Name: GONG - Surf Matata Simone EPS
Brand: GONG
SKU: GON26BOASURMATEPSWHI-50
Price: 357.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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techno-eps EPS
single-tab-box Single tab box
tail-square Extra Large Square Tail
fins-twin Twin
outline-surf-retro Retro

Specifications

5'0 | 152.4cm
20" | 50.7cm
2 3/8" | 6.0cm

Rider

Intermediate

Expert

40kg

50kg

70kg

80kg

Conditions

Wave size

Knee

Waist

Overhead

Wave speed

Slow

Moderate

Fast

Wave shape

Soft

Steep

Hollow

Aptitudes

Paddling comfort

Verticality

Carving

Cruising

Drive

Natural speed

Program

Description

Programme

Matata Simone: boards that absolutely fly in any kind of waves thanks to their natural speed, and that excel in weak waves.

Overview

The Matata Simone draws inspiration from the Mini Simmons spirit, those short, wide, ultra-planing shapes that left their mark on surf history with their ability to generate loads of speed with very little wave energy.

The concept is simple: maximise planing. A compact board, loads of usable surface area, a highly supportive tail and natural glide that make it feel like you're flying above the water. Even when the wave is barely pushing, the Matata Simone gets going early, accelerates fast and flies through soft sections with stunning ease.

From the very first strokes, you understand the appeal. The board carries really well, gets into the wave with room to spare and opens up sessions that would feel too weak on a more classic board. You catch more waves, earlier, with less effort.

Under your feet, the feeling is unique: short, wide, fast, powerful and free. The Matata Simone is not ridden like a shortboard. It invites you to draw lines, let it run, build speed off its natural pace and link together full carves with loads of flow.

Its twin fin setup enhances that free, lively glide. You gain speed, speed build-up and spontaneity, while still keeping enough control to push through the rail and make the most of the tail's power.

The Matata Simone is the board that puts the fun back into small conditions: ultra-early take-off, huge planing, natural acceleration and ultra-fun twin-fin glide.

A modern, compact and ultra-fast Mini Simmons, built to turn small waves into real surf sessions.

OUTLINE

The very wide outline maximises surface area in the tail, through the centre and under the paddling zone. The board carries well, planes very early and maintains exceptional natural speed in small waves. The mid-forward wide point brings stability, paddling comfort and early take-off.

The round point nose gives you more margin on the wave entry without making the board feel cumbersome to ride. The result is a short, compact and ultra-efficient board, capable of getting into very little swell and keeping its glide where a more conventional board would stall.

ROCKER

The very flat rocker is one of the driving forces behind the Matata Simone. It reduces drag, promotes early take-off and allows the board to maintain its glide through soft or flat sections.

This fast curve gives the feeling of a board that generates speed all by itself. From the very first pressure through your feet, the board builds momentum, carries through weaker sections and keeps enough pace to build speed again without forcing it.

BOTTOM SHAPE

The hull combines a belly under the nose and a deep concave through the tail. The belly gives a smooth feel up front, absorbs small chop and delivers a very fluid glide entry, even at high speed.

Through the rear third, the concave channels the water under the extra-wide tail to generate control, acceleration and grip. It keeps the board driving precisely despite the generous surface area, with a real ability to hold a line and build speed.

TAIL

The extra-wide square tail is the key to planing. It delivers huge lift under the back foot, immediate speed build-up and very strong acceleration as soon as you load the board.

This tail also gives you plenty of support to surf tight, powerful and fluid. It lets you get through soft sections, maintain speed and lay down full carves on a very short board.

RAILS

The rails are shaped to balance forgiveness up front with precision through the tail. The softened nose rails work with the belly and deliver smooth glide, with no unwanted catch on the way into carves.

At the tail, the rails become more defined and direct to transfer pressure, release water and provide the bite a board this wide needs. You keep a fluid ride, but with enough control to stay in command at speed.

