Sunday, December 05, 2010

After building an alaia late last year I entered the water with much hope that a new dawn was about to break for me. Unfortunately the choice of five foot Bells as a first go out meant that the only thing that broke was a Bell's lip, on the back of my head.

More than once to be quite honest.

They are devilishly hard things to catch a wave on, let alone ride, and doubly so as the years creep up. Compounding that has been a last third of the year where injury and lately, lack of surf, has kept me out of the water altogether, and I am clearly not going far in my alternate surfcraft advancement.That being said the little belly alaia I made has been a huge success, and continues to get a run, when the mood strikes.

Rummaging around on this near flat and onshore Sunday morning, waiting for the family to wake up, I came across this gem via Jon Wegener's site... a glorious clip of Rob Machado riding a little peanut alaia at a silky little lefthander. Edited as a bonus to Taylor Steele's Castles in the Sky, it is one of those rare combinations of fine surfing and unexpected music that works beautifully.

Enjoy.

Pic: My efforts, and below, how they should be ridden.


















Alaia & Machado from 360 To Nowhere on Vimeo.

7 comments:

Growling Gecko said...

Excellent little vid and Jeez that guy can ride waves beautifully. You know it is a quality rider when it is a treat to see the grace of the pop let alone anything else.

Billy-joe said...

Machado is the alaia king! Nice quiver too!

Fab said...

Mick, i gave up riding the Alaia, now it`s all about the Tuna, Tom Made an 8' footer that is unreal to ride, check it out on Vimeo.

peterbowes said...

hey mick, how do you waterproof those things - I can remember DH coming out of the water somewhere not quite satisfied with his so he did a quick sand job on the rails, had lunch, and went back out

Mick said...

Pete... various combinations of vinegar, gum turpentine and linseed oil, depending on which coat. I got this via Tom Wegener. Paulownia is very water resistant in its own right to it is a very forgiving, durable combination.

peterbowes said...

wax as usual?

Mick said...

Wax is better Pete. Some guys don't use it and there is a natural tack but it does feel more secure.