Gwahir

Meet Gwaihir, a G-Mat Nouveau Racer built for New England mat surfer, Ryan Kleinert.

I'm sure people are aware of Ryan, but in case you're not, he absolutely charges on a mat. Gwaihir is the third mat I've built for Ryan with his first two (Starchaser and Starchaser 2) being RB-JMC's. Starchaser was blown out to sea when Ryan was surfing solid 10ft barrels, hence the second coming. So you see what I mean when I say Ryan charges on a mat!

With these days in mind, Gwaihir was born..The Nouveau Racer is my gunniest model and with the 200d deck and restricted breathing will feel much more stable. It is a design that gives you a lot of confidence on big days, so is perfect for those dredging winter New England waves. Although the Nouveau Racer definitely had a bottom end to it, in bigger and more powerful surf it's a very fast design so I think naming Gwaihir after the King of the Great Eagles in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings is apt.

As you can see, Gwaihir is in Ryan's trademark hot fuschia with white grip. We've Hestered the valve too so all in all a pretty good looking mat. I showed Gwahir at the Fish Fry in Crackington Haven, North Cornwall, so thank you so much to Ryan for being kind enough to let me show Gwaihir there before shipping.

Finally, people might be wondering how Ryan has got in on the order book so regularly. Well, he said that after missing the first email of two when I opened the order book last, he just sat on his laptop all night ready to pounce on the second email! With dedication like that I'm stoked to build Ryan a mat!

So as I say, I'm excited to show Gwaihir at the Fish Fry on Saturday (it will be great to see people and both Tom @rftsurfmats and I will be there). Following that, Gwaihir will be flying off to the US East Coast to get into some winter swells.

Have fun Ryan!

Cheers

G

Starchaser 2

Here's a quick post about something of a Phoenix from the Flames (or maybe an Albatross from the Atlantic). I've just finished a run and before starting the next one bashed out a couple of mats. The first being this one and the second a mat for winter for my business partner Tom.

Onto this mat then and it's a rebuild of Ryan Kleinert's RB-JMC named Starchaser. Those who follow Ryan may remember he surfed a solid 10ft day in Maine and lost Starchaser 😩

Starchaser 2 then is a copy. Super-free-breather, pink as you like with neg rocker and Hestered valve . Starchaser 2 will head to Maine tomorrow so keep your eyes peeled for Ryan charging more solid New England bombs in hi Vis real soon!

Have fun Ryan!

Cheers

G

Starchaser

This is a mat built for Ryan Kleinert from Maine in the US of A. Ryan has got pretty into mats… Like REALLY into mats. And why wouldn’t he?!

Ryan says:

“I slept on mats for way too long but when I started mat surfing, I felt the magic immediately and become completely and utterly obsessed. I started surfing boards and body surfing over two decades ago as a grom in NJ but have called New England home for most of my adult life. I have always been drawn to alternative surf craft and experiencing waves in different ways.

Surfing for me is a spiritual pursuit that connects me deeply with the wildness of the ocean and intimately with the energy of waves. Mat surfing has been transformative and has completely transcended surfing for me. The feeling that I was seeking while surfing on a board is found over and over again on a mat. Surfing is not about what I can do to a wave but about experiencing how each wave feels and what it has to offer: unhindered speed, an intimate feeling of connection, sensations defined by the uniqueness of each wave. As you know well, mats facilitate this better than any other surf craft.

I named this mat “starchaser” for the magic portals that it will open and the infinite stoke and speed it is destined to cultivate.”

— Ryan Kleinert

Well I’m certainly hopeful those portals will open! Starchaser is certainly built with that in mind. The internal gubbins are set for easy movement of air with super-free-breather venting and being a 70/70 RB-JMC Starchaser has a perfect balance of hold and glide with down-the-line speed helped out with negative elastic rocker. All in all, not the easiest of rides but an extremely rewarding one once tamed (the rider I mean, not the mat!).

I’m really looking forward to hearing from Ryan once her gets Starchaser in the water. In all there are 3 mats going to New England in this batch. There’s a bit of a boom over there with the locals seemingly being right on it to get in on the emails I send out.

Have fun Ryan!

Cheers
G

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Feedback - 17 November, 2022