HOW TO SHAPE AN ALAIA SURFBOARD IN A NUTSHELL
Step 1 - Glue the blank. Obviously if you purchase a pre-glued blank you can skip this step but you can purchase a
DIY Alaia kit from us or source your own recycled timber and glue those together.
Step 2 - Cut the outline. There are a multitude of different shapes you can choose for your Alaia and you can modify any to suit your personal preference or style. We provide a range of templates with our instruction manual which is included free of charge with any blank purchase.
Step 3 - Plane it. 
Use a block plane (and electric hand planer if available) to shape your board. For optimum flex and to reduce weight, try to maintain about half an inch throughout entire centre and start tapering down to a quarter inch along the rails. Down-turned rails along the back two-thirds and up-turned rails along the front third are desirable, but don’t be afraid to get weird! Remember to stop periodically to calibrate your block plane. If there is a bow in your blank, this can work to your advantage, just make sure the center of the deck is bowed up with the rails pointing down.
Step 4 - Sand it. 
A belt sander is ideal, but an orbital sander will to the trick. Start with rough grit and finish with fine grit. Avoid sanding the rails and nose of the board with electric sanders so you don’t mess them up… Give these areas some love and sand them by hand.
Step 5 - Put designs on it. 
Our favourite step! Get creative and decorate your Alaia for the surf or the wall. You can purchase a soldering iron kit pretty cheaply and let your creative juices flow!
Step 6 - Oil it. 
Using lanolin or linseed oil coat your board to keep it protected and looking good.
Step 7 - Ride it. 
This absolutely is the most challenging part, but waist high waves have never been more fun! It helps to do some research on techniques and wave selection, but with a little humility and patience you’ll experience a new dimension in surfing… and you’ll likely be in the best paddling shape of your life.
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Use a block plane (and electric hand planer if available) to shape your board. For optimum flex and to reduce weight, try to maintain about half an inch throughout entire centre and start tapering down to a quarter inch along the rails. Down-turned rails along the back two-thirds and up-turned rails along the front third are desirable, but don’t be afraid to get weird! Remember to stop periodically to calibrate your block plane. If there is a bow in your blank, this can work to your advantage, just make sure the center of the deck is bowed up with the rails pointing down. Step 4 - Sand it. 
A belt sander is ideal, but an orbital sander will to the trick. Start with rough grit and finish with fine grit. Avoid sanding the rails and nose of the board with electric sanders so you don’t mess them up… Give these areas some love and sand them by hand. Step 5 - Put designs on it. 
Our favourite step! Get creative and decorate your Alaia for the surf or the wall. You can purchase a soldering iron kit pretty cheaply and let your creative juices flow! Step 6 - Oil it. 
Using lanolin or linseed oil coat your board to keep it protected and looking good. Step 7 - Ride it. 
This absolutely is the most challenging part, but waist high waves have never been more fun! It helps to do some research on techniques and wave selection, but with a little humility and patience you’ll experience a new dimension in surfing… and you’ll likely be in the best paddling shape of your life.