo which is just like
mine..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljNxU...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igN3FqwC29E
Just in case I piqued your interest......
http://surfmatz.com/forum/index.php
http://www.edgespoon.com/4thGear/
http://www.surfmat.com/
My SWIMPAL and I are heading south for a month in a few weeks and I am going to have more fun then a barrel of monkees......... 
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bajasammy
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-21-2006
Location: OC/Estero Beach
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Cool Halboo!
Although I now prefer my waveriding vehicles in fiberglass, I have fond memories of riding the heavy duty canvas 'surfmats' at Torrance Beach.
Let us know how it works.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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"......we'll hold our hands
and watch the sunrise
from the bottom of the sea......"
I have the same memories of renting those stiff canvas surfmats with the rubber coated ends at Main Beach, Laguna in the mid 60s.
Hmmm, maybe I'm not too old for this yet...............
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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The difference between this and the old Hodgman rafts can be likened to the difference between a big old 60's station wagon and a modern dragster 
The extreme light weight and silky suppleness of these craft is the secret behind their magic.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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Yeah, we used to ride those old blue things in Santa Monica back in the 60s. Excellent for doing a flip over the falls on a massive closeout, but
then you'd have to chase the thing all the way in.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Doesn't Look very sexy...not like McElroy.(sp?)... ...only surfer I
know
[Edited on 8-10-2007 by Al G]
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Halboo
The difference between this and the old Hodgman rafts can be likened to the difference between a big old 60's station wagon and a modern dragster
The extreme light weight and silky suppleness of these craft is the secret behind their magic. |
Yeah, well, I dont weigh quite what I weighed at age 14. Are these things gonna work for me now that I'm a Big Kahuna ?????
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
| Quote: | Originally posted by Halboo
The difference between this and the old Hodgman rafts can be likened to the difference between a big old 60's station wagon and a modern dragster
The extreme light weight and silky suppleness of these craft is the secret behind their magic. |
Yeah, well, I dont weigh quite what I weighed at age 14. Are these things gonna work for me now that I'm a Big Kahuna ????? |
Please translate Kahuna...How big is it...
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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Paul Gross who builds the mats is slightly over 200lbs.
I am too. He has been talking recently of making a few larger mats for really big guys but the standard issue works for just about anybody of
average size and smaller.
| Quote: |
Doesn't Look very sexy...not like McElroy.(sp?)......only surfer I know
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Are you that guy who wears cologne to go surfing ?
You just keep thinking about how sexy you and McElroy need to look while you're surfing.
Meanwhile, I'll be having big heaps of fun.
See, Because I was actually born sexy; my surf vehicles can be fun and functional without all that bothersome worry about their appearence!!
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msteve1014
Senior Nomad
Posts: 947
Registered: 12-2-2006
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I had checked into the ones Dale was making a few years ago, is the price about the same from Paul? Not a cheap toy as I remember.
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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http://www.edgespoon.com/Store/store/productdetails.aspx?pro...
$292.50 Delivered with a spare valve and a small swatch of material with instructions for use, care and repair.
No they are not cheap but you can buy three for the price of a decent non popout surfboard these days and you can easily pay that much for a nice
bodyboard.
Certainly the most portable of surf vehicles..........
Hand made individually by a real live American and with a little care it will last for years.
For me it seems like a bargain 
[Edited on 8-11-2007 by Halboo]
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Halboo
Paul Gross who builds the mats is slightly over 200lbs.
I am too. He has been talking recently of making a few larger mats for really big guys but the standard issue works for just about anybody of
average size and smaller.
| Quote: |
Doesn't Look very sexy...not like McElroy.(sp?)......only surfer I know
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Are you that guy who wears cologne to go surfing ?
You just keep thinking about how sexy you and McElroy need to look while you're surfing.
Meanwhile, I'll be having big heaps of fun.
See, Because I was actually born sexy; my surf vehicles can be fun and functional without all that bothersome worry about their appearence!!
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damn Halbooo...your one serious dude...this must be a commerical...
Do you get a commission???
My funnies are funny to some....sad but not all...see them funny ...
Glad you enjoy Baja..Albert
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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Hal
can't wait to see your version of greenough's "tunnel vision"....
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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Sorry Al,
I guess I didn't realize you were being funny
And no I am not on commission.
I'm just a well stoked and sexy, old fart.
See ya in the water.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: |
I'm just a well stoked and sexy, old fart.
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PROMISE??????    
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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Pinky Promise!
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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I had Dale make me a Neumatic Surfcraft 5 or so years ago, and to ride the face of the wave and turn etc requires more of a learning curve than I
expected.
The hardcore guys recommend deflating the mat to the point you can compress it with your hand to get the most speed on a wave, but then good luck
trying to catch a wave with that floppy thing underneath you ! The matting BB's say to start kicking in to a wave with the mat held in front of you
(with your arms extended) and then pull the mat under your body to drop down the face. Ha!
Dale's mats have a non-skid material on the deck, and after trying a few of these deflated-mat take-offs, I had the chin abrasions to prove it. No
thanks, I'm happy with a nice springy mat and have fun even on little inside peelers.
Part of the problem is that I'd still rather surf if the waves are good so I haven't invested much time in honing the matting skills. But I use mine
to kick around the islands in Bahia Concepcion, and I take it when we go to Central America to kick around in some of the little coves (just blow it
up, and when you recover, you can jump right off a panga and go explore). I'd recommend a small hand pump for travel.
I learned one valuable lesson also. Pack your beloved mat in your carry-on if you take it on a plane. The airline misplaced our bags and 4 sufboards
on a return flight a while back, and my Surfcraft was packed in the luggage. I was more upset about my mat than possibly losing our boards.
Have fun and post how you do, especially if you come up with any pointers for this old girl.
[Edited on 8-13-2007 by oladulce]
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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Looks like fun.....but standing up on a wave is more of my thing.
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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I remember getting some serious rashes on the surf mats in the 60's, but much fun, maybe I'll get one for the wife. Then I can borrow it.
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bajasammy
Nomad
Posts: 119
Registered: 11-21-2006
Location: OC/Estero Beach
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Has anyone tried those 'Uli' Boards? I saw a video of a pro-level guy really tearing it up at the Huntington Cliffs with one of those.
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