How to Shape your Own Alaia Surfboard
Cover image: ©The Inertia / Alessandro Rodrigues
Have you ever wondered what that small, finless, wooden plank with a rounded nose and square tail is? Those odd crafts are called Alaia surfboards. They are not only sustainable, fun to ride, and simple to make, but they are the boards that served as a template for the modern surfboards used today.
The first Alaia boards date back to 400 CE and were used by Hawaiian Royalty as belly boards. Made from Koa Wood, the typical Alaia back then was between six and eight feet long and weighed around 45 pounds.
Its flat shape and finless nature make for super-fast rides down the line and endless fun. Today, Alaia boards are typically made with paulownia wood, but can also be made with cedar, pine, balsa, or redwood.
If you want to make your own it’s simple. Follow these basic instructions and you’ll be riding one of these fun wooden sticks in no time.
Materials
5 – 12 ft Paulownia Wooden Plank
Waterproof wood glue
Mineral Spirits and Boiled Linseed Oil
Tools
Sandpaper of Electric Sander
Handplane
Portable Jigsaw
Saw Horses
Process
Optional Gluing: Gluing is only necessary if you bought multiple thin planks of wood rather than a single, large plank of wood. Glue the stringers and three or more thin wood planks together. Let them dry for a few hours or overnight.
Outline: Draw the classic shape of an Alaia board and cut around the stencil. Make sure to air on the side of caution and always cut outside the line.
Plane the plank by using an electric planer or block to smooth the wood and remove excess. To follow typical dimensions, the center of the board should be around half an inch. Gradually reduce the thickness to a quarter inch along the rails.
Sanding time! Sand the rails first by hand with a fine-grit sandpaper
Oiling time! Create a 50/ 50 mix of linseed oil and mineral spirits and apply three coats to the wood on both sides.
Let the oil dry and you are ready to go try out your new Alaia Board.
Check out what an Alaia Board can do:
How To Shape an Alaia Surfboard
Now that you can shape your own Alaia Surfboard, it’s time to hit the waves. Remember to check out the Jamie O’Brien Surf App here for anytime, anywhere surf coaching.
People Also Read
Did we miss something? Send us a message at hello@jamieobrien.com
