st surf images

The Vector is the interesting new design to come out of the creative mind of Valla shaper Sage Joske.
Sage has been surfing and shaping the “Alaia’s” (flat timber finless boards) for a few years now and is taken with the alive, friction free feeling of these ancient Hawaiian designs. He is also an incredible surfer and shaper of traditional and progressive fish style surfboards. So what he has done with the Vector was to cross a Steve Lis inspired twin keel fish with the ancient Hawaiian Alaia board.
The outline shape looks like an Alaia, it has the ultra thin square edged rails with flat bottom. A deep swallowtail and the rocker is where the fish design elements are brought forward. It’s also got very tiny keel fins (only or so inch high)

Brett Caller about to whip that Vector into a high speed 360 spinner

I’ve watched the 3 Valla team riders on these things over the past 4-5 months and it is some of the most exciting surfing I’ve seen lately. Their dynamic 360 spinners in the face of the waves and through floater sections look crazy!
It’s a totally new way of surfing and these guys are only just learning what the Vector is capable of.

Jack Lynch loves his new Vector, here he is riding the original prototype at the Pass in Byron Bay.

There has been a strong surge in the interest of riding the Alaia’s in recent years, especially since Thomas Campbell latest film “the present” came out. Surfers around the world are getting hooked on the different wave riding feeling that these finless boards provide, however they are so incredibly hard to ride, especially for the average surfer, and this is why the Vector is such a winner, it give a similar feeling to the riding of the Alaia but it is much easier to ride. Been made out of foam and fibreglass makes the board so much more buoyant, which makes it much easier to paddle out and get on to waves. I surfed the prototype at a hollow beach break and found it much easier than I anticipated. The first few waves I got felt incredible, I couldn’t stop hooting the whole way in. It felt fast, slippery and alive, so much different to riding mainstream boards. Are they more challenging? You bet they are. Will you be able to rip vertical re-entries with ease? I don’t think so Jim. Could they be a fresh change in surfing that your looking for? Ohhh yeah!

SUMMING IT UP
This board is obviously not for everyone; only surfers with an open mind need to look any further than here. But if you are into experiencing different feelings on a wave or have been tempted or even tried the Alaia boards then this little puppy is worth investigating.

To get more info contact Valla surfboards / email: sage@vallasurfboards.com.au
Or CLICK HERE visit their daily blog to keep up with all their creations

Sage at work with resin tints on Vector that is heading for the Patagonia shop in Torquay

Below is a little video interview that was made recently at the “Alley fish fry” on the gold coast. It has Sage talking about how the Vector came about.