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Read these 5 tips from Remi Petersen on how to surf an alaia surfboard

Have you ever wanted to learn how to surf an alaia - the hawaiian wooden surfboard that goes back thousands of years? You won’t regret it if you do!

Here are 5 tips from Remi Petersen to help you transition from surfing the contemporary shortboard to the ultra-fun, ancient yet fresh, alaia surfboard.

1. Make sure you have the right alaia. If you are starting, get one which is about 4-6 inches bigger then yourself and half an inch wider then your average short board. This will help with paddling the alaia which is very different from a paddling a shortboard.
2. Riding an alaia front-side is a lot easier and more fun to start off. You want a wave which starts of slow and runs down the line with out to many sections. This will enable you to get a feeling for how the alaia surfs differently.
3. Don’t force anything. From the take off till the end of your ride, all you want to do is guide the board.
4. Keep a low center of gravity. The weight should be changing from your back to your front foot. When the tail starts sliding, shift it to the front; and when you are taking a late drop or about to pearl, lean back as far as possible.
5. Use the waves wall to grab onto to help you stay in control of the board and allow you to turn with out sliding out.

Remi Petersen out at Supertubes surfing his Alaia. Click here to check out the video.

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