Paipo Glide bellyboards alaias + paipos

Bellyboard - new shape

2012-02-22T14:05:00.002-08:00

Welsh Paipo action!

2012-01-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

gliding paipo

shredding!

Some great shots by Keith Usher of Leigh Evans on his new Paipo Glide paipo fish...

Classic Paipo stance by Leigh Evans

2011-12-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

Paipo-licious surf action!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:);)

a nice little surf

2011-12-15T14:26:00.001-08:00

Quiet afternoon at St Agnes

THE "Classic" 4 x 1

2011-12-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

The classic bellyboard!

Paipolicious New Boards!

2011-12-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

More bellys

2011-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

curly balsa

2011-12-15T13:50:00.001-08:00

hand boards and bellyboards

2011-08-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Paipo Glide hand planes

2011-07-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

I've started making hand planes...

laser printing by pogofandango

2011-06-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

So stoked with the laser printing on the bellyboards done by Emma West of Pogofandango

more paipo fish feedback

2011-06-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

...had a go yesterday on l's board in 3/4ft cross offshore wedging peaks, So though i would try to give some feedback.

I had no problem with rocker on the board and took off with no nose diving from the first wave.

It was very fast compared to my bodyboard, I could feel it planing higher on the water surface and that the stiffness over a bodyboard helped this.

As a test I took of far to late on a barreling wedge and it held great on the steep wave face and blasted me out of a barrel i dont think I would have made as easily on my body board.

I managed an air roll on one wave, it drove to the lip and held its speed and projected into the air more than i think my bodyboard would have done on that wave.

I did however have trouble turning it in anyway, I found it just wanted to go like a rocked in a straight line.

I would be interested how you decided on the shape, to me it looks like the front half of a 6ft surfboard, where if you look at a bodyboard it more like the middle 3rd. I would really like to try one that was in the shape of a bodyboard and had much smaller fins, If you doing one with fcs boxes i found these fins that would give you to different size options http://store.magicseaweed.com/FCS-B5-Quad/Item/1509/

Is the new board l is getting more in that direction?

I really enjoyed riding the board and would like one in my quiver, problem is I can see myself wanting to ride a body board 95% of the time, so it hard for me to justify a board the price of 2 new bodyboards that would not get used much, hopefully your foam boards may come more in my future price range.

Nice shot of Paipo Glide fish in action!

2011-06-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Andy I got so Barreled just after the below pic was taken simply because the control and speed of the board allowed me so much time! Legend! :-)

Tulip Wood Hand Plane

2011-06-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

balsa paipo fish

2011-04-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Leash Plugs for your paipo and alaia

2011-04-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

The original Paipo Glide Wood Leash plugs...

Contact me for more info - andy@paipoglide.com

Cornwall today!

2011-03-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

The boards get a mention in Cornwall Today - Surf Spot of the Month - Falmouth! Article by Mike Newman. April Issue Page 154.

More Balsa and Bellyboard pics

2011-03-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

Eden Balsa bellyboard

2011-03-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Turning a bit of leftover stock of Eden Project balsa into a bellyboard - to be glassed.

New Bellyboard shape

2011-03-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

been working on the wave glider nose and bringing in the tail a bit

Paipo Glide Wave Sliders

2010-12-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

Paipo Glide bellyboards at Freeriders

2010-10-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

Stoked that Paipo Glide bellyboards are now available at Freeriders in Falmouth. Drop by and buy, order or just feel!
http://www.freeridersonline.co.uk/

Review - Paipo Glide Balsa Fish

2010-09-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

So stoked with this review...

