French Surfer Uses SUP To Catch Big Waves On Alaia

HOSSEGOR, France - French surfer, Fred Compagnon, recently used his love for stand up paddle boarding to solve a little problem he'd been having with the alaia - catching big waves. For anyone unfamiliar with alaias, they are the wooden, finless boards ridden by Polynesian surfers in the 19th century. If you've ever had the opportunity to try one out, you'll know how difficult they are to ride and how quickly the fly across the water once you get going. Their lack of buoyancy and shape make it difficult to paddle, though, which is the hurdle Compagnon found himself wanting to get over.

The Solution: By strapping himself into his alaia, he was able to stand up on a SUP and get himself into some pretty meaty waves in his backyard. As you can see by the video, it's working out quite well for him.