Foiled Concept - Alaias Shaping

[corduroylines]

I spent the afternoon with Gabe Steptoe of Foiled Concept whilst he shaped his Alaias - wood came from the batch that has just landed at Loose Fit.

Any way check out the photos. I can't tell you much about what is going on with the design but I'll get Gabe to come and explain some of it!!! (40 photos in all - sorry got snap happy - I'll put ten in each post!!!)

[corduroylines]

[corduroylines]

[corduroylines]

[mal-nourished]

nice to see it take shape the tail end section looks interesting is that wings i see on the rail section...

[corduroylines]

yeah tail end is very interesting! And yes wings!

[Black]

Great photos - they speak for themselves!

[corduroylines]

just a few more from today:

[corduroylines]

[Foil Shaper]

Well this little project has been fun. Several weeks back I had some mates suggesting that I should be making surfboards or old style polynesian boards, seriously I laughed, and put it that thought to rest. I have been making skateboards and participating in the downhill slalom skateboard racing curcuit. I enjoy working with wood and my inspiration has come from the old style surfboard shapes, and I really like making boards that I rarely see and dream of surfing. I guess the time was right and the Loose-fit shop in Braunton had some Paulownia Blanks shipped in from New Zealand and they were at the right price and I figured I would give it a shot. I modified the template that was provided and worked with the demisions to accomedate my big bones. I pulled out some skateboard templates to use as a guide to sculpt in some contours and got out the french curves to modify the outline for the wingers and the swallow bat tail. Then stepped into my shaping shack and went to work. Worked in a shallow beveled rail, dug out a hydrohull style double barrel concave with a belly in the middle into a convex rolled v in the tail. All these contours are very minor but given the thickness of the blank, digging deeper was not an option. I turned down the rails on the deck and then hand tuned the rails the best i could. Working on the finish for the next several days and it could be about a week before I get this thing in the water. Dimensions 6'10"x16"x5/8">7/8". I will check back for any further questions. Thanks Simon for taking an interest in my reclusive shaping lifestlye and for the really good photos. If you should ever need a pro photo man give him a shout!!!

[smelly skater]

nice board gabe !!!! and pics si make me a board gabe

[kirk]

A progressive alaia? It's a beautiful thing and a great concept, I hope it works as well as it looks like it should!

[royal]

welcome to the forum, and what way to start!

[J L]

nice work chaps, very inspiring

[North Devon Lad]

Looks like you've got some skill there Gabe.

Si - great range of shots there. Looks like your equipment is working well.

So how hard are these to surf?

[new_tangled]

Great job, that things a work of art... awesome photo's too... looking forward to hearing how it performs.