"It is with great pleasure that I write this review from a surfer's perspective, upon what is a combination of new innovations and old idea's, which when added together gave this old surfer an almost new and definately unique surfing surfing experience. What am I talking about?
Well I am a surfer of near 30yrs experience of ridden every type of longboard/shortboard/bodyboard/bellyboard/handboard/Macdonalds Tray and piece's of wood pulled off the side of derelict buildings. I am at my most euphoric when getting long fast barrel's. Whilst researching ecofriendly boards on the internet a few months back, I was lucky enough to find the website for Paipo Glide boards and I was astounded by what I saw and read.
Firstly by the sheer unadulterated natural beauty of these boards, secondly by the sound eco friendly principals used in material selection and construction of these amazing creations (a sound principle that has been sadly lacking in board construction for too many year's) and thirdly by the combination of modern and traditional constructional idea's, some coming from stand up board's and some coming from prone board's! I immediately thought this could and indeed this should work!Though most of my surfing crew were doubt full when I asked for their opinion.
Whilst recently attending the immensely eccentric and great fun World Belly Board Championships, my heart almost skipped a beat when I finally got to witness the beauty of the Paipo Glide board's first hand, looking more like the natural evolution of beach side tree's, rather than something created by hand. Upon introducing myself to Andy Bick the creator of these fine looking innovative boards, I discovered not only a craftsman with a rare degree of humility but also someone with a profound love of his craft and a deep ingrained understanding of surf and board dynamics.
Andy graciously allowed me to take one of his board's (a hollow balsa twin fin Paipo fish tail) for a surf and I cannot begin to iterate my surprise and joy at it's performance. I was riding it in fast barrelling three to four foot surf that was starting to go a bit wedgey and wild, I was initially shocked by it's speed and when I pushed it to try to gain more speed it accelerated faster than a speeding barrel, I then put the brakes on and got deep into the barrel and just sat there in perfect control until the barrel admitted it's defeat to this board, when I wanted to change direction I barely had to insinuate direction and the board bounded that direction feeling almost keen to please and turn the direction I wanted and how I wanted. In short this board was like riding an exited dolphin that adored me. The only limiting factor I could find about it was purely my skill. No matter what you ride the beauty and innovation of these boards must be seen to be believed and please do not be little yourselves by commenting on these boards until you have gifted yourself with at least a trial run. Earlier I stated that upon meeting Andy I new I had met a craftsman, well after riding his boards I realise he is a master crafts man. You can view these magnificent beasts at www.paipoglide.com "
R.L.Evans(RN)

r/h board=paipo fish

Paipo Glide bellyboards

2010-09-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at making a classic cornish bellyboard on Friday, sourced some wood on Satuday and made 3 bellyboards to take to the world championships on Sunday. 2 of them ended up as prizes with one going to the eventual World Bellyboard Champion - Jack Johns. I'm keeping the third for myself! So I'm going to continue making these little beauties - order them from the main site www.paipoglide.com

...like riding a dolphin!

2010-09-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

solid paipo fish on left

Leigh came all the way from Swansea to take part in the World Bellyboarding championships held at Chapel Porth on Sunday - (and to try my balsa paipo fish!). After his heat we managed to get out into some epic waves, Leigh on the fish and me on one of my fish tail solid paipos. what a session! we could not take the smiles off our faces, Leigh because he was riding "the best surfboard I've ridden in 31 years on surfing", and I because my new board was absolutely shredding the waves! - if you want to stay young learn to surf, I was like a kid again - these boards are so much fun!!! I did hold me breath when I saw Leigh catch one wave and start heading into a cave but it was all good. It was so good to be riding with someone who was totally into my boards - "riding this board Andy", said Leigh, "Its like riding a dolphin!!" what a day! what pleasure!

World Bellyboard Championships 05/09/2010 - Win a Paipo Glide Bellyboard

2010-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sam Boex wins a Paipo Glide board for the "Most Radical Move" at WBBC09

Try a Paipo Glide surfboard at the World Bellyboard Championships 05/09/2010

2010-08-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

stop by the Paipo Glide stand at the World Bellyboard Championships 2010

what's in a paipo?

2010-08-23T11:57:00.000-07:00


paipo skins!

message 23/08

2010-08-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hi - thanks for the message. It is sad that the paipo is so overlooked as a surf craft. My boards are so much more fun than the boogies and they work better too - and they bring smiles to the lineout!!
the solid boards I am making sometimes have a belly scoop - although its not always planned - the wood sometimes warps that way so thats the way it stays! I know Paul's HPD boards have a scoop.

