At SUP Mag the first we knew about Mateo Fouliard was when a clutch of creative shots dropped into the editorial inbox. One showed Mat standing in perfect symmetry with his paddle upright at his side. What was clever was that the shot was taken underwater. What was really clever was that when we asked Mat who took the photo, he replied that it was a selfie. Over the next three years Mat kept us informed with a steady stream of ingenious photos from his Tahitian home, demonstrating a prescient use of drones and remote camera control, and not least an adept multi-disciplined approach to waves of all kinds.
Mat’s exploits and seemingly enviable lifestyle became a topic of conversation around the office, sometimes we’d affectionately refer to him as ‘the Tahitian Playboy’ but there was always a sense that there was more to this selfie made man, something in the distant gaze, or the thick sinewy tendons and lean muscle said that this was not an act, that what had been won had been won the hard way, the right way. Then when he sent us a video link to an old guy rollerblading in slow motion, presenting that this was the meaning of life, we had to find out why…
“ I can remember living in the shed with rats having no money and only one can of corn beef left, thinking it was the best meal in the world ”
