Build an Enviro Wooden Balsawood Surfboard 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 clean environment. The whole process is environmentally friendly and hand made.

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 1 or 2 students to build a foam core balsa board.

When building these boards they 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. 

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

You can choose your preferred stringer layout from no stringers to 5 stringers in different arrangements.

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

 Kits are purchased separately - you could 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) and the cost of the course.

So sign up now

Course Outline: Starting Sat. February 20th SOLD OUT

29TH MAY 2021 - SOLD OUT

 3rd July - SOLD OUT

 NEXT COURSE STARTS - 7th August- Saturday afternoons

Following next start - 11th September

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. 

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
4pm to 5pm – Clean up plan shape with belt sander

Week 3 – 1pm to 2pm – Mark out deck for shaping
2pm to 3pm – Shaping deck with electric planer
3pm to 4pm – Sanding deck with electric sander
4pm to 5pm – Shaping bottom with electric planer

Week 4 – 1pm to 2pm – Sanding bottom
2pm to 3pm – Shaping rails with block plane
3pm to 4pm – Sanding rails with sanding blocks
4pm to 5pm – Finish sanding board

Week 5 – 1pm to 2pm – Setout fin positions
2pm to 3pm – Install fin systems
3pm to 4pm – Finish sanding
4pm to 5pm – Discuss wooden fins

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 normal 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 they are seen in the surf and 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 a 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.

• 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.