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EP07 | From The Shed: Donald Brink

VISSLA

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~~~ NEW EPISODES WEEKLY ~~~

What happens when you embrace weird surfboards on purpose?

Episode 07 features Donald Brink, a globally renowned shaper known for pushing surfboard design into new and unexpected territory. Filmