Re: Building a plywood paipo in the middle of nowhere in Ind
Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 4:25 pm
First time I a chance to read through this great thread. Funny too that I just ate some leftover jerk chicken with rice & peas yesterday after coming back from a paipo surf session. I use the equivalent of 12mm thick ply for most of my paipos, and they work great. 9mm or 3/8 is lighter and more flexible, but it's too flimsy for me. Even with the small difference in thickness, I find the 1/2" wood more comfortable to grip too. Are you guys issued, or do have your own swim fins? If not, I suggest making the old skool native style ones using cheap canvas shoes with plywood blades fastened to the soles.
Just for kicks, I scanned a couple old photos from my school days showing a kid named Brad riding his ply "paipo". He said it was a purpose built paipo, but it could very well have been a piece of driftwood. Dead flat, crude shape, unfinished; with the edges all coming apart. He surfed anything & everything with that board and 1 duck foot fin, and he did alright. Shows you don't need much to get some good rides. Good luck over there.
Just for kicks, I scanned a couple old photos from my school days showing a kid named Brad riding his ply "paipo". He said it was a purpose built paipo, but it could very well have been a piece of driftwood. Dead flat, crude shape, unfinished; with the edges all coming apart. He surfed anything & everything with that board and 1 duck foot fin, and he did alright. Shows you don't need much to get some good rides. Good luck over there.