The Last Post

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Well, the Phileas Project has come to an end. 8 years from start to finish, Phileas has been on a journey of discovery, as have I (and all of us) over that period. As a send-off to the project I have put all of the videos documenting the journey below.

One thing we’ve all noticed over the last 8 years is the increase in the number of people riding (and building) mats. Wen Phileas first headed off, almost everyone in the community was aware of what was happening. More recently I have had quite a few people ask what’s what so for those unaware of Phileas, Phileas was the 50th mat to come out of the G-Mat workshop. To celebrate this, and to say thank you for all the support I've been shown by the global mat collective, I thought it fitting to send her off around the world for my mat brethren to ride and to add their own artwork to.

Phileas has been ridden by countless people over the years (well you probably could count them) so I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been involved. You have all made this really special. As I write we are still deciding how to display Phileas. I may well try to get some quality shots of the artwork to get tees printed. That would be fun!

I hope you enjoy these little movies as much as I do.

So video 1 is the building of Phileas and the first wave at Connies Reef in Cornwall. Enjoy.

The second video sees Phileas hit the road. From a Cornish Reef to a Shetland Beach and one of the worst skunkings caught on film for Sean Stansfield, but the scenery was beautiful.

Part 3 sees the people's mat cross the pond to the US East Coast. In order, Phileas worked up the coast from Florida to Montauk (with a wee detour) hooking up with John Hughes, Jamie McClellan, Tim Darwish and Jeremy Grosvenor.

In Part 4.1, Phileas heads over to San Diego to hook up with the amazing Scott Reeder. Scott was battling cancer at the time but you wouldn't have known. Scott, his wife Pam and son Maz were perfect hosts taking Phileas to see the sights and hook up with Mark Miller, Cher Pendarvis, Ken McKnight and Peter St Pierre along the way.

Here's to you Festus

The Phileas Project Pt 4.2 sees Phileas heading up the US west coast to OC and LA. First stop is Newport Wedge with Sean “Yucca” Starky before heading on to hang out with Matt Pierce, James Sowell and Chad Stickney to see some of the quieter reefs and points as well as some river wave action.

The Phileas Project Pt 4.3 sees Phileas head further up the US West Coast to the Santa Barbara area to hook up with Andrew Stephen Buck. There wasn’t much going on but fellow Carpinteria surfer Matt Herman got a few sloppy summer ones before Buck finally gave up on the idea and headed south to Mexico. Another country unexpectedly ticked off.

The Phileas Project Pt 5 documents Phileas’s journey north into Canada to meet up with Graham Gidden and his friend Willy McB on Vancouver Island. Cold, empty, glassy perfection. This is my idea of heaven!

The Phileas Project Pt 6 sees a trip from the North American continent over to the Hawaiian Islands. Phileas gets about hooking up with some of the then small family of mat surfers in the Islands, namely Chris Gilding, Brandon Treloar (good Cornish name that), Dave Montasevitch, Ambrose Curry and Bill Osgood.

Crossing the pacific now and part 7 saw Phileas hit Japan with Ryo Hiwasa and then Tassie with Ian Jermyn. By this time, Phileas was in need of repair (like anyone, travel takes it’s toll) so came back to the UK for a bit of TLC, a surf with Rachel Lewis and me and a night on the lash with James Harvey.

Watching this edit back, I noticed I didn’t credit Ryu and Ian at the end of this one. Really sorry fellas! Thank you both for joining in with the Project! ❤️

The Phileas Project Pt 8.1 now and Phileas lands with the South Coast Unadulterated Mat Men (SCUMM). As expected she has an absolute blast, although might need to undergo trauma-focused therapy after Paul's antics!

Phileas pt 8.2 and our hero has a fun stay in Sydney courtesy of Simon Chipper initially, followed by his brother, Ben. During her stay, Phileas got under the bellies of Simon and Ben, Tom Carroll, Angus [don't know your second name, sorry], Andy Owens and, yet again, Rachel "Chally Girl" Lewis. A hoard of other people had a quick crack too by all accounts.

In pt 8.3, Phileas take a Grande Tour with a collection of fellas from Down Under finishing up Oz and taking on New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Indo. Thanks to James Tanner, Mark Jeffrey and Robin Thomson.

Phileas pt 9 sees a quick trip back to Japan to hook up with Ian Wraith. Thanks to Kana Wraith and her iPhone for the footage.

In part 10.1, Tom Way documents his baptism of fire getting to grips with a surfmat as he and Phileas take on some solid Indo lefts.

In part 10.2 Luke Irwin takes a trek for his first few sessions on a mat. What better place! Phileas hits a quiet Indo left before heading off to a different continent.

Phileas Project Pt 11 and a trip across the Indian Ocean to hook up with South African matter and all around hellman, Charl van Rensburg.

Pt 12 and John Adkins and Phileas hit Chile. Or that's the plan anyway…

Part 13 and the final leg. Phileas comes home to rest going on a tour of the South West UK.