Gangbusters Surfing Magazine Issue 2

People: On The Move,with Mat Marais and Stephen Price

MAT - Surfboard Shaper

Name: Mat Marais.

Age: 40.

Started surfing: When I was knee-high. My dad was a surfer and still is at age 70. It looked and felt right to ride waves, and I never looked back.

Home break: ST’rand.

Favourite wave: Ujung Boccor.

Favourite board: 5.11 x 19.25 x 2.5 swallow tail Passionpop.

Favourite step-up board:

6.2 x 19 x 2.5 round pin for 5 to 10 ft Indo waves.

Career choice: Growing up, I surfed on so many shapers boards from all over SA and overseas. My whole family surfs, so shaping just

made it easier for us to test and ride and experiment with what we wanted.

The best part of the surf industry: Meeting people and making boards for many different people. Being friends with other great shapers in South Africa and abroad and sharing

MAT Surfboards the name:

My nickname at school was MAT, as in carpet. My full bush of hair would never get wet through a duck dive. The name stuck, and my wife reckoned it’ll be a good brand and name for a surfboard company. Always listen to your wife for good advice.

Seven years of incredible growth: I started on two barstools and mowing foam about 12 years back. Next was a Wendy house in the back of my garden. We then moved to our first small factory, and two years later we moved into our current factory. We have two CNC machines and a fullon in-house glass, repair and retail outlet. My wife Jen is

our spray artist, and my dad works there, running production/ materials etc. Good vibes at the factory with top laminators and sanders and local ripper Henco Scholts running my CNC work. We supply many countries as well as most coastal towns in SA. Surfboards and surfing is my passion.

Life motto: Respect is earned

Stephen Price

Noah brand owner

Name: Stephen Price.

Age: 4T something

Started surfing: 25

Home break: New Pier / Wedge.

Favourite break: Geger Nusa Dua. Local – Kelso.

Favourite board: DGS, Flying Disc, 6’4”, wide with plenty of volume.

Favourite step-up board: DGS, V8, 6’6”, not as wide but still plenty of volume.

First surf job: Graphic designer for Island Style.

From there: Island Style to Rusty to Quiksilver.

Other surf industry jobs:

Warehouse packer, delivery man, coffee boy, co-ordinator, graphics, merchandiser, designer, buyer, sales, planner, production. Good to have the insides on how the industry turns.

Best surf industry moments: Travel for sure. It has its drawbacks, but my word, the prosfar outweigh the cons. Having first-hand experience watching theindustry grow, boil and party was pretty exciting.

There is nothing better than being in the same room with the creators and innovators of some of the industry’s most powerful brands. The working sessions were incredible.

Noah origins: Honestly, I came from farming to an art degree, digital animation, and then clothing. Looking back, there seems to be a natural progression to creativity. Since I can remember, I have had a burning passion for creating through the years of learning, working, watching the industry and the brands build dreams. I was growing hungry to do my own thing. I decided it was time. Let’s go, let’s do this.

Goals and dreams for Noah:

To have everyone look for their favourite, comfortable Noah garment when they open their cupboard. I page through my shirts in the morning and find my Noah tee. Puts a smile on my face every time. Weird, but fun.

Life motto: Every little thing is going to be alright.