It’s been almost exactly two years since New Zealand-based ‘maker’ Mike Grobelny first set out to make an alaia and over a year since he posted his accomplishment in an extremely thorough time-lapse video, but it’s worth a belated post because the project is as relevant as ever. Not to mention the fact that it’s pretty awesome.
The surfboard (and culture of surfing) represents conflict between industry and the environment. The physical act, and the culture of surfing, provides an intimate connection with nature and natural forces. It is this emotional and physical engagement with nature that makes the surfing experience powerful and enriching for many people. In direct contrast to this natural experience is the use of toxic materials in the manufacture of surfboards, with negative impacts for both board manufacturers and the natural environment. These toxic synthetic materials provide a high level of performance, which most surfers are looking for and is not easily achieved using natural materials.
The combined aesthetic of the surfboards beautiful form and natural materials, moves the surfboard from a relatively short-lived disposable sport product to a treasured artifact, increasing its inherent value and challenging the disposable mentality prevailing in current surf-culture.
I can’t speak to the ins-and-outs of surfing—much less their fabrication by hand—which is precisely why we appreciate Grobelny’s painstaking documentation. It’s not quite an Instructable, but credit to the Aucklander for putting the video together:
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