Free CAD programs for surfboard design

For my alaia outline I was looking for a free software solution instead of using some commercial DTP software like InDesign.

The one I used for my alaia is AkuShaper which I came across while reading some articles on Swaylocks. It's free (there's a commercial pro version, too), java based and really easy to learn. As I just needed it for the outline, I didn't get too much into the two other views needed for real 3D modelling.

The other one I came across is BoardCAD. Also free, also Java based. The screenshots look pretty similar to AkuShaper, however I didn't install it as it seems AkuShaper is the first choice.

Hand-planes

Now that everyone is making his own alaia aka "now my fence wants to surf", these guys are doing some beautiful hand-planes for bodysurfing:

http://hand-plane.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

Weisbecker Surf Movie "Water Time"

Seems like Weisbecker's has been doing his Montauk to Costa Rica trip again, now with a camera and producing a documentary. While his book "In the search of captain zero" was a classic, his latest book was quite a hard read...

We'll see what the movie brings. First glimpse seems interesting:

Original alaia footage

Doing further research for my alaia project I stumbled across the following footage about early surfing in Waikiki. Includes some scenes with alaias and olos and the occasional "surfing dog".

http://www.hawaiibc.com/media/Waikiki1.mov

Nice article on how to simply build your own alaia

http://www.thesurfboardman.com/how-to-build-an-alaia/

Free surf video for download: Reef presents Cancer to the Capricorn

It seems like fashion labels spend more and more money on creating vidoes and providing them as free giveaways.

Checkout the latest one by Reef here:

http://www.surfline.com/video/video_player/promo-player.cfm?id=44275

Featuring Mick Fanning, Rob Machado and more.

Good music, amazing shots and most importantly: free!

And hey, dont't forget to buy some Reef stuff next time you visit a fashion surf shop...

Surf Sufficient - Great DIY surf videos

Check out these great Do It Yourself videos by Surf Suffienct showing e.g. how to build surfboard shaping blocks or your own canvas boardbag.

http://vimeo.com/videos/search:surf%20sufficient/8b44a009/page:3/sort:relevant/format:thumbnail

Do you Humu 2.0?

Besides of Adam Colton's almost famous youtube video "Do you Humu?" I found another impressing short flick showing some amazing stuff that can be done with a mini skateboard.

Check it out:

Humu! from Billy Meiners on Vimeo.

The Art and Design of Erik Abel

The current issue of TIDE features artist Erik Abel.
Check out his website for more ocean inspired work or an interview on "Club of the Waves" with additional information on his cooperations with Billabong and Oxbow Artworks.

New DIY skateboard with Bennett trucks and Flashback wheels

Finally I finished a longer version of the Sector 9 Superfish with a slightly modified tail. Equipped with Bennett Vector 6.0" trucks and ABEC 11 70's Flashback 78a wheels, it's a perfect setup for street cruising and puming.

The trucks and wheels had been mounted on my Superfish replica before, however turns were quite sharp. With the increased wheel base of this board, carving is far more easy.

Again the board is made of 9 ply birch and has been finished with lineseed oil (which smelled for about two weeks...). Additionally, I applied a new logo by using a stencil and acrylic paint.