The Best SUP to Alaia Step Off Barrels You’ll See This Week

Most people who’ve paddled out at pumping La Grav in the last few years will recognise this French duo, who regularly frequent the line up on a rather unusual pair of craft.

Most will also attest that, whilst it’s not the most conventional method of getting into waves, it does prove extremely successful and the pair can often be found encased in the waves of the day as they fold over onto Europe’s most revered gravel pit.

The method proved a little labour intensive, and pretty terrifying for anyone else who happened to be paddling out

Fred Compagnon first became interested in surfing Alaia’s after he ran into Dave Rastovich at Estagnots and asked to have a go on his. He was instantly hooked on the feeling and started to think about ways that we could ride them on the big days at La Grav. He used to paddle out on a SUP by himself, already strapped to the Alaia, paddle into the wave out the back, hop in and ditch the SUP.

However the method proved a little labour intensive, and pretty terrifying for anyone else who happened to be paddling out when SUP took it’s inevitable solo journey over the falls. So, Fred roped in friend Rémi Arauzo for a new two-man version, which involved one of the pair lying on the back of the SUP and pulling it off  the wave after the guy at the front jumps off.