Sean Mattison
 | This article contains promotional content. (July 2021) |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 24, 1969 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. |
| Years active | 1988-1995 |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Surfing career | |
| Sport | Surfing |
| Best year | 1990 mid season rated #2 Bud Surf Tour, 1990 finished 7th Bud Surf Tour (PSAA)[1] |
| Major achievements |
|
| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Natural (regular) foot |
| Favorite waves | Right hand pointbreaks |
| Favorite maneuvers | Front side carves and hacks |
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]
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]
Athletic career
[edit]Early years
[edit]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]
Professional achievements
[edit]- In 1988, Mattison established himself as an elite surfer and earned himself a spot in the top 30 ranked surfers in the (PSAA) Bud Surf Tour on his rookie year.[8]
- Mattison had his best year in 1990, when he was rated #2 in the (PSAA)Bud Surf Tour mid-way through the season and finishing #7 in the (PSAA) Bud Surf Tour.
- Mattison won second place in the 1990 Body Glove Memorial Surf Classic.[9]
- Mattison was on the cover of Surfer Magazine in 1993.[10]
- Crowned 2003 United States Surfing Champion.
- Mattison was on a cover of a controversial Longboard Magazine in 2006 which had him surfing a "fish" rather than a longboard.[11]
- Mattison won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2011 ISA World Championships in Punta Roca, El Salvador.[12][13] Mattison was part of the USA Master's Team with former three time ASP world champion Tom Curren and fellow professional surfer Jim Hogan.
- Mattison is a member of the Jacksonville Surfing Hall of Fame.
- Mattison won the U.S. Open of Surfing Master's Division the same year that his wife won fourth in the women's.
Brand and personal life
[edit]Retail surf industry
[edit]Sean Mattison was the General Manager and Chief Board Buyer for Surf Ride Inc. in Oceanside, California from 1997 through 2007.[14] Mattison was featured in a Surfing Magazine article titled "Lord of the Boards".[15] When Clark Foam, a surfboard foam manufacturer that supplied 90% of blank surfboards in the United States, closed its doors,[16] 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.[17]
Surfboard design
[edit]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.[18][19] Mike Hynson is co-star of the hit 1966 surf movie "The Endless Summer" directed by Bruce Brown.[20][21]
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.[22][21]
Personal life
[edit]In 1990, Mattison married, and in 1993 had his first child.[23] 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.[24]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Professional Surfing Association Of America".
- ↑ "ESPN Kelly Slater's Fifth Wheel". 26 March 2012.
- ↑ "ESPN Fifth Wheel". Archived from the original on October 23, 2011.
- ↑ "VON SOL SURFBOARDS". Von Sol. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Surfline, Team USA Takes Top Honors at Billabong ISA World Games".
- ↑ "1980's / Sean Mattison". www.atlanticvideo.biz. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Surf Coach USA Experience".
- ↑ "Professional Surfing Association of America History | SURFLINE.COM". www.surfline.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Rookie Wins Body Glove Surfing". Los Angeles Times, 1990 Body Glove Classic.
- ↑ "1993 Covers | SURFER Magazine". SURFER Magazine. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ SURFBOARDS, VON SOL. "VON SOL Surfboards :: alternative high performance surfboards designs by Sean Mattison". vonsol.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Surfing Articles: Latest Surf News, Videos, & Photos at Surfline". Surfline. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. Punta Roca - 2011 - Live Webcast". l Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship 2011. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Drift Magazine".
- ↑ "Surf Coach USA Media".
- ↑ "Clean Up Set - Clark Foam Closes its Doors | SURFER Magazine". SURFER Magazine. 2010-07-22. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Surfer Magazine, This Changes Everything".
- ↑ Robison, Blaine. "Hynson Black Knight Quad by Boardworks". Surf Ride. Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Boardworks Paddle Boards". Confluence Outdoor. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "SurfCoach USA: Sean Mattison". www.surfscience.com. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- 1 2 "DEEP Surf Magazine, V7_Issue 1_January-February 2012". content.yudu.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ US, FCS. "FCS Knubster Centre Keel". FCS US. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ Administrator. "Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) - ESA In Their Own Words: Sean Mattison - PACSUN USA Surf Team Assistant Coach". www.surfesa.org. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ "Hang Ten Holiday". Coastal Living. Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2026-06-01.