Learn how to Build your own Enviro Balsawood Surfboard with our woodwork short courses in Sydney!
Join our one-on-one class where you will build your own environmentally friendly surfboard to your requirements. This is a great escape and a mindful craft.
This fun class will be hands-on! Prepare to get dusty while you learn step-by-step how to design and draw your board and build it under professional supervision and guidance from your tutor.
The board that you will build is made out of solid wood that can be glassed and surfed on (or hung on the wall just like in the 50s and 60s). There are also no restrictions to your shape, you can choose your preferred stringer layout from no stringers to 5 stringers in different arrangements.
All equipment will be supplied with the kit you can purchase from your tutor Mark. All necessary tools will be provided in a safe and clean environment.
By the end of the class, you will not only walk away with the knowledge of how to build a surfboard but also with your unique board in hand, a certificate of completion as well as some photos that were taken in class for good memories.
By the end of this DIY Balsawood Surfboard course, you should:
- Have an understanding of balsawood and the environment
- Know how mass-produced surfboards are impacting the environment
- Have used power and hand tools to achieve a great-looking wood board and one you can surf on or hang on the wall.
What will be covered in this DIY Balsawood Surfboard course?
- 11am to 12pm – Introductory talk
- 12pm to 1pm – Hand over of kits
- 1pm to 4pm – Layout or wood and cutting wood with band saw
- 4pm to 5pm – Glue up blank
- 11am to 12pm – Remove clamps
- 12pm to 1pm – Draw plan shape on bottom
- 1pm to 4pm – Cut out plan shape with circular saw. Clean up plan shape with belt sander
- 4pm to 5pm – Tutor Mark out deck for shaping, Shaping deck with electric planer
- 11am to 2pm – Sanding deck with electric sander, Shaping bottom with electric planer
- 2pm to 3pm – Sanding bottom, Shaping rails with block plane
- 3pm to 4pm – Sanding rails with sanding blocks
- 4pm to 5pm - Finish sanding board
You can walk away with your shaped board or join your tutor to glass your board (extra cost).
Who is this DIY Balsawood Surfboard course for?
This course is for beginners - no prior knowledge is required.
Riley Classic Balsawood Surfboards
156 President Ave, Miranda NSW 2228
Riley Balsawood Surfboards is always developing eco-friendly surfboards with beauty, functionality and uniqueness on every board. Building every board by hand in Australia makes the process seamless and rewarding to the builder the customer and the environment.
Mark, who founded Riley, has been building balsa wood surfboards since 1996. He has been importing balsa from Ecuador and Papua New Guinea for over 20 years and sends boards all over the world. He can be seen in the surf, in restaurants, offices and showrooms. Mark comments: "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 handmade custom long-lasting wood board community by teaching how to build a sustainable balsawood surfboard one board at a time."
- Covered comfortable shoes.
- Old clothes because you may get glue or dust on them
- Bottle of water
- All necessary tools will be supplied
- Once enrolled, your tutor Mark will contact you to inform you about the available kit options as well as which kit would suit your needs. Kit prices range between $400 and $1550 depending on size and material (foam is also available). Please note your mobile number and email address will be shared with the tutor once enrolled.
- If you do not want to take a board home – then you still can join the class and learn how to build one. Consequently, the board will be kept at the workshop space after class.
Bring lunch or a snack. Alternatively, drive to Miranda Westfield (about a 5-minute drive).
- your emergency contact (name, relationship and contact phone number), and
- any special requirements (e.g. wheelchair access) if applicable
- Kits are optional.
- This is a one-on-one course.
- 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 before 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 in 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.
