alaias

I like the Anchovy with a Vee bottom, this one 7'6''. Dan Malloy enjoys a 7' Finley.

A 7'6'' is a little harder to make the drop but trim in the pocket at high speeds.

Mike is on a 6'2'' Peanut and about to spin a 360.

All photos by John Smart

Can't slow down, Cloudbreak

Bula Jon and Alex,

Happy to report that the test trials of the Blue Gill at Cloudbreak were completed today with great success. Awoke this morning at 5am, drank coffee, and headed to Cloudbreak for session #1. Surf looked small (headhigh) but perfect and decided to take out the magic sled. As soon as I reached the peak bigger sets started coming in but I was committed! The board performed beautifully even in hollow waves way overhead. My favorite part is the sideslip when you flatten the board out coming up to the lip. The board handles the bottom turns beautifully as long as you stay centered and I was blazing down the line making even the fastest of waves (haven't figured out how to slow it down yet) Hope to have the opportunity to ride it again at Restaurants. Broke my 6'4" on my third wave the first day so I have been riding the Blue Gill and my 6'0" kiteboard (straps off) exclusively.Surfed 3 sessions today with 3 different boatmen. No other surfers on the island today so we had way too many waves. Left the break this afternoon empty with perfect 4-8 ft face waves coming in.

David

Tales from Restaurants

Long time family friend, Dave, ordered the wood veneer deck peanut Bluegill (pictured a couple of posts back). He took it to Tavarua to ride for the first time. Here is his first report.

Bula from Tavarua!
Arrived yesterday on island to fair sized surf. Broke my 6'4" Firewire quad on my third wave a Cloudbreak. Went for a second session at Restaurants low tide on the Bluegill crashed and burned. Handed the board over to one of the boatmen, Mike, from Kailua who slotted the thing perfectly and then Dustin, another boatman, from La Jolla caught probably 12 waves on the Bluegill and came out of the water just smiling ear to ear. Encouraged by their success I woke up at 5:15 this morning, had a cup of coffee, and headed back out to Restaurants where I dialed it in and caught probably 20 of the longest rides of my life riding the board off the front foot down the line and stepping back to stall and turn off the bottom and top. The board is a success! All of the boatmen are clamoring to take turns. Haven't tried it a Cloudbreak yet as the surf came up bigger today.

Many thanks!
David

Gabe's New Shortboard

Gabe wants a shortboard that will float him. He is 6'4'' and not waify, but wants maneuverability. We took the Wegg, a design he likes and mixed it up with the knee boards I have been making. The result is a 6'2'' 24wide and 3'' thick. He wants to be able to tube ride and the ability to have a vertical lip assault, so we shied away from a twin fin. This board will be a 2 plus 1 like the Wegg.

Mr. Peanut 2

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F16053596&h=7d12a

Check this out. Yes, Rob is a better surfer than us, but he can show us what can be done. so get out there.

Another Sunny Day at the River

We are spending Thanksgiving at the river. This movie is from the past summer. Curt, my brother, made this little boat. It was just big enough for a small adult to sit in and a little tough to paddle. I think we will work on another one for next summer. I forgot to give credit to Belle and Sebastion for the music. "Another Sunny Day" is the song title.

Demo Day. Montauck. Hurricane Bill 2009

Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving. We are up in the mountains. These shots were from New York. It was supposed to be a day for people to demo alaias. It is a lot easier to to demo when it is small. I caught some good size waves on the 6'7'' Lightening Bolt board. Unfortunately the waves were breaking so far out I do not think anyone noticed. I had fun though.