Here’s a short movie by Barry Mottershead showing the handcrafting of an Alaia board from Paulownia wood. You’ll usually find Barry crashing around on huge Irish waves, so here’s some more mellow radness. Music by Siskiyou – Twigs and Stones.
This is the final chapter in Tom Wegener’s journey into finless, paulownia board design. A journey which began back in 2005 and which took Tom across continents and borders of surf board design. Photos: Dane Peterson.
Paulownia is arguably the best and currently the most popular wood for alaias and paipos, but here in Europe it’s difficult to source and expensive.
FULL STORY »
Last week I had a visit, as they passed through Melbourne on a board-delivery errand to the Victorian coast, from Paul and Sage Joske… Father and son, teacher and pupil, friends.
One of the most amazing bonuses of making these boards is that I get to meet (sometimes virtually, over email) the most incredible people, each of them stoked on life and the rush they get from surfing.
FULL STORY »
Underneath the Golden Gate Bridge
A nostalgic glance back at San Francisco surfer Jimmy Holt
Mentawai Dreaming
Mark Sankey and Alexa Poppe uncover the isolation and challenges of the Mentawai Islands, and consider the challenge of balancing tourism and sustainability.
The life of Jai
Jai Lee's personal struggles and addiction to noseriding have twisted his creativity
El Mar, Mi Alma
A visual love song to the surf blessed land of Chile.
Be Breizh!
Mark Sankey and Alexa Poppe explore the underrated delights that Brittany has to offer.
Taiwan untouched
Neil Armstrong gives us a taste of what to expect.
Pismo Beach. For better or worse
Dan Hamlin and Jeff Pfost contribute a photo essay on Kelly Slater's worst wave.
Tyler Warren Experiments
Tyler Warren pilots a steady course through the hype.
Castles made of sand
Sam Widdows swaps London for Nicaragua, and finds an entirely different tube ride.
Dont Jump Off the Pier
A brief history of surfing in the north-east of England.
Forty Bonzer Years
Malcolm Campbell lists fourty notable things to represent the forty years of the Bonzer.
Mission: possible
Portugal explodes onto the global big wave circuit.
