Surf mats

[diggerdickson]

Who here rides em, what are they like for bad backs?

Are they bumpy to ride on the back?

Do the cheaper surf mats work okay or do I need to spend a ridiculous amount of coin.?

Just thinking

[Straighthanded]

Never tried one but Dan Thomson seems to have fun on one

https://vimeo.com/101923181

[Kunji]

Hows the speed they generate

[tootr]

I ride one now and then.
Modern version of the surfoplane.
Makes crap surf fun. Pretty quick.

[brendo]

Never tried one but Dan Thomson seems to have fun on one

https://vimeo.com/101923181

his old man used to ride them out the point all the time before I moved in the late 90s. even on pumping
solid days. Greenough as well. other than that never see anyone on them

[The Mighty Sunbird]

I have a cheap red back one I love it.
Can go the back hyper extension taking off late on big ones

[black duck]

I have a cheap red back one I love it.
Can go the back hyper extension taking off late on big ones

Mine lasted 2 surfs and sprung a leak. Not fixed and never bought another.

[The Mighty Sunbird]

You're not supposed to chew on it you syphilitic half wit

[black duck]

Syphilitic enough to vote for you in the tard thread.
Chew on that Lats.

[foamy]

Thinking about surf mats and bad backs.

It's been decades since I had one. I used to have a classic Hodgman, just like Greenough (of course).
I don't know if the cheaper ones are any good. You will need a decent size though. A grown man riding a kiddies mat won't be shooting the curl.

It is not a bumpy ride generally. Quite the opposite. Depends on the surf and, obviously, if you freefall out of a lip you will get a good bump at the bottom. But, you don't inflate them fully. At least, the good ones you don't. The mat needs to be malleable. Therefore, it is a very soft and giving surf vehicle.
Greenough barely half-inflates his mat. He can fold his inflated mat in half. Then again, he probably barely weighs 65 kgs.
Larger people would probably need a bit more inflation than George, but 75% inflated would be up the top end. You experiment to get the right inflation for you.

So you float around on this semi-inflated mattress. By jiminy, it's nice. You can just drift off to sleep on your watery cloud. It's seems a shame to catch a wave sometimes.

They don't paddle as well as surfboards, nor are they as well-suited to duck diving.
You need to pick the right conditions, particularly if you are a middle-aged man with a dodgy back. You generally need flippers, the kicking may stress your back.

If you don't expect too much, surfmats are a lot of fun.

Like all finless surf craft, they love to side slip. Which can be fun, but mostly you are applying a bit of feel and skill to hold a line. There is technique to set your rail and getting best speed. Getting you body in the best position, adjusting the mat's foil and rocker as you go, once you get a bit good.
Wipeouts are mostly lovely. You just hold on to your big, soft, floaty cushion and enjoy the ride.

[shaunmorrison]

sounds like Valium.

[Beerfan]

Thinking about surf mats and bad backs.

It's been decades since I had one. I used to have a classic Hodgman, just like Greenough (of course).
I don't know if the cheaper ones are any good. You will need a decent size though. A grown man riding a kiddies mat won't be shooting the curl.

It is not a bumpy ride generally. Quite the opposite. Depends on the surf and, obviously, if you freefall out of a lip you will get a good bump at the bottom. But, you don't inflate them fully. At least, the good ones you don't. The mat needs to be malleable. Therefore, it is a very soft and giving surf vehicle.
Greenough barely half-inflates his mat. He can fold his inflated mat in half. Then again, he probably barely weighs 65 kgs.
Larger people would probably need a bit more inflation than George, but 75% inflated would be up the top end. You experiment to get the right inflation for you.

So you float around on this semi-inflated mattress. By jiminy, it's nice. You can just drift off to sleep on your watery cloud. It's seems a shame to catch a wave sometimes.

They don't paddle as well as surfboards, nor are they as well-suited to duck diving.
You need to pick the right conditions, particularly if you are a middle-aged man with a dodgy back. You generally need flippers, the kicking may stress your back.

If you don't expect too much, surfmats are a lot of fun.

Like all finless surf craft, they love to side slip. Which can be fun, but mostly you are applying a bit of feel and skill to hold a line. There is technique to set your rail and getting best speed. Getting you body in the best position, adjusting the mat's foil and rocker as you go, once you get a bit good.
Wipeouts are mostly lovely. You just hold on to your big, soft, floaty cushion and enjoy the ride.

I thought of getting one after I hurt my knee. There's a pretty decent one made in Aus I believe. Can't remember the name. I also had a red back one and found the same thing. Was great for making onshore blown out small junk fun

[Beerfan]

Sorry, I think it's made in the us, krypt. Also 4th gear flyers

[foamy]

Krypt surf mats are supposed to be excellent. They are based in Lennox Head and that is what is being ridden in the above clip. Cost about $240 though.

[diggerdickson]

I have a cheap red back one I love it.
Can go the back hyper extension taking off late on big ones

Mmm, OK, but if I'm just riding mushy crap to start with what would it be like

[diggerdickson]

Just read the rest of the thread and some great info, though 240 might be a bit much. Sounds like a promising idea though will skip the flippers due to the back, as I get stronger can add them. It will only be for mush to begin and will get a buzz if all I'm riding is whitewater. It could be a while before I can contemplate getting in the water so will start keeping my eye out for one.

[diggerdickson]

I would love to share it with my boy in the surf as well or just float with him in the water

[The Mighty Sunbird]

Kids and wives love them