I started shopping around to buy one, but once I realized how accessible they were to shape, I had to try it… I immediately stocked up on tools and materials and shaped my first alaia! My bubble burst in an instant when I snapped it the first session because the article I read online didn’t specify that I needed “waterproof” wood glue.
Tom Wegener re-introduced the ancient alaia surfboard in 2004 and they have rapidly become a staple board in surfers’ quivers around the world. What is it about these simple planks of wood that fascinate a community that seems so fixated on progression? Is it the speed they maintain as they glide across the face of a wave? Is it their historical significance, their reduced environmental impact, or the fact that just about anyone can shape them in their own backyard? Whatever it is that is causing these wooden ironing boards to grow in popularity, it can be measured in the smiles of the surfers riding them.Īlaia surfboards first appealed to me because they looked fun to ride and seemed like an opportunity to explore a new dimension in surfing.
