Gypset Lifestyle ~ Alaia Surfboards

The gypsetter of today wears many hats.  They are people with a creative edge such as artists, writers, designers and especially surfers. Just as artists seek inspiration in their surroundings, surfers seek out the best breaks in all corners of the world and more often then not, find interesting ways of getting there.

Their board is their travel partner and comrade. It skims across the water, catching killer waves of which many of us can only dream. While the lifestyle of “gypsetting” has recently become more popular, so has the rebirth of the antique surfboard known as the alaia.

The alaia, pronounced “ah-LIE-ah,” is an ancient Hawaiian board that until recently was found only in museums and private collections. Within the last five years, these boards have been making a comeback among surfers of all abilities. Alaia boards are replicas of the thin, round-nosed, and squared-tailed boards that were ridden in pre-20^th century Hawaii.

Unlike their modern-day cousins, the alaia boards do not have fins or leashes. In early Hawaiian surf culture, these boards were made of Koa wood and weighed up to 100 pounds. Today they are made from Paulownia, pine, cedar, and even plywood. Because these boards are only 18 inches wide and 1 inch thick, most shapers make them between 6-8 feet long. This allows for better maneuverability on the water.

Modern day surfer using an alaia board Photo by 310 Project

Surfers enjoy the fin-free feeling of the alaia, which ancient Hawaiians call “lala.” The true definition of “lala” is a controlled slide, in and around the pocket of the wave.  Choosing an alaia board is also a more environmentally conscious decision. Alaias are cheaper and easier to make than other board, and they use fewer synthetic materials.

19th century Hawaiian surfer with an alaia board Photo by Journal of Polynesian Society

I personally surf on an Angulo long board, as well as my father’s board that my mother had shaped for him in the 1960s. However, after learning more about these boards, trying one is definitely on my list. How about you?

If you are interested in learning more about these boards, here are two retailers that shape and sell Alaia’s, Mollusk Surf Shop and Thalia Street Surf Shop.