IN THIS IMMERSIVE AND GUIDED COURSE, YOU'LL STEP INTO ONDANOVA'S ATELIER AND LEARN THE ART OF BUILDING WOODEN SURFBOARDS, FROM RAW MATERIALS TO YOUR FULLY SHAPED BOARD
Over three days, we will guide you through every stage of the process, building the internal frame, setting up the rocker and bottom contours, assembling and gluing the different parts, shaping, and refining your board, while sharing the techniques and insights we’ve developed over the years.
No particular skills are needed. During those 3 days you will learn about:
→ The use of specific woodworking tools.
→ The art of surfboard design and shaping
→ The software used to design the boards.
→ Wood sealing/glassing techniques
This is more than just a class, it’s an in-depth experience in a craft that blends tradition, creativity, and functionality.
Every two months, we offer group workshops in our studio near Ericeira. Check our agenda to find future workshops and do not hesitate to contact us and propose a date if those are not fitting.
Workshop Agenda
How does it work?
⓵ Select your date & board
Choose your preferred workshop date from the agenda above. Each date opens a booking page with a short form. You’ll be asked to select a board model or type, then choose a size. You’ll also see the total price based on your selections and payment option.
You can either
→ Design a custom board: Share your ideas, preferences, or inspirations through the form. We’ll help you define your dream board together.
→ Choose a fixed model (Coming soon): Prefer something proven? Soon you’ll be able to select from our range of refined and tested designs. Simpler to choose, just as beautiful to build.⓶ Secure your spot
To confirm your registration, choose to pay the full amount or a 500€ deposit. Once the payment is completed, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a summary of your choices. The balance (if any) is due on the first day of the workshop.
⓷ Finalize your board design
If you’ve chosen a custom board, we’ll contact you within 5 working days to better understand what you’d like to build. Based on that, we’ll send 3D proposals and a detailed plan. Together, we’ll refine the design until it feels right.
Final approval is needed at least one week before the workshop to allow us time to prepare materials.
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DAY ⓵ →Introduction to surfboard design, hydrodynamics, and wooden construction techniques. Assemble the internal frame, set up the rocker table, and glue the bottom panel.
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DAY ⓶ →Build up the rails, add structural reinforcements, create a continuous surface for gluing the deck panel, and close the board.
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DAY ⓷ →Shaping the surfboard and rails, intermediate and final sanding, installation of the fin boxes and plugs.
Pricing
The total price of the workshop depends on the surfboard model you choose. You’ll see the exact price once you select your board in the booking form.
Custom boards → from 950€ to 1500€
Fixed shapes → (Coming Soon) from 850€ to 1400€→ This includes: all materials, plugs and finboxes (Futures) use of tools, full guidance throughout the workshop, and the professional glassing of your board after the workshop. Snacks and drinks are provided daily.
→ Not included: fins, lunch and accommodation.
After the workshop
After the workshop, your board is built but not quite ready for the water yet. We handle the glassing (which takes about 4 to 6 days and is included in the workshop price) since this process requires specialized space and curing time.
Delivery
Once glassing is done, you can:
Pick it up at the atelier → Pick up your board at the workshop approximately 5 days after the workshop ends, if you're in Portugal or staying nearby.
Ship within Europe → Shipping costs are calculated separately and typically range from €100 to €200.
Other workshop options
Private workshops → One-on-one sessions or small private groups.
Corporate workshops → A unique hands-on team-building experience.
Workshop Logistics
The workshop starts on the first day at 13:00 and finishes around 18:00.
The following two days will be more intensive, beginning at 9:00 and ending around 18:00.
However, the finishing time may vary depending on the number of participants and the progress of each board.
On the first day, we’ll start after lunch (please eat before arriving). On the following two days, we’ll have lunch together. Food is not included, so we recommend bringing your own picnic (see Food).
Our 3-day workshops take place at Ondanova Surfboards →The workshop is quite isolated, about a 15-minute drive from Ericeira.
If you're coming from abroad, especially outside the high season, we recommend renting/having a car, as off-season deals can be very attractive.
Transport by bus and then Uber/Bolt from Ericeira is also possible.
Food is not included, but we provide plenty of snacks, fruits, drinks, coffee, and tea throughout the day. The workshop is quite isolated, with no restaurants or shops nearby, so we recommend bringing your own picnic. We also have a kitchen (equipped with a fridge, oven and cooking plate), allowing you to store your food and prepare simple meals on-site.
Nearby options are limited but Ericeira and the surrounding areas offer plenty of choices, about a 15-minute drive away.
If you need assistance finding a place to stay, feel free to contact us →.
Since we will be making dust and using glue, we recommend wearing comfortable work clothes and closed-toe shoes.
We provide all the tools and materials, but if you have specific preferences for protective gear (e.g., gloves, mask), feel free to bring your own. We do suggest bringing a dust mask of your choice, an FFP2 mask is perfectly suitable.
Also don’t forget your lunch for the second and third day..
After the workshop, your board is shaped — but not quite ready to surf.
We take care of the glassing process, which requires a controlled space and several days of curing. This step takes around 4 to 6 days and is already included in the workshop price. So be sure to factor this into your planning if you are not staying/living around Ericeira.Once the glassing is done, your board will be ready for pick-up and surf. If you're unable to collect it in person, we can arrange shipping within the EU: this typically costs between €100 and €200, depending on the destination.
Yes, but with some limits.
The natural grain of the wood is already a beautiful feature on its own, so we generally encourage leaving it natural or keeping decoration minimal, like a logo or a simple geometric color illustration.
You can personalize your board with a logo (maximum A4 size), which costs 50€/logo. Just send us the file beforehand or during the workshop.
For color or more elaborate artwork, pricing is available on request, and we’ll be happy to discuss your ideas during the workshop.
If we haven’t quite managed to answer your question, it might be on our FAQ page →
or contact us directly through ondanovasurf@gmail.com →