The hollow boards do not have a belly scoop but I am sometimes able to bend a single concave in the bottom - the board being ridden (on my website) is a hollow balsa paipo - the one attached is its brother and is called "Aloha". These hollow boards take such a long time to make - which is why I am now trying to make some "bio-foam" paipo fish.

Good luck!
Andy

Paulownia Paipo!

2010-08-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Starting to make a range of Paulownia boards - keep a look out for some hollow paipo fish!

8th World Bellyboarding Championships - Chapel Porth 05/09/2010

2010-08-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Some more bellyboard prizes

To enter go to www.bellyboarding.co.uk

Bellyboard prize for WBBC2010

2010-07-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

Started making one of the prizes for the World Belly Boarding Championships at Chapel Porth..

Paipo Glide featured in The Surfer's Path magazine

2010-07-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

Paipo Glide Surfboards have been featured in the latest Surfers Path - Issue 79 July/August 2010. Article by Mark Sankey, photos by Mike Newman at Ocean-Image.com

lino wave

2010-06-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkF6hLmZ3qs

excellent little stop animation film by karim rejeb!

Bio Foam Paipo Fish - Frum

2010-05-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Nearly ready for glassing - paipo twin fin fish - FRUM. Inspired by John Frum - leader of the cargo cult based on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. The colour refers to the wreck of a WW2 corsair we used to snorkel around in North Efate.

Paipo Fish Review

2010-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

The first review!!!!!!! Im probably not the best person to be doing this, as I'm by no means an ace body boarder, I just enjoy the ride, but Andy very kindly lent me a Paipo so I think I ought to share what I thought of it.

To start, the pictures just don't do these things justice- they are stunning looking boards. I th...ought this was going to be a tricky ride and would take me a while to get used to it, nope. I found it easier to handle than my foam board that I have been using for the last 5years- it turns very easily, dives with no effort at all, and paddling is a synch because of the tapered nose. When you get your take off right, just hold on because these things go!

A truly awesome day in the water, thanks very much Andy! x

bio foam paipo fish design complete

2010-04-09T01:21:00.000-07:00

After some experimentation - finally arrived at a design for the biofoam paipo fish...

Bio Foam Paipo Fish

2010-03-13T02:57:00.000-08:00

Decided to venture into the world of foam - picked up a biofoam blank from Homeblown...so here goes

11 years from seed to surfboard

2010-03-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me that the balsa wood in this board is from a tree that was a seed 11 years ago - and that the tree is still alive...

Wooden Leash Plugs

2010-03-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

You can now order wooden leash plugs for your wood (or foam) surfboards
contact sales@paipoglide.com

paipo karma5

2010-03-08T04:38:00.001-08:00

paipo karma5
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

Finished - Karma - Balsa Paipo Fish

2010-03-05T07:43:00.001-08:00

Glassed "Karma" Paipo

2010-03-01T08:31:00.001-08:00

"Karma" Paipo leash plug installation

2010-02-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

Into Homeblown today to drop off fins and install leash plug before gloss coat

new website

2010-02-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.paipoglide.com

More Shirts Clothes etc

2010-01-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

New Tee Shirts...

2010-01-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Paipo Fish

2010-01-25T12:33:00.001-08:00

IMG_8491
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

the first sunny day of the year!

Surf hog mention

2010-01-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

Paipo Glide on Surf Hog blog
http://www.surfhog.com/blog/read/578/Eden-Balsa

paipo fish - karma

2010-01-18T14:39:00.001-08:00

IMG_8394
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

setting out lettering for name inlay

paipo fish - karma

2010-01-18T14:35:00.001-08:00

IMG_8391
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

paipo fish karma tail section

IMG_8391

2010-01-18T14:34:00.001-08:00

IMG_8391
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

tail section

IMG_8378

2010-01-18T14:29:00.001-08:00

IMG_8378
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

paipo fish - karma
this is a hollow wood surfboard. the wood is balsa - grown in the eden project biome

IMG_8392

2010-01-18T14:25:00.001-08:00

IMG_8392
Originally uploaded by paipoglide

paipo glide - eden balsa wood hollow paipo twin fin fish

Flickr

2010-01-18T14:23:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Flickr

2010-01-18T14:22:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

aloha paipo

2010-01-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

Hi Rick!

