Creating an Alaia

My first Alaia creation. It was a great experience to transform the rectangular plank of paulownia into an Alaia. Didn't bother timing or noting the amount of time took to shape the Alaia, just enjoyed working with the wood and the creative processes you undertake. Learned a lot from shaping this Alaia and can't wait to start on the next one.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Alaia
• shaping
• surfing
• creating
• central
• coast
• surf
• surfboard
• finless
• paulownia
• sliding
• sudiyasa

[Sudiyasa]

The wood is called Paulownia. I use a mixture of beeswax, linseed oil and gum turpentine to seal the wood. Once dry, I put a light coating of wax before surfing it as it can be a little slippery initially.

[slatywater]

Great Vid. I'm picking up a paulownia blank in the next couple of weeks and going to shape an alaia over the Chrissy Hols. Can you tell me what thickness your blank was if you can recall and the thickness when finished. What length is yours? How did it go - looks like it would be beautiful to ride

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[Sudiyasa]

@slatywater - Thanks for the comment. The thickness of my blanks are around 3/4 of an inch. Once shaped the rails are around 1/4 of an inch and a bit thicker around 3 inches in from the rail. This one I shaped was 7'6, which i then continued to shape down over some time and now the board measures 6'2! It goes great too. I found the longer boards to be better for bigger, more open waves. The smaller boards are more loose and are easier to control.

[alexlopi]

Hello I am passionate about this type of the Alaia boards ... I wanted to ask what kind of wood you use and whether the board is completely flat! Thanks:D

[Sudiyasa]

@alexlopi - Paulownia wood. The board has a bit of rocker towards the nose and various concaves and curves on the underside and deck

[slashdude44]

hey can you use any wood besides paulownia?

[Sudiyasa]

@slashdude44 - yeah you can use pine or a number of other types of wood. The thing about paulownia is that it is light, yet as strong as a hardwood and the best thing is that water does not soak into it, it actually repels water. Unlike a lot of other woods

[YannickBats]

Is the bottom of the board supposed to be flat? and why did create some rocker in the front, i mean where is it good for?

[41luckey]

what is the name of this song

[752ada]

im in woodshop and im gonna make my own alaia and i have a few questions. what did you use to coat the board after it was completed and will i have to wax my board before i go out

[joaquinflecha]

nice board what tipe of wood thid you use?