Mark Riley, master shaper and founder of Riley Balsawood Surfboards at his Miranda workshop.

From his Miranda workshop, Mark Riley carries on the heritage craft of making surfboards from wood.

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Mark founded Riley Balsawood Surfboards 30 years ago, providing an environmentally sustainable alternative to Polyurethane foam boards.

The master shaper has made more than 1000 boards over those three decades, and today ships balsawood and custom boards to buyers throughout Australia and overseas, including Hawaii and Europe.

Mark grew up in Gymea Bay, attended Kirrawee High School and completed an apprenticeship in carpentry at Gymea TAFE.

Mark Riley as the curator of a Hazelhurst Arts Centre exhibition of wooden surfboards. Picture by John Veage

After building houses in the shire for several years, the lifelong surfer set off overseas in 1995 to experience the best breaks in Mexico, Central and South America.

After breaking both of his Polyurethane boards in Puerto Escondido, he stumbled upon balsawood in Ecuador.

"The material was light, had great flex characteristics and grew fast on sustainable farms," he said.

"Being a carpenter by trade, I knocked up my first board then and there. After the first trial sessions, I saw the potential in the material - not just as solid balsa surfboards but also in combination with recycled polystyrene foam."

Returning to Sydney with a container of balsa sticks in tow, he started his business in a factory at Caringbah before relocating it to his Miranda home.

Mark Riley works on a board in his Miranda workshop.

Mark said 95 per cent of surfers rode Polyurethane boards, but balsawood was a more environmentally friendly product, while still being extremely strong.

"My customers are mainly male surfers aged from about 30 to 60, who care about the environment and want something made in Australia," he said.

"My boards are 10 to 20 per cent more expensive than Polyurethane boards, but last five times longer, and you should be able to hand this down to your children for generations."

Mark said balsawood had been a trusted material in aviation and surfboard manufacturing for 75 years, revered for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.

"The end of World War II had opened new possibilities in surfboard design," he said.

"Many new materials had become available through advances in technology during the war. As a result, fibreglass coated Malibus were developed in the late 1950s."

Mark has imported the finest balsa from South America and, more recently, Papua New Guinea. He is also growing balsa trees in Cairns.

He loves teaching the craft and has imparted his knowledge to more than 100 students, and thanks those who have supported him in the last 30 years.