Memorial Day Weekend

I haven't been updating the blog too much as of late.

Like everything, this moves in waves and sets of waves.

So what we have here is a lull...

A few posts over at Frequent Rip Currents regarding some new movies out and the first of a three part-er interview with Mike Black the writer/director/star of Invasion of Planet C.


It's spring time in SoCal and so far this month I have seen good swells from both northern and southern hemispheres,

heat waves,

rain,

tornadoes,

and four dollar gas.




This week as we prepare for the traditional three day weekend / Memorial day holiday we are monitoring decreasing swell and steady side shore winds.

The coconut wireless has tales of one hour windows of calm winds if you are in the right place at the right time.


These down times are options to pursue other interests or fix dings.

Since there are no dings in the mat I intend on whittling away a little on the pair of UDT's I bought a while back.

I would like to keep the length but mow a little off the support ribs.

When the weather mellows out I would like to propose another group go out, let me know if you are interested.

photos from last weeks mat meet

Ken sent some of his photos from last weeks mat meet.


ASmith on edge and driving



Thinkmat with his eyes on the prize



Tom Threinen turning up



Pranaglider looking for the backdoor



Andy Smith of Born-to-Lose with a hand full of canvas and a racetrack.


Thinkmat likes San Diego



ThinkMat threading thru the crowd.



*Unfortunately, Ken was the only one taking pictures so we don't have any of him.

Look at video of Ken in Maui here.

All photos copyright 2008 by Ken McKnight

Misc Wednesday

After the mat last weekend most of us went to lunch to talk mats surf etc

I noticed that several of us preferred fish when we surfed boards and found the lines that one takes when surfing a fish similar to the ones on the mat.

I ran across this quote from Dan Malloy on the er website and it seems to summarize the feeling nicely. "..The Fish gives you perspective on where the energy of the wave is. It's about the high line, speed and flow." The rest of the quote is below for your reading pleasure.

""I've really learned a ton about my surfing by riding Fishes," says Dan Malloy, one of a handful of pro surfers who grew up on thrusters but have recently turned to the Fish in an effort to reexamine creative performance surfing. "I'll jump back on my thrusters, and wonder, 'Oh, my god, why am I wiggling so much?' The Fish gives you perspective on where the energy of the wave is. It's about the high line, speed and flow." Which is exactly what its creator had in mind all those years ago. And although Lis continues to make a few boards for a handful of friends, he still marvels at the enduring popularity of his little Fish."

Let me know what you think.

Mattitude has just finished editing Ken McKnight's the mat footage from his trip to Maui. Looks like fun.

A great time!

A great time over the weekend!

There were 6 of us at the May Mat Meet.

ASmith, KenDog, ChileDub, Tom Threinen, ThinkMat, and PranaGlider

You know you have a good crew when only one third can use their real names!

I think it worked out that we had a "Teacher of the Year" as well as a "World Renowned Artist" in the group to balance out the karma debt of the rest of us.

Solana came thru for us and the surf and conditions were fantastic.

If I hadn't locked my keys in the car it would have been perfect!

(To be fair, I had my car keys, I just wasn't driving my car! Really!)

If you couldn't attend, you missed out, but we had such a good time another meet is already in the works!

Inflatable Toy Surf Meet

The incredible water color above by the equally incredible John Severson

Mr Smith has changed the coordinates of the ITSM -

I just checked the beach break again. It is not going to be the call. Let's move this party to a real reef!

Seaside reef and its cohorts will have waves and definition.


Inflatable Toy Surf Meet
Saturday, May 3rd.
Early until the wind kills it.
All are welcome. Bring your stoke.

Seaside Reef:


View Larger Map


Exit 5 onto Lomas Santa Fe
Head West (yes, west).
Turn North on PCH/101.
Seaside reef lot is the huge lot just north of Solana Beach. Its official title is South Carlsbad State Beach. If you reach Cardiff reef or the surrounding restaurants (Ki's, Olas, etc...) you've gone too far.
I would suggest gathering towards the south end of the lot.

There are bathrooms but you might have to pay to park $8. If you get there early enough it might be free, I'm not sure. Another option is to turn west onto Solana Vista just south of the lot. There is stairway access to the same stretch via some stairs.

This could be epic!