MEET SAM MATHERS, Artist & Surfer
Sam made the very first contribution to The Outsiders Guide - sharing his go-to spot for getting groms on the waves.
Where: Manu Bay Boat Ramp
What: Get the kids surfing
“During summer, at half tide, the Manu Bay boat ramp has the best little waves for the kids. Nothing better than starting them young!”
An artist from Raglan, NZ - you can tell he’s obsessed with getting out on the water just by taking a look at his award-winning art - full to the brim with fish and boats and surf. We sat down with Sam to find out what the outdoors mean to him, and hear about some favourite memories.
Sam, tell us about what you do for a living - how do you balance your work v getting outside?
I have been working as a contemporary Art painter for a living for the past 14 years. My job basically consists of building art boards in my workshop and then I hand paint them in my studio, creating artworks that eventually end up in art collections, private homes, businesses, commercial buildings, museums, commissioned murals, and Art Galleries.
I balance work with getting outdoors by occasionally painting outside to get some sun if I can. I also have had a lifelong addiction to surfing so sometimes I’m surfing more than working if I can get away with it. I do have to juggle it all with looking after two young boys but somehow you just make it work.
What has made the outdoors so important to you?
I feel most comfortable and relaxed in the ocean. I need to be amongst the surf all the time. Even if it's just swimming in the ocean, it makes me feel so alive after being thrashed around and dunked and pushed under the waves- even better if it's cold and refreshing. Just getting into the water can completely rewire your state of mind and snap you out of something that is holding you back. It’s hard to explain but whatever it does to me, I need that in my life.
What are your favourite ways of getting off grid and making the most of our New Zealand backdrop
When I get the chance to do so - I love to ride Motorbike, going deep into farmlands up beaches and finding places to surf-cast or collect mussels. Simple things like that are the best.
Taking my JetSki out fishing and surfing are an integral part of my life in Raglan too, of course.
Tell us about an adventure you’ll never forget
Travelling through Mexico in an old VW Kombi van with 10 mates for 10 days. We travelled from Pascuales - Puerto - Acapulco - Bara Della Cruz and all the other spots in between. Then all the way back over 10 days. We would take turns driving right through the night. We would get woken up with the Police looking through your belongings with guns all up in your grill. That became normal but still had you on edge. We surfed some of the best waves in the warmest water I have ever experienced. It was mid July in the middle of their summer. I also will never forget the food - the Tacos on the street were so good. I remember the Mozzarella cheese they would be making in front of you. Then to top it off their cheap, cold Cerveza. I was 30 years old and my first trip to America and Mexico was a big eye opener for myself at the time.
What’s something that you always make sure to pack when you’re headed on a mission?
EPIRB for general Safety.
What’s a song that you always play on a adventure/mission
The Waters - Anderson Paak, BJ The Chicago Kid
If you could go on a one month adventure anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
I would wait for a big swell and book a month staying at Skeleton Bay, Nambia, South-West Africa. My mission would be to score the longest backhand barrel of my life and I think I would have a very high chance of that happening if I had a month there.
Is being off-grid, the new luxury?
I really enjoy when I do go off-grid and your phones just stop working and have no data, no reception. It reminds me of growing up as a kid. You always found fun things to do. You truly feel like you're on holiday. I do miss those days.
Any adventures planned for 2023?
Not at this stage, maybe Indonesia later in the year. I haven’t left the country in over four years now. I'm trying to keep up with my fitness so when a swell presents itself and I have babysitters all lined up I can hop on a short plane ride and surf for a few days and then head home. I think short surf trips at the drop of a hat will be my new future for a while.