Single Tab connection: simple, direct and solid

The Single Tab system features a single, extended base on each fin. This design creates a solid connection with the fin box, making installation simple, fin changes quick, and power transfer exceptionally direct.

On the water, the benefits are immediate. The board responds instantly, the fins work without unwanted play, and every input translates into drive, grip and control. This is especially valuable on high performance boards, where precise feedback is essential at high speeds and through committed turns.

The Single Tab system also makes it easy to fine tune your setup for different conditions. Changing fin size, template or flex lets you refine the board's feel in just a few moments. It provides a clean, durable and efficient connection, allowing you to unlock the full potential of the shape.

Good to know: Single Tab fin boxes are only compatible with Single Tab fins.

Key benefits:

Simple installation and quick fin changes.
Direct connection for immediate response underfoot.
Excellent drive, grip and control through powerful turns.

EPS Surf Technology

Key features:

Premium materials: EPS foam blanks, epoxy resin and fiberglass, all selected to meet our exact design requirements.
100% epoxy resin construction over a 28 kg/m³ EPS foam blank with a 3 mm wooden stringer.
Deck layup: 2 layers of 6 oz fiberglass and 1 layer of 4 oz fiberglass.
Bottom layup: 1 layer of 6 oz fiberglass, 1 layer of 4 oz fiberglass, plus an additional 4 oz fiberglass reinforcement patch covering the tail and fin box area.
CNC pre-shaped, checked against traditional templates, then finished entirely by hand.
Matte finish for better glide, improved scratch resistance and a competition-inspired look.
Easy to restore to like-new condition after dings.
Outstanding strength to flex to weight ratio, allowing the shape to perform at its full potential.
This is the modern benchmark construction, available in fiberglass or carbon, and the preferred choice of highly technical surfers seeking maximum performance.
Every board is 100% shaped and glassed in our factory in Asia, using the exact methods developed and tested in our workshop in France.

Technical sheet

Surf Matata Simone EPS EPS / 5'0 / White

Download the user guide

Buying guide

Who is it for?

For surfers who want to make the most of small waves with a short, wide, fast and ultra-fun board. The Matata Simone is aimed at riders who want to get in early, plane fast and find glide again even when the wave lacks power.

For surfers who like boards that are different from a classic shortboard. Here, the goal is not vertical surfing at all costs: it is all about natural speed, drawn-out lines, easy speed build-up and a free twin-fin feel underfoot.

For intermediate to advanced surfers looking for a fun board for weak sessions. Its surface area, planing and early take-off give you plenty of margin, but its twin setup and wide tail still require clean foot pressure to be fully exploited.

What for?

For surfing when the conditions look too small, too soft or too slow. The Matata Simone turns small sessions into real sessions thanks to its huge planing ability, flat rocker and extra-wide square tail.

To catch more waves, get in earlier and keep speed where many boards stall. It planes early, gets through weak sections and naturally builds speed again as soon as you put it to work.

To get back a freer, smoother and more instinctive glide. Its twin fin Single Tab setup reduces drag, frees up the ride and delivers that short, fast and playful board feel that flies over the water.

What board size?

The Matata Simone should be chosen shorter than a classic board, because its wide outline, buoyant tail and useful volume already provide plenty of paddling ease, stability and planing.

Do not choose it too long: the whole point of the Mini Simmons is precisely its compact format, instant speed and ability to build speed again in a tight space. Too much length would reduce that playful, very direct feel.

If you are between two sizes, choose the bigger one if you want to maximise paddling, early take-off and ease in very small waves. Choose the smaller one if you want more manoeuvrability, more liveliness and a more radical rail-to-rail ride.

What are the ideal waves?

Size: from almost nothing to head-high, depending on your level, build and spot.

Power: it performs best in soft to average waves, with little to moderate power. That is where its planing, wide tail and flat rocker really make the difference.