Thanks for your compliments. It's my dream to be able to surf one of my boards in Hawaii! I was raised in Vanuatu and the islands are always my inspiration.

My plywood paipo boards have been selling for £400 GBP ($800 USD). If you can cover my glassing costs ($200) and shipping, I'll make you the first paipo glide board on oahu...

Let me know what you think

Cheers
Andy

Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 13:58:30 -0700
From: ContactUsForm@officelive.com
To: andy@paipoglide.com
Subject: paipo board prices

Aloha Your boards are awsome.I have to see one here in hawaii.do you know anyone on oahu who has one?what are the costs of one? mahalo nui Rick ...oahu Hawaii

paipo info

2010-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your great email!

I love riding the boards that I build. They ride really well and do catch waves easily - I am not a great rider but I can bottom turn and cut back really nicely on the boards. The original paipos were made of solid wood or marine ply virtually neutrally buoyant but really heavy and thin. Making the boards hollow obviously reduces the weight and gives the board buoyancy, it also allows me to keep the boards thin. I originally made them to the thickness specs of a sponge but realized that sponges need that thickness to obtain buoyancy and maintain stiffness - a thinner hollow wood board is just as buoyant. The the way I glue the rocker adds an inner tension to the board which I think adds something to the ride.

"Jack" which is off a b3 template but at 50" is 3 inches longer than the original is 21.5" wide and 1" thick. A hollow wood surfboard does not need to be as thick as a foam or sponge board to achieve comparative buoyancy. my first two boards are way thicker than they need to be because I based then on a sponge thickness.

The Eden Balsa paipo is also off the b3 template but the tail is 2 " narrower probably 1/4 inch thicker than Jack. also with a deep single concave! I have absolutely no idea how it will go but I can't wait to find out. Its being glassed with bio resin but they've had it over a month - i'll get it back dreckly!.
I have enough to build 2 more paipos from this log (I much preferred using the balsa to plywood). The next one will be stained black, I'm also looking at fins.

The shapes are influenced shark forms. I am also influenced by melanesian wood carvings. one of my future boards will be inlaid with mother of pearl. I like the ceremonial/spiritual aspect of building a surfboard - it seems inevitable that some of your soul goes into a board that takes 40+ hours to create.

family tradition (cont.) - Arthur's board

2010-01-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Andy,
I misunderstood your message. I thought you wanted me to contact the magazine. I will tell you what I know about the board so you can pass it on. The inside was made from pine wood planks set out with a centre spine on which were set several cross members shaped like flattened ovals. The outer skin was quarter inch mahogany ply wood and Dad finished it with marine varnish. This proved too slippery to stand on so he painted glue on an area in the centre of the top and sprinkled sand on it.! When the glue was set this proved a 'no-slip' area. He had a nasty accident when he slipped off the board in shallow water and it the sanded part ran up his shins, taking all the skin off. He said there was enough blood in the water to attract sharks from Spain!!.
I think this put him off a bit , because I didn't hear much more about it. I was in Coventry at the time on my apprenticeship with the GEC. I know it was extremely heavy to move about, he made a little trolley to support one end so he could pull it down to the beach from the back of the shop in St pirans road. All the best with the article. You may like to send it to me when you get it done.
All the best for now,
John

family tradition

2010-01-09T15:42:00.001-08:00

I found an article by Chris Hanby of Cornish World magazine from May/June last year. It was about the silver surfers based at St Agnes and mentioned a 14ft plywood surfboard built by an A Westcott in 1955 which was given to the St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club. Apparently they no longer have the board, but I was wondering if you would be able to tell me a bit more about the board and Arthur's boardbuilding?

