Build an Enviro Wooden Balsawood Surfboard in a shaping class with Mark Riley at Kurnell

The group will be small and customised to the type of board you want to build. It will be hands on getting dusty on a Saturday afternoon when the waves are blown out. Mark will take you step by step in building your own solid wood board that can be glassed and surfed or hung on the wall just like in the 50s and 60s. All equipment will be supplied in a kit form and all tools necessary will be supplied in a safe and clean environment. The whole process is environmentally friendly and boards will be built to your requirements.

You can build your own size board - the recommended shapes are fishes, mini mals, and guns from 5 foot to 9ft. For boards over 8 ft there will be an extra charge of $50 per foot.

There is an allowance for up to 2 students to build a foam core balsa board.

The boards that you will build are not hollow with a frame- there are no restrictions to YOUR shape. This is the way boards were built in the 50s and 60s. 

You will learn to use a band saw, circular saw, electric planer, electric sanders and to design and draw your own shape, all under the supervision of Mark.

You can choose your preferred stringer layout from no stringers to 5 stringers in different arrangements (kit comes with 1 stringer, extra $50 per stringer).

Photos will be taken of the students during the build and sent to them.

A certificate will be presented on completion.

Come and see the action from 11.00am at Kurnell on a Saturday afternoon here

This is a great escape and relaxation after a long working week. Normally the guys are sad when they have finished the course and want to help and volunteer to help out building other boards. They all want to learn more and meet more like-minded people.

We will meet once a month to try out your creation at Fluro Fridays at Wanda Beach. Send a message to ask when the next one is on. Or visit Fluro Surfing on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/272540596696317

 Kits are purchased separately - you could also make a tide clock or short board or fish or mini mal or longboard in solid balsa. Purchase here – https://balsawoodsurfboardsriley.com/collections/shaping-accessories/products/balsa-surfboard-shaping-sets.

Time lapse video of Mark building a balsawood surfboard in PNG

Balsa surfboard shaping set or kit $400 - $750 (this is subject to change) plus the cost of the course.

Help Mark build a balsa board. Just pay for the class (no need to buy the wood) work along side Mark to build a custom order for Riley Balsawood Surfboards.

Click here to see a video of the classes.

 So sign up now

Course Outline:

NEXT COURSE STARTS  - January 8th from 12 noon to 5pm for 4 weeks

Followed by  - February 5th from 11am to 5pm for 3 weeks

If the course is cancelled due to covid it will be pushed back a month or if that doesn't suit you there will be a full refund available.

Prior to the course starting we meet for half an hour to discuss the type of board you want to build and pick up a DVD on how to build the board. 

You can then take your board away for glassing or come and see it being glassed one on one with Mark at his glassing bay (you can even help out).

Process below is building a solid board - slightly different and cheaper for a foam core balsa board

Week 1 – 1pm to 2pm – Introductory talk
2pm to 3pm – Hand over of kits
3pm to 4pm – Layout or wood and cutting wood with band saw
4pm to 5pm – Glue up blank

Week 2 – 1pm to 2pm – Remove clamps
2pm to 3pm – Draw plan shape on bottom
3pm to 4pm – Cut out plan shape with circular saw Clean up plan shape with belt sander
4pm to 5pm – Mark out deck for shaping,  Shaping deck with electric planer

Week 3 – 1pm to 2pm – Sanding deck with electric sander, Shaping bottom with electric planer

2pm to 3pm – Sanding bottom, 
3pm to 4pm – Shaping rails with block plane
4pm to 5pm – Sanding rails with sanding blocks

Week 4 – 1pm to 2pm –  Finish sanding board
2pm to 3pm –  Setout fin positions and talk about wooden fins
3pm to 4pm – Install fin systems
4pm to 5pm – Finish sanding

You can walk away with your shaped board or join Mark to glass your board.

Learning Outcomes:

To have an understanding about balsawood and the environment and how mass produced surfboards are impacting the environment. How to use power and hand tools to achieve a great looking wood board and one you can surf on or hang on the wall.

What to bring:

• Covered comfortable shoes.
• Old clothes because you may get glue or dust on them
• Bottle of water
• Purchase a Balsa surfboard shaping set or kit $400 - $750 (this is subject to change)

About the Tutor:

‘I have been building balsawood surfboards since 1996. I have been importing balsa from Ecuador and Papua New Guinea for over 20 years. I send boards all over the world and can be seen in the surf, in restaurants, offices and showrooms. I am very meticulous with the finish and am a perfectionist when building wood boards. I care about the environment and want to change the physic of mass produced toxic board buying communities to a hand made custom long lasting wood board community by teaching how to build a sustainable balsawood surfboard one board at a time.’ Mark

Other Information:

• To ensure resources are ready for you at the start of your course, we ask you ideally to enrol at least one week before the course commences.
• All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled prior to the commencement and you will be informed as early as possible.

By ordering and paying for this course online you are accepting this waiver.

• By accepting this waiver, you are accepting in its entirety the following conditions.

I agree that during the time of the ''surfboard making course” I waive any and all claims that may arise in relation to my personal or others injury, damage to property, death or any other claims relating to my participation in the course.

Whilst there might be certain risks in partaking of the course, I acknowledge I have received all the necessary instructions and safety gear to safely conduct the course without any safety incidents to myself, others or property.

I am a mature adult and am very aware of all the risks and requirements to safely navigate my way through the course.