Shape: it loves clean small waves, soft sections, slow waves or waves with no shoulder. It can also hold its own in more solid conditions if the surfer rides it on rail, but its favourite playground clearly remains the fun small wave.

Which construction?

The Matata Simone really comes into its own in a light and responsive construction, able to enhance its natural speed and speed build-up in small conditions.

A construction like EPS perfectly matches its programme: easy take-off, fast planing, lively acceleration and the feeling of a board that speeds up with very little energy. It is ideal for making the most of weak waves and keeping plenty of response underfoot.

The goal is simple: a board that carries, glides, gets in early and stays fun in conditions where every bit of foot pressure has to create speed.

Which fin setup?

The Matata Simone comes as a twin fin Single Tab. This setup maximises speed, freedom and the shape's natural glide. With less drag than a more locked-in setup, the board carries speed better and builds speed again very easily.

The twin gives a freer, smoother feel. You have to accept a ride that is less locked-in than a thruster: you surf more off speed, rail and drawn-out lines.

Choose fins with enough surface area to support the wide tail and maintain drive. Twins that are too small will free up the board a lot, but may lack support. More generous twins will bring more hold, acceleration and control in fast carves.

Which shape should you choose?

Choose the Matata Simone if you want a modern Mini Simmons, ultra-fast and compact, built to turn small waves into a playground.

Its very wide outline gives strong lift. Its extra-wide square tail delivers planing and speed build-up. Its flat rocker maximises glide. Its belly under the nose smooths out entry into turns. Its concave through the tail adds control and acceleration. Its twin fin frees up the ride.

The Matata Simone is therefore the right choice for surfers who want to catch more waves, get in earlier and surf with maximum glide and fun when the conditions are small or lack power.

Which bag?

Equipments

These boards are fitted with a leash plug and 2 Single Tab fin boxes for a twin setup.

Depending on what you want, your build, the conditions and your surfing style, you can fine-tune the board's feel with different sets of GONG fibreglass fins compatible with Single Tab.

The twin setup uses two side fins.

GONG Single Tab plastic twin set included.
2 Single Tab boxes for a twin setup.
Leash plug at the tail so you never lose your board.
Fin key included.

Delivery

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What exactly is the Matata Simone?

The Matata Simone is a modern Mini Simmons: a short, wide, ultra-planing and very fast board, designed to turn small waves into genuinely fun sessions.

Who is the Matata Simone for?

It is aimed at surfers looking for a fast, compact and playful board for small conditions. It suits intermediate to advanced surfers who want to catch more waves, get in early and enjoy glide that feels different from a classic shortboard.

What kind of waves does it work best in?

It performs best in small, soft to average waves, from almost nothing up to head-high depending on your level and the spot. Its favourite playground remains the fun small wave, slow or lacking power.

Why does the Matata Simone get going so early?

Its very wide outline, extra-wide square tail, useful volume and flat rocker generate loads of lift. The board gets up and planing very early, paddles easily and gets into the wave with plenty of margin.

Is it an easy board?

Yes for getting in early, flying down the line and making it through the soft sections. But to unlock its full potential, you need to surf it on the rail, with clean footwork, as its twin fin setup and wide tail deliver a looser feel than a thruster.

Why choose a twin fin on the Matata Simone?

The Single Tab twin fin maximises speed, glide and freedom. It reduces drag, delivers very natural speed build-up and perfectly matches the Mini Simmons programme: surfing fast, fluidly and with loads of flow.

Should you choose it shorter than a classic board?

Yes. The Matata Simone is generally chosen shorter, because its width, buoyant tail and planing ability more than make up for the reduced length. Too long, it would lose some of its compact, playful and direct feel.

What’s the difference compared with a classic shortboard?

A classic shortboard is all about more vertical surfing and precision in performance waves. The Matata Simone delivers a more planing, free and fast glide, ideal for generating speed in small waves and surfing with maximum enjoyment.

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