Antoine started Ondanova Surfboards in 2014, after leaving his job as a seaman in Belgium and settling in Portugal following years of traveling and working at sea. It grew from a simple intention: to build something more grounded and meaningful.

Working by hand, shaping functional objects, and making our own tools brings a strong sense of independence and satisfaction. For us, the process matters as much as the final board.

A surfboard is both technical and intuitive. It needs to work in the water, but riding it completes the circle between making and experience.

From the beginning, the aim has been to reduce the use of foam, resin, and fiberglass. Working with wood feels more coherent with our connection to the ocean and helps limit our impact.

Since 2016, we have shared this approach through 3-day workshops, guiding people as they build their own wooden surfboard and understand how it is made.

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    The process

    We build hollow wooden surfboards using a method inspired by traditional boat building.

    Each board starts with a light internal skeleton, like a spine and ribs, which defines the shape and keeps the structure strong. A thin wooden skin is then applied over the frame and shaped by hand.

    Unlike foam boards, our boards are built from the inside out. The result is a surfboard made mostly of air and wood, with only a small amount of fiberglass and resin for sealing and durability.

    The shape is first refined on the computer, then the internal structure is laser-cut in our workshop.From there, everything is finished by hand: assembling, gluing, shaping, sanding, and glassing.

    Each board is made from start to finish in our atelier, combining digital precision with traditional craftsmanship.

    Materials

    We use Paulownia wood, also known as Kiri in Japan, for both the internal skeleton and the outer skin.

    Paulownia is light, strong, naturally rot-resistant, and grows quickly, making it one of the most sustainable timbers available. Our current supply comes from Europe.

    Wood is our main material, but we still use fiberglass and epoxy resin for the final lamination. This makes the board watertight and durable, while keeping resin use much lower than in traditional foam boards.

    A wooden board is usually 0 to 30% heavier than a foam board of the same shape, depending on the model. On very light performance shortboards, foam still has the advantage. But on alternative shapes, midlengths, and longboards, the difference becomes much smaller. Some of our wooden longboards can even be lighter than foam equivalents.

    We keep testing lower-impact finishes, but durability matters too. A board that lasts longer is also part of the ecological equation.

    More about us

    • We prioritize eco-friendly materials like sustainably sourced wood, cork, partially bio-sourced resins and natural oils. Our process minimizes waste, reduces synthetic resins, and focuses on longevity, creating boards that last much longer than traditional foam models.

      Beyond materials, we also believe sustainability is about the way we work. During our workshops, we encourage a collaborative spirit, participants help each other, share tips, and enjoy the process together. Shaping a board becomes a collective experience rather than a solitary task, which adds meaning and connection to the final product.

    • At the moment, we don’t offer test boards.

      Since each board is custom-built and not part of a rental stock, we prefer to keep them in the best possible conditions.

      That said, if you have questions or need help choosing the right shape, we’re happy to guide you through the decision process. Just reach out and we’ll help you find the board that fits you best.

    • Not necessarily.

      Our boards are designed to balance weight and durability, making them comparable in weight to traditional foam boards while being significantly stronger. For boards over 7’ and alternative shapes (like fishes or mini-Simmons), the weight is similar to conventional foam boards. However, low volume or performance oriented shortboards, are about 10 to 30% heavier than their foam counterparts.

    • You can either build your own during our 3-day workshop →,  order a custom board → or one of our fixed shapes →.

    • If we haven’t quite managed to answer your question, it might be on our FAQ page → or contact us directly through our contact form →