Aliaia's were born in pre 20th century in Hawaii. They were ridden by the different tribes in the day not just for pleasure but the Hawaiian people integrated surfing into their culture and made surfing more of an art than anything else. They referred to this art as heʻe nalu which translates into English as “wave sliding.. There were three primary shapes: the ʻOlo, the Kikoʻo, and the Alaia. The ʻOlo is thick in the middle and gradually gets thinner towards the edges. The Kikoʻo ranges in length from 12–18 feet (3.7–5.5 m) and requires great skill to maneuver. The Alaia board is around 9 feet (2.7 m) long and requires great skill to ride and master. Aside from the preparatory stages prior to entering the water, the most skilled surfers were often of the upper class including chiefs and warriors that surfed amongst the best waves on the island. The Alaia was the most ridden board, as it was easier to maneuver and was better for riding steaper curling waves. La-La is the Hawaiian word describing the action of riding an Alaia surfboard. La-La is an ancient word found in the Hawaiian dictionary meaning ‘the controlled slide in the curl when surfing on a board.The Alaia is the root and the future of surfing........
I first got introduced to the world of the Alaia when I was working for Rip Curl Canada in Vancouver. When I heard about Alaia's my ears stood straight. I was immediatly drawn to them and found out enough about them to make my first Pcock Alaia.
I made the board from Canadian pine and shaped it to my best knowledge at the time. I surfed it through Canada and the California coast changing the rails, tail and playing with channels. I worked and experimented with the board until it was a tooth pick, then started again.
I then started making Alaia's with Paulowia wood, working with length, rails, flex, width, shape and style. With working and experimenting with the boards with a open mind, I have come up with several designes that works so well and can custom make the boards for different people and conditions.
One of the biggest and best things about Pcock Alaia's is that they are green, made from farm harvest and made with the most old school techniques.
Alaia's can last forever and can be changed. If you dont like the rails, change them. If you dont like the tail, change it. Re oil it now and again and you will have your Pcock forever.
Surfing-
The surfing style of the Alaia is so beautiful and spiritual, it blows my mind. Alaia's allow you to slow down and enjoy everything around you when riding, with nice long carves, faster speed formed with the board having no rocker and drag, you're more in contact with the wave with you're hands and its just so peaceful, its beautiful.
Like everything it takes time and energy to get used to the Alaia style. Alaia's are harder to paddle not having the buoyancy of foam boards. So start paddling for the wave earlier and get the pressure under the board. Use the rails, dig them into the wave for they are your fins. Stay low to keep your centre of gravity down and grab the outside rails on turns and pull it up digging the inside rail in more. Take your time with your Alaia, dont give up. Its not easy but once you are one with your stick, you wont put it down. With alaia's you can beat the crowds because you can sit differently on the lineups than standard boards. Also can cruise through the kelp beds and not get caught up.
I have made and surfed all types and sizes of Alaia's. I have learnt that you can build a basic Alaia out of any wood and surf it. To fully build an Alaia that will suit you, the surf conditions and to get the board to do what you want it to do... Well thats another story.
So come and enjoy riding Alaia's and blow your mind away in the most peaceful way.
Rock The Pcock....Alaia's for sale
Woods - There are different types of wood I have used,
Paulownia is far by the best -( its light weight, water resistant, great flex and strength) Can be oiled.
Obeche - ( is a bit heavier then paulownia, has good flex, strong but not so water resistant) Can be oiled or sealed.
Clear Pine-( light, brital, flex not bad, water resistancy is not so good) Can be sealed.
Sealers- I use linseed oil and sealer for
certain woods and use with art work.
Boards-
Pcock Hand Boards -
Hand Boards for body surfing, ables you to go alot faster, further and hit parts of the wave you usually cant reach.
Pcock Belly Boards - 3'ft.Belly board for fun, fast riding pleasure laying down. They are really fast and so much fun!!!
Pcock Parabolic Boards - 5'11, 6'4, 6'8ft.
Pcock Traditional Style Boards- 5'11, 6'4, 6'8ft.
Traditional is beautiful, I'm really proud of this shape. Its great for cruising those long breaks with nice smooth turn and so much speed. Great for picking up speed on the inside and then shooting out to the shoulder. Grab the rail and then with a nice smooth turn, cut back. These boards are so smooth and cruisy. You will come out with a smile on your face for sure.Pcock Longboards Traditional style- 7-9ft.
These boards are perfect for small days and long mellow rides. With these boards not having rocker and having nice flex, this will allow you to catch the wave earlier. When paddling for a wave the board will actually reverse rocker allowing the wave to grab the board. This lets you onto the wave earlier, giving you alot more speed being that the wave is the fastest before it breaks. Catch the wave earlier, go alot faster and go twice as far as a standard long board. Also cruise through those kelp beds.
Working with the same construction as the traditional standard shape Alaia, but with foam gut and wood external. For getting the same Alaia vibe but with the paddling ability of a standard surfboard. Beautiful boards, see vid!
Pricing-
Board pricing will differ between size, art, wood, number of boards and leash plugs. Quotes can be given on request. Tell me what your size is, the waves you will ride, the style of riding and the board you want (board, length, wood, leash plug, art)??????
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| First Marijuana Alaia. |
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