Alaia Surfboard with Amee Donohoe
Only surfers know the feeling, and sometimes that sensation needs to be altered in order to enhance that experience. One way to mix up the feeling is to try new boards or the ultimate, shape one from scratch and then ride it. A couple pro-surfers in Australia did just that, but with an old school twist.
I was amazed at the speed you could generate on my first attempt at riding the alaia
Amee Donohoe:
I have been curious about alaia’s for some time. Project alaia started after a good friend of mine who steers away from any form of attention. The 5’ 11 red wood alaia posses beauty of a soulful board and I was instantly captivated. I was amazed at the speed you could generate on my first attempt at riding the alaia, it was an incredibly challenging and a whole new approach to the way I surfed. Needless to say I was hooked.
I have been curious about alaia’s for some time. Project alaia started after a good friend of mine who steers away from any form of attention. The 5’ 11 red wood alaia posses beauty of a soulful board and I was instantly captivated. I was amazed at the speed you could generate on my first attempt at riding the alaia, it was an incredibly challenging and a whole new approach to the way I surfed. Needless to say I was hooked.
Wood
Although red wood alaia’s look the part they don’t allow for the same amount of buoyancy, Paulownia wood does, believe me even the smallest amount of extra floatation when you’re riding one of these is worth its weight in gold. I began by ordering blanks from Surfing Green, a company that focuses on the importance of keeping the ocean and surfing lifestyle as environmentally sustained and aware as possible which is always a good thing.
Tools
It’s not too often you get hands on when it comes to surfing. Most surfers pick up a phone or order foam and ponder their dimensions and sprays. It is quite amazing to get hands on and really break down an ancient art-form. The first step is cutting the Paulownia wood to your desired height and width you can play around with the tail we decided to stick with the basic concave square tail. After you have cut out you desired board dimensions comes the sanding, sanding and more sanding.
You can use an electric sander during the early stages of refining the thickness but as it gets closer to the thinning edges its back to being hands on.
Seal the Deal
Oiling the boards, bio- varnish is suitable for sealing alaias and other wooden surfboards. It is an eco friendly and non toxic product. This is due to the oil being based on modified plant oil, wood oil, rosin, titanium dioxide, mica, silica, bentone, soja lecithin, UV-protector, paraffin oil, lemon peel oil, pine oil, lead free drying agents. Wouldn’t it be good if resin could be so eco friendly?
After you seal it, you’re good to get it in the water and enjoy a new sensation in the water and fall in love with surfing all over again.
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