...to the alaia riders here ...
HOW do you RIDE these things ??
I took this out today and spun out and ate s*** .
[ Mind you , it WAS only my first time on it. ]
And it was probably the wrong day ...chest-high sets , shallow , backwashy , sideshore and ... crowded with drop in boogers , by 6am ??!!
i'll try again tomorrow , earlier , and hopefully if the forecast is right [!] it may be east -nor'east , instead of south / southeast / west ...
Hey Chip, When riding mine I use a low stance when taking off, much lower than whrn riding a normal “finned” board. So a low centre of gravity is the key until you get it trimming then you can start slipping and sliding. These are sooo much fun on small lined up days. Gunna build a foam one soon witha couple of second blanks I’ve got.
Ah ha ha, welcome aboard, over board. Off board? Oh I get it, your a pro. Those were controlled side slips. Your ironing board looks kinda fat. Stop wingin an get your sorry ar#e back out there. Don’t come home till you can stand. Ah ha another fin less sucker. Scallywags,
I don’t surf a standup alaia but have ridden wooden boards prone and spoken to a few frustrated guys who have made/bought alaia.
Less bouyancy means it may be harder to catch waves. You may find that you need to use a different take-off position or a different surf spot altogether - the alaia will be suited to longer lined waves where you can draw longer lines.
ride a few prone so you get used to the feel.
no fins, so you are using edges more and posiitoning.
Let the board find lines rather than trying to ‘rip’
It takes time to master. In one of Tom Wegener’s pieces he describes these boards as being difficult. There are gifted folks who can ride them straight-up. For most people, a lot of time needs to be put in. Think in terms of learning all over again.
Bob
Put some fins on it.
Hahaha…
I’m also curious about how to ride these things. I’m currently in the process of trying to build a close replica of the one you posted above. I beefed up the thickness a little to 2.75". The other dimensions are close to the 6’ 2" version. I’m 210 pounds, so I think I need some extra buoyancy.
http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/seal-ass-project
It’s all shaped and glassed. I just need to wait for the weather to warm up, so that I can apply the final hot coat.
thanks Gill !
good to hear from you , and that you are getting yours wired ! good on you , mate !!
you confirmed what I was thinking...
lower , wider stance [like how I ride my fishes]
Yes , I DID bellyboard a coupla [fast lefts] ones today , just to get the feel of the rails bite.
Gill, how many waves do you estimate you rode , before you were able to stand up and go across , successfully ?
Well , so far ...the biggest thing I noticed today was getting the takeoff angle and the weighting [where to stand / where to apply pressure , when paddling] 'right '
these epoxy ones have PLENTY of float . They are very thick , have almost square[ish] thick and hard, rails [to your chest , nearly ]. They also have a decent depth and length of concave .
The challenge today was to not takeoff TOO sideways , and to get down the face a bit , before jumping to my feet , because we had about a twenty knot offshore blowing this morning , so that kept it interesting ....
I hope Ross and Nathan [workers in the longboard shop] get these wired eventually , as I'd like to get some footage / photos of it being ridden well. There is a guy here [in Cottesloe, actually] who rips on these things , so I hope I can catch up with HIM one day , and pick his brain a bit !
" the alaia will be suited to longer lined waves where you can draw longer lines"
...yes ... that's what I figured , too, thanks for that , bgreen ! you make some good other points too, thanks for your feedback .
Gill , YOU have the waves for them , for sure ... is there any chance that YOU could get someone to film you riding it , please ??
oh , also...
p.s. - the thing I don't really get is ...WHY have the tail wider than the nose , and why so THICK ?? [Seems to me it would hold in better as almost a double ended shape ]
cheers !
ben
WHY have the tail wider than the nose , and why so THICK ??
It could be thinner; the tail has corners as they are like your fins. This at least, is the principle for paipo.
Bob
WHY have the tail wider than the nose , and why so THICK ??
It could be thinner; the tail has corners as they are like your fins. This at least, is the principle for paipo.
Bob
hi Bob !
yes , I guess that works well when we are lying down. Standing up , I guess the leverage and weight distribution through turns is a little different , eh ? so I'm thinking I would like maybe a pulled in rounded square for a tail to turn off , standing . And a thinner tail to be able to sink it , if and when I get to do a bottom turn [?] on an alaia one day .
And a pintail might be nice for hollow waves , like today's ...
Hello Ben,
Whether standing or prone the inside edge and the corners are going to be essential to control. The best thing is that you don’t need to accept this but can test this out. Lot’s of fun trying.
You might find this of some interest: http://wegenersfinlessfrontier.blogspot.com/2009/11/tips-for-alaia-riding.html
It’s interesting to see the types of lines people draw on alaia. The glide rather than the slash.
regards
Bob
In response to your question Chip, I was standing up on it first session. The syrf was perfect for it - about 2 feet, a nice clean little peak peeling left and right and only three of us out. Initially I was standing in the water waist deep waiting for the waves and I would push myself into them and jump to my feet (I found this easier at first - then after a few I was able to paddle into them). Successfully rode about 7 or 8 waves in that first session, just trimming across the waves both forehand and backhand. The next day was the same conditions, again rode a few then fell awkwardly and landed ass first in the middle of the board and snapped it from nose to tail. I have used the leftover pieces of the board for fins, however two weeks ago I ran a “Alaia making day” at school on the weekend and made myself a new one. But since then the surf has been onsore slop. But there’s now four of us in Evans Head that are hanging for a nice clean day to give our new ironing boards a run.
mate you're a natural . I am an ironing board newbie / kook ....and so I bow at your feet
This morning , I could feel the tail slide out as i paddled sideways / 45 degrees into waves , and by the time I got my [slow] self to my feet , the majority of the time the nose was already above the tail . Ummm... fast waves need fast takeoffs , I think ?! [hahaha.... obviously !]
thanks heaps for the link , bob !
very helpful indeed !
if i ride it again tonight or tomorrow , "stand further back" will be in my mind !!
cheers !
ben
Ben,
No worries. I haven’t seen it but Dan Malloy is reported to have written an article: How To Ride An Alaia Board? - Surfing, May 2008.
For some alternative takes - note rather than a bottom turn they are cutting across the face:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3du0vEJM5yY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QhTFONJTCU&feature=related
Gill’s territory would be good to try an alaia. Next year will be the first I haven’t been there at Easter for many years. Have been doing trips there since the 70s/80s.
Bob
....good stuff , cheers !!
I wonder how many others here at sways ride alaias eh ?
how about YOU , 'Proneman ' ??
cheers
ben
[quote="$1"]
....good stuff , cheers !!
I wonder how many others here at sways ride alaias eh ?
how about YOU , 'Proneman ' ??
cheers
ben
[/quote]
Ben: I took the XPS alaia that I just finished out yesterday, and had exactly the same issues that you described above. Mine has the same basic dimensions as the 6'2" Tuna model, but it is a little thicker (2.75"). I took a lot of abuse (from the waves and the locals), but I could see the potential for fun in riding this type of board. This is my new personal challenge. I am determined to stand up on this thing!
good on you mate
let us know when you get it wired eh ?
cheers
ben