Nice looking board Slashzilla!
I made an Alaia out of redwood a while back. It was pretty funny… the water line came up to my neck when I sat on top of the board. I wore fins when I rode it. It was a blast to just belly board it. I got a little scared once when I dropped in on a fairly powerful wave. I almost lost my grip on the board, and all I could think of was rolling around in the white water with with a hard heavy piece of wood in close proximity.
If you guys want to give your board a watertight and long lasting finish try a blend of Tung/Lin/Poly mix and a few tablespoons of heated bee's wax apply thick and after soaks it up (overnight) sand with 300 grit. It will heat up the bee's wax and make it water tight. I do it all the time on hand planes and only need to reapply every ten plus times.
Tony
hey slash!
i went to my home depot but couldnt find any pine alaia do you know where else i could find this wood??
i was also wondering what if homedepot has just strips of pine? do i have to glue them together or should i get a sheet of it?
AR,
I shaped mine from the same sort of HD deal and I definitely second using fins... Generally try the pushing off the bottom at low tide (NJ beach breaks) but after a few classic pearls and pile drivers i go in grab the fins and away we go..obviously I stick with riding it prone and its a blast.
Chris
Chris,
I have tried prone but I’m really interested in standing up if possible. But I’m starting to think the board is just too small.
Thanks for the help,
AR
My first alaia was 5’11", made from the HD laminated pine, and surfed great. Really heavy and paddled poorly, but stood up on my first wave and no problems since. You need to be a strong paddler to surf an alaia. If you’re not there yet start out prone but also spend plenty of time bodysurfing first.
our home despot pine alaia build- another coat of oil and away we go! thanks to brian for all the help! shakas!
steiny Is that the 3/4'' stock pine/
it seems like it's the thicker stuff like 1 1/2''?
...ambrose...
hey ambrose- it was 1.32" so it is around 1" finish cut. came out pretty nice looking- we’ll see how it works tomorrow
shakas to you and marta
so i just took my HD pine alaia to san o today and man it is super weird to paddle. i only managed to bodyboard some white water back in but i’m surprise i was able to make it out. for those of you that ride them, what type of wave is the best to learn alaia’s on? i think that san o is a bit to fat to ride. i’m thinking maybe trestles would be easier.