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pods for primates : a catalogue of surfboards in australia since 1900

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plans and specifications : alaia

1915 - 1938 Solid wood Alaia
- Church Window, Gothic -

The Surf Life Saving Association of Australia : The Australian Surf Life Saving Handbook
           Eigth Edition (Revised 1932)
           JNO, Evans and Son Printing Coy., 486-488 Kent Street Sydney, New South Wales 1938.
           Page 169.

The Surf Life Saving Association of Australia : The Australian Surf Life Saving Handbook
           Tenth Edition (Revised 1938)
           JNO, Evans and Son Printing Coy., 486-488 Kent Street Sydney, New South Wales 1938.
           Page 182.

Notes
1. Pre 1900
A solid native timber Hawaiian traditional board, 5 ft– 12 ft and 13.5 inches to 20 inches wide. Common use; ridden prone, kneeling or standing.
2. 1900 to 1930
A solid timber board similar to 1 above, but made from imported timber (usually Californian redwood), due to theexploitation of the native forests, and thicker, to improve the strength of the coarser grained substitutes. The imported timber was lighter and the added thickness increased the floatation of these boards.
3.1930 to 1950
The classic dimensions and template retained but use of waterproof glues developed in WWI facilitates construction from laminated blanks. The original application of the stringer, this reduced timber cost and weight with a mix of strong and light timbers, e.g. balsa and redwood. More sophisticated construction involved chambering or hollowing out timber sections before laminating together to reduce weight further, possibly influenced by Tom Blake’s Hollow plywood design.. Australian name ‘Church windows’ and mainland USA name ‘Gothic’ circa 1940-50, descriptive of the template.

CATALOGUE ENTRIES

1914 #100
Duke Kahanamoku's
Alaia
8 ft 8"

1917 #175
O. E. Downing
Surf Shooting Board,
Solid Wood, 8ft 5 1/2''

REFERENCE
Snow McAlister :
Sprint Walker, Solid Wood Boards and Victorian Surfing
Tracks Magazine circa 1972