Is there any surfboard building classes being run anywhere?

General Discussion
1

Just reading one of Bill Barnfield’s posts regarding toe in and lack of consistency in terms and it got me thinking.

Here in Australia we have TAFE (Technical and further education) colleges where people of all ages can go and learn skills in courses run both during the day and night.

Many cases where the government will help out with costs as well.

I can’t recall any courses about surfboard building or ding repair but can’t see why there shouldn’t be considering how the industry is going these days.

Plenty of discussion on here about the increase in overseas production.

If those who were interested in making a full or part-time living out of either shaping or doing ding repairs were able to attend classes and learn from professionals how to do it wouldn’t this be a step in the right direction in keeping our surfboard production in our own countries?

With the different materials proliferating in surfboard production these days a ding repairer has to be ready to work with a large number of different methods/materials to do the job right. There’s surf clubs all over Australia that need their boards repaired as well as the surfers. One of the local surfshop owners I know spends most of his time out the back repairing dings. He has boards piled up all the time year round.

Love to help him out but don’t have the expertise to do it and would be great to learn somewhere properly and be able to lend a hand.

So if someone wants to learn to shape surfboards where do they start?

Or should shapers continue to protect their craft like Sorcerers and their apprentices where only a few will be worthy

and the imports will flow thicker and faster while the boardbuilding industry shrinks in on itself?

2

…surfing and surfboards were ruined by people who try to transform it in a conventional industry…

3

You are logged on to the best surfboard building class.

4

My point exactly.

Funny how the backyarders used to be re-viled. Now they seem to have more acceptance in the face of an even bigger threat.

But still why shouldn’t there be someone out there teaching those keen to learn? What threat does it pose?

Even if it was ding fixing classes surely this would be welcomed by surfboard manufacturers because they could have professional, reliable ding fixers not making customers wait for weeks and months for their dings to be repaired.

Not everyone has time/inclination/interest in finding Sways to search through then ask questions and experiment on their surfboard to fix dings and maybe get it horribly wrong in the process so the do it yourself approach is only good for some surfers.

5
Quote:

My point exactly.

Funny how the backyarders used to be re-viled. Now they seem to have more acceptance in the face of an even bigger threat.

But still why shouldn’t there be someone out there teaching those keen to learn? What threat does it pose?

Even if it was ding fixing classes surely this would be welcomed by surfboard manufacturers because they could have professional, reliable ding fixers not making customers wait for weeks and months for their dings to be repaired.

Not everyone has time/inclination/interest in finding Sways to search through then ask questions and experiment on their surfboard to fix dings and maybe get it horribly wrong in the process so the do it yourself approach is only good for some surfers.

If some one wants to learn to fix dings, go to your local glasser and watch them work (most are pretty cool about it), figure it out on your own, or deal with the wait. If someone can be w/o their stick for weeks or months they can take the time to learn. It really isn’t that difficult, so I can’t imagine a ding repair going “horribly wrong” unless your fixing a snapped board. Just my 2 cents.

6

Like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SHAPE-YOUR-OWN-SURFBOARD-LESSONS-TUBETIME_W0QQitemZ250231645741QQihZ015QQcategoryZ22710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.tubetime.com.au/diy_workshop.html

diy surfboard building workshops. $1200 for 3 days training (including materails for a board for yourself).

not sure if its really good value or not.

scot

7

Cuttlefish,

        there is a surfboard construction classes at Cerritos College in California. Most of what I learned was from a glasser but the classes in composites are pretty useful.

We just had a guest speaker by the name of Bruce Jones talk about shaping EPS foam, the weight of the foam they use, how he templates and cuts out the blank for shaping, and the glassing schedule. He talk mostly about EPS surfboards mainly because the class is able get EPS blanks through Ken at Segway Composites/American Blanks pretty reasonably priced

and he delivers.

Mike

8

I’ve been teaching a Surfboard Design and Construction course for a couple of years at a local community college. It’s a no-credit class for backyarders. I don’t go into industry issues at all. It’s a simple, four-night class, where a bunch of guys get dirty buidling a single board from start to finish. Lottery determines the winner of the board on the last night. The college charges $170, and students can bring in their boards to do ding repair during the down time when we glass. I even did a snap during one class last year.

A lot of good comes out of these classes… at least for me. It wont make me rich, but I feel good doing it, and the students get a chance to learn some tricks, make some mistakes, and meet like-minded people.

9

I don’t know if this is any help but we have enlisted a local shaper to provide the technical surf board design and glassing stuff and as part of the boatbuilding school we are providing the facilities. Long way to come for you but it would be great to see you!!

