Most surfers will never shape a surfboard. Of those who do, most will not shape an alaia. And of those who shape an alaia, most will never be very good on one. That’s because alaias are extremely difficult to surf.
The original versions, built by the ancient Hawaiians, usually measured between 7 and 12 feet long. Made from either koa or wiliwili trees, they weighed up to 100 pounds. Finless and rockerless, users rely on the rails and the wave itself.
A few years ago, alaias enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, but because they’re just so damned hard to ride, it died out. For those who figured them out, it was a game-changer. “There is no better feeling than the minimal control, minimal resistance ride of the alaia,” says Noa Ginella, the man in the video above.
