News / ohana
Inaugural Papua New Guinea Surf trip and build a balsa board adventure
Riley Balsa is pleased to announce that Marks dream to give back to the country that has given him the best balsawood in the past 5 years is a reality.
Riley has been building Eco friendly balsa boards for the past 20 years, but Mark only just discovered the best balsa in the world was grown in Papua New Guinea 5 years ago. He has been importing the balsa by the container load and has just ordered another container and wants to go and see the wood cut, harvested and milled with his own eyes.
Mark will travel via Air Niugini from Sydney to the farm and the mill in the same day and select some perfect balsa to take to Kavieng and show the locals how to build a solid balsa board
Nusa Island Retreat and World Surfaris are a great bunch of partners to work with! Mark cannot talk more highly of these 2 great organisations, how accommodating, flexible and the service is impeccable. Mark is taking with him 200kg of tools, materials and equipment to Nusa Island Retreat to build these boards and 5 sample test performance balsa boards - so a lot of planning was required to get it right for all of the travelling parties.
Mark will meet up with Andy Able from SAPNG - SURFING ASSOCIATION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. They have developed a unique and sustainable foundation upon which the surfing resource is developed and managed for the collective benefit of its traditional resource custodians and SAPNG affiliated surf clubs and commercial operators. http://www.sapng.com/ The rest of the world needs to take note.
The crew will be followed and documenting all aspects of the trip with still photos and video by the creative talents of Ian Henderson from Limelight Creative Media . These guys are amazing - the planning and execution so far is first class. They will be focusing on a standalone video that will demonstrate the Ecological benefits of using balsa instead of PU foam, highlighting the great work by SAPNG and PNGTPA "PNG Tourism Promotion Authority"
THIS IS THE INAUGURAL ADVENTURE TO MEET THE LOCALS BUILD SOME BOARD SURF OUR BRAINS OUT AND CREATE SOME GREAT FRIENDSHIPS. THEY WILL BE MAKING THIS A YEARLY EVENT SO PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED FOR NEXT YEAR START THE PROCESS.
Ohana Classic a success - Come to farm for demo day
PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
February 2016 Sydney Australia.
What a great day last Saturday at the Ohana Classic. Thanks to Ohana and all the organisers and sponsors for another great event. There were heaps of givaways from Boost Mobile and of course Ohana Ocean Athletics. For more specials click on their names and check out their website.
After a tumultuous few years with bad weather and big swell the Classic was on with huge anticipation for the all age cameron which was taken out by Elouera - a bit like every other event.
above is Carmelo Pesce Sutherland Mayor and John Shimooka ex top 20 surfer from Boost Mobile
Elouera smashed the day with 638 points - talk about a home ground advantage, followed by Wanda with 412 points this must have helped with the home ground advantage to be neighbours and Cronulla were on 284 points - cheers to the bate bay clubs.
The day started with a cracking clear sunrise with a 3-4 foot swell which was closing out on the outer bank. As the tide started pushing up the swell rose to 5 foot and the water events were suspended. Stormboy Richardson (event organiser and MD of Ohana) had his heart in his mouth for nearly an hour thinking oh no here we go again with another cancelled contest. But the swell eased at high tide and they ran the all age cameron event with some very exciting board paddling and swimming in the 4foot waves. Elouera capitalised on snagging a few waves to win the event and take home the cash.
Next Weekend
If you have time pop down to Cronulla Mall on Saturday the 6th February and check out the balsa board wall and come and buy a raffle ticket to support the Elouera nippers. Just 5 bucks gives you a chance of either winning the first prize of a new Mazda or second prize a custom built balsawood board.
If you cannot make it you can purchase your e ticket at this link http://balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com/collections/surf-accessories/products/elouera-nippers-raffle-ticket
Sunday the 7th February you will see us on display with plenty of demo boards to check out and ride. Come down to THE MARKETS at The Farm for more info check out - https://www.facebook.com/thefarmsmarket/?fref=ts
You could buy your raffle ticket at this location
For more info check out - https://twitter.com/balsasurfboards
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1186130004
https://www.instagram.com/rileybalsasurfboards/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Rilaustralia/featured
Riley Classic Balsawood Surfboards
http://www.balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com/
156 President Ave.,
Miranda 2228 NSW
Australia
Phone - 0412 376 464
Email - mark@riley.com.au
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New website up and running
PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
January 2016 Sydney Australia.
Riley Classic Balsa Boards invites you to explore its new website and Social media platforms. The new website has been designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality throughout, allowing customers to access and buy and videos with the option to share information across all major social networking sites. - See more at: http://www.balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com/
"I really love building the most Eco friendly boards available in Australia by hand. My passion for shaping balsa surfboards and sparks a broader interest in this great surfboard material" says Mark Riley, owner of Riley Balsa Surfboards." For good reason, Laird Hamilton states that his most favourite boards are the one's made of balsa. " (see surfermag.com's exclusive interview about Laird). But you don't have to be a big wave lunatic to enjoy the benefits of a balsa surfboard. Lasting longer than a polyurethane surfboard while weighing the same and being more environmentally friendly, a Riley balsa surfboard is great for all surfers in all surf conditions.
Riley Australia was one of the first surfboard builders in the world to have their own domain name and web site in 25th January 1999. From that day they have been building balsa wood surfboards and sending them all around the world. As you can see in the archived site - https://web.archive.org/web/19990125102801/http://www.riley.com.au/ Riley has expanded from balsa boards and clocks and added to the mix DIY kits, wood coloured boxes, fin, raw balsa, surfing accessories and shaping accessories, everything you need to build a beautiful balsa board.
About Riley Balsawood Surfboards
Riley Balsawood Surfboards was founded in 1996 by Mark Riley who had just returned to Australia from an extensive surf trip through Central and South America - in tow a container of Ecuadorian balsa wood. Mark now secures his “perfect quality balsa” from Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Since shaping his first balsa surfboard, Mark Riley has built a reputation as master craftsman and is still involved in the whole operation of selecting from stock of 1000 pieces of balsa wood, grading, cutting, laminating, shaping and finishing all orders.
The website was created with the user experience firmly in mind, the website has been designed using the latest technology so the site is compatible with today's browsers and mobile devices.
For more info check out - https://twitter.com/balsasurfboards
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1186130004
https://www.instagram.com/rileybalsasurfboards/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Rilaustralia/featured
Riley Classic Balsawood Surfboards
Ohana Classic This weekend
We all cannot wait until Saturday for the Ohana classic.
With $25,000 of cash and prizes on offer - who else cannot wait!
Come down to Elouera on Saturday and see some Riley boards and the dunking machine.