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

http://www.pembrokeshire.ac.uk/mitec/frp

10

I’m showing what I know…

The first workshop in Europe will be south of Lisbon, Portugal...The three day series will be starting on Friday, April 25-26-27, 2008...
We will go through the design and build process together and at the end of the three day workshop,
we will have built a collaborative unique wood surfboard, ready for fiberglassing, hand made by you and your fellow workshoppers.
Together as a group, you will learn and build a board with the spirit of collaboration, not in competition (which can happen with individual boards).
You will be problem solving together, encouraging each other and modifying the methods to meet your needs as a group.
You will take a proud combined ownership of the board that you build as a group. It's really is a lot of fun doing it this way...!!!...
Once you go through the whole design/build process, from start to finish, you will have all the skills (and a "How To" CD & templates to take home with you) to build your own boards...If mistakes are made on the group board, you will learn from that, and no one will take it personally... It's a good way to learn...
The cost for a three day workshop is 300 Euro per participant...Included is the "How To" CD and your choice of template kit, a $150 value...
Booking deposits of 50 Euro will be required.
April is also a very good month for surfing in Portugal...!!!...
For more information on that class contact: Tarik van Prehn at yogasurf@gmail.com or me at hollowsurfboards@comcast.net
Next, I am going to be coming back to Ireland to run another Hollow Wooden Surfboard building workshop.
This year's workshop will again be in Doolin, Ireland on the June Bank Holiday weekend, June 6-7-8, 2008.
This is an opportunity to take up where we left off last year or to start again from scratch, with an entirely new method that significantly shortens the building process. We are going to set a limit of 20 for this course so I'd appreciate if you could let Paul Murphy or me know ASAP who's interested in participating.
If you have any friends keen on taking part, they are more than welcome.
The price will be about the same as last year (Euro 300.) for the three days, starting up at 9:00 on the Friday the 6th of June in the Doolin Community Hall. Booking deposits of 50 Euro will be required.
For more information about the 2008 class in Ireland,
Contact Paul Murphy at: paulmurphy@eireco.ie or me at: hollowsurfboards@comcast.net
Planning has begun for a five day "Build Your Own Board" workshop near Perth, Australia, most likely around Christmas 2008.

I would also love to teach a workshop on the East coast of Australia…

This workshops will have each participant build their own board ready for glassing.
Materials to build a board are extra, priced according to size and design.
The tuition for the five day class is tentatively set at $500 and will include the “How To” CD, a $100 value.
Booking deposits of $50 Aus. will be required.
If you are interested in being a part of this workshop contact me at: hollowsurfboards@comcast.net

Finally, I will be having a “Build Your Own Board” workshop here in the Pacific Northwest.
The class will likely be in Port Townsend, Washington in the fall.
I’m thinking of having the class take place on two or three successive weekends.
This workshop will also have each participant build their own board ready for glassing.
Tuition will probably be $500 per person, with materials extra.
Again, the “How To” CD will be included in the cost of the class.
Booking deposits of $50 US will be required.
If you are interested in being a part of this workshop, or have suggestions for other locations contact me at: hollowsurfboards@comcast.net
11

Hi

I teach in a secondary school (11-16 year olds) in Cornwall UK and I’ve been running 2 surfboard building classes for the last three years.

The first introductory course is for 11-13 year olds who design their own shape, have it machined at a local factory then go through various hand shaping processes and painting - decal design etc. we have those glassed at a local factory due to time limitatioins but it gives the kids enough of a taste of the experience - they also visit the factory during the week.

The second is a complete design, shape, paint, laminate, sand, fin install…basically the whole lot! - I do this with small numbers - ususally about 8 per year of 15-16 year olds and they use it as a coursework project for Design Techology GCSE. The results have been amazing and the level of finish always astounds me - blows the external examiners away as well!

I would recomend anyone who has the ability to get involved with kids of this age as they are on fire for it and the look of pride on their faces when they walk away with their own board is priceless.

Cheers

Richard

12

hey there rikds,

will you let me know if any vacancies come up for technicians?!

im currently teching at Man Met uni but looking to move closer to the ocean…

same goes for thirdshade too,

just need to live by the sea and continue making things…

13

What sort of tech’ stuff you doing. We may be looking for a woodworkshop / GRP shop technician later in the year, no promises. Fire your CV to me at MITEC and I’ll put it on file.

Cheers

Rik

14

cheers Rik, ill dig my cv out tonight and send it over.

i run the modelmaking workshop for architecture interior, landscape and 3d design students. its mainly wood plastics and foam but i do occasionally push them to use resin and fibreglass!

here are a few sites with my work on, www.marko-polo.co.uk i also used to freelance for www.charleshadcock.com making his fibreglass and wood patterns to send to the foundry.

anyhows cv will wing your way later.

cheers

15

Hi

We will probably have a technician post available in the not too distant - our tehnician is planning to retire but it will be July 09…send me your details and I’ll hold them and let you know when it happens.

Cheers

Richard

16

are the classes in cerritos college regular? im in cerritos at the moment till maybe end of april and it would be great if i attended some classes before i head back home. oh and how much?

peace.

17

Kookshaper,

         the class is on saturday from 9am to noon. Stop by. The classroom is located off of the Studebaker side of the campus in the single

story building near the parking lot, there might still be some construction work going on in front of the building. Give Terry Price a call at 562-860-2451 ext. 2927.

Mike

18

I met a guy a few weeks back that said he took a shaping class at California Polytechnic University - San Luis Obispo. I don’t know if it is still there or not, he was at max in his low 30s

19

thanks bro. i’ll try to go this week…

20

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