Donald Brink, 34, was born and raised in South Africa. He started surfing at the age of 15 after his family relocated to the coast, and quickly developed a fascination for surfboard design and dynamics. After a few years of observing in the shaping room, Donald gained the confidence in 2005 to wield a planer for the first time. Today he continues to hone his craft, while taking the art of shaping down some unconventional paths.
Donald looks at each board as an extension of the rider’s feet, building each custom board according the surfer’s stance. His asymmetric concepts promote a more free and forgiving functionality — with careful consideration given to the interactivity and limitations of the foot, ankle pivot and weight distribution.
“Asymmetry for me makes for accurate and enjoyable surfing with ease on the smallest of canvases. Every shape is infused with careful attention to detail in all functional elements. Water flows in a simple way; so should the hydrodynamic concepts in your board’s shape. My goal is to achieve harmony between design and function rather than having elements oppose one another.”
A staunch believer in hand shaping, Donald strives to empower a surfer to step up performance on any size wave. “Foam is your friend and fins we choose need to be thoroughly understood. We want enough bite for control and drive, but not so much that we drag overly-finned boards up and down the wave face.”
“My philosophy in life, surfing, and board design is to keep things simple. We are privileged to be able to play in the sea, and it’s an honor for me to help surfers maximize their experiences. I’m driven to help you enjoy your water.”
