Sean Mattison is an American former professional surfer and current professional surf coach, known mostly for designing "The Nubster",[2] a fifth surfboard fin.[3] Mattison is also the designer of his own alternative high performance surfboards and surfboard fins named Von-Sol.[4]
Sean Mattison | |
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Personal information | |
Born | Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. | March 24, 1969
Residence | Oceanside, California U.S. |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
Surfing career | |
Years active | 1988-1995 |
Best year | 1990 mid season rated #2 Bud Surf Tour, 1990 finished 7th Bud Surf Tour (PSAA)[1] |
Major achievements |
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Surfing specifications | |
Stance | Natural (regular) foot |
Favorite waves | Right hand pointbreaks |
Favorite maneuvers | Front side carves and hacks |
In 2009, Mattison worked as Assistant Coach alongside Head Coach Ian Cairns to coach the USA Surf Team of the 2009 ISA World Championships. The team scored a gold medal, prior to which the USA had not won a Gold Medal since 1996.[5]
Mattison was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States on 24 March 1969.[6] Mattison moved to Atlantic Beach, Florida in 1973 and started surfing in 1974. By 1977, Mattison started competing in surf competitions in Jacksonville Beach, Florida when he was only 8 years old. Mattison grew up surfing on the east coast in the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association). In 1980, Mattison was a member of the ESA All-Stars with fellow professional surfer and 11x ASP World Champion Kelly Slater.
Mattison also placed fifth overall at the NSSA Nationals and was a member of the NSSA national team.[7]
Sean Mattison was the General Manager and Chief Board Buyer for Surf Ride Inc. in Oceanside, California from 1997 through 2007.[15] Mattison was featured in a Surfing Magazine article titled "Lord of the Boards".[16] When Clark Foam, a surfboard foam manufacturer that supplied 90% of blank surfboards in the United States, closed its doors,[17] Surfer Magazine ran its only cover in history to have just a surfboard on its cover. The cover featured the tagline "This Changes Everything", a quote created by Mattison.[18]
Mattison is the designer of his own surfboard label Von-Sol Surfboards. Mattison, having a former background in design, collaborated with Mike Hynson to make the "Black Knight Quad" a four fin surfboard that had much success in design.[19][20][21] Mike Hynson is co-star of the hit 1966 surf movie "The Endless Summer" directed by Bruce Brown.[22][23]
Another notable design of Mattison's was Kelly Slater's "nubster", a fifth fin that some critics have credited as helping Kelly Slater win his 11th ASP World Championship.[24][23]
In 1990, Mattison married, and in 1993 had his first child.[25] Mattison and his wife are now parents of three children.
Mattison and his family were in an article for Coastal Living Magazine called Hang Ten Holidays.[26]