For the past few years, funnily enough, I have been building hollow plywood bodyboards. I don't know why but I just had a dream that I should start building these things and they have become a bit of an obsession! The boards are a marriage of the traditional Cornish bellyboard and the ancient Hawaiian paipo board.

Before Christmas I was given a 4.5 foot balsa log that had been grown in the Eden Project Tropical Biome - they have been making "Eco" surfboards out of Eden Balsa for a couple of years now but they weren't able to do anything with this log. I have nearly finished shaping the board and am hoping to write an article to about it and would really like to mention Arthur as part of the surfboard building tradition.

Cornish World link:
http://www.cornishworldmagazine.co.uk/content/view/61/99/1/1/

http://paipoglide.com/images/edenbalsa_paipo54.jpg
http://paipoglide.com/images/edenbalsa_paipo43.jpg
website: www.paipoglide.com

My first paipo

2010-01-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

vibe

2010-01-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say what a great site you have set up.
I would like to know a bit more about the boards you have made (size/weight/construction...price?)
Is the nose rocker bent in (heat/moisture/weight method) or laminated in on rocker table by virtue of the top & bottom skin & frame glued construction
I have also been considering building a hollow wooden body/paipo board.
Also the close up of the leash plug. Do you make that yourself (all wood?) it's gorgeous.
I am also curious as how well or otherwise they paddle out through a break & how fast they are on to a wave. This has been my major gripe with std 42" foam bodyboards (or even a bit longer) - when I am 6' & 95kg. I love the 6' thruster idea you have there - is that complete yet? Is it for prone or standup riding?

Many thanks for your email and your interest in my boards and apologies for the lateness of my reply.(My family and I have just returned from a bank holiday stay in London.)

I tend to create some rocker when cutting out the stringer but do add additional rocker when glueing up the deck and bottom using shock/bungee cord. I have snapped a couple of stringers whilst seeking the right curve but it does give the boards tension. I have been working on a six foot thruster for a friend but have overdone the rocker this time and will have to rectify matters today with a hacksaw!

The boards paddle out well and duck dive brilliantly - the reason for the pointed nose is that I have had difficulty paddling out on a blunt nosed foam board in the past. I have achieved some fast rides - the boards perform best in fast steep faced waves fistral/praa sands/perranporth. the board in the main photo was a b3, quite a gnarly day - there were only 3 other riders out that day - I wouldn't have got to the line out on a sponge. The boards work for me - certainly in comparison to the foam bodyboards the ride is more crisp, the board more responsive - its no surprise to me that foam board manufacturers and riders continually try to improve the stiffness of their boards by inserting stringers in the foam.
I also really want to explore what fins might do for the board's speed - I have recently been inspired by George Greenough's Crystal Voyager!

As well as the thruster I am working on an order based on the b3 template which is 124cm long 54cm at wide point and between 2 to 2.5 thickness at the rail weight 3.5 kg. The boards obviously weigh more than an equivalent foam and glass version but most hollow wood board riders/builders describe how their boards feel much lighter in the water and I have also found this to be the case.

I have designed and fashioned the leash plug - I wanted one made of wood to be in keeping with the rest of the board. It is just a turned wood cylinder.

It is quite a lot to take on and because you are using epoxy, can take some time - however the end result is worth it. I would love to not have to glass the exterior and will be looking at traditional ways of preventing water from entering the board.

My orders tend to be between £600 - £700 GBP depending on whether leashes/name inlays are required.

thanks again for your email, if there is anything I can help you with let me know.

Kind regards
Andy Bick

against the grain

2010-01-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

Against pop grain, with ancient flow

« on: August 18, 2007, 11:45:45 AM »

...just want to share info about a site:

www.paipoglide.com

by a gentleman over in Cornwall. This guy knows the essence few understand! Especially, I thought I'd draw your attention to an article he has there, entitled 'Surfing Into Spirituality,' by Bron Taylor.

Dig.

-Zero

Balsa Paipo Trinity

2010-01-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

1 balsa log - 3 paipo boards

Eden Balsa Paipo Glide Twin Fish hollow wood surfboard

2010-01-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

themes

2009-07-16T15:51:00.000-07:00