Donald Brink: The Philosopher Shaping Surfboards
Surfboard shaper Donald Brink blends hydrodynamic challenges with a philosophical approach to design, creating unique and custom boards from his workshop in San Clemente, California.
A unique Approach to Surfboard Design
Brink describes his work as a search for “new joys and opportunities” through challenging established principles. He prioritizes calculated balance and unconventional aesthetics in his designs. as he stated, “I enjoy challenging hydodynamic principles and things that aren’t suppose to work to find new ground…it looks weird, but to me it’s a calculated and balanced degree of elements.”
From South Africa to California
born in South Africa, Donald Brink now operates out of San clemente, California, where he has earned a reputation as a singular craftsman in the surfing world. He shapes each surfboard entirely by hand,focusing on custom designs that reflect thoughtful innovation. Vissla, a surf apparel and board company, describes Brink as embodying their core values of “creators and innovators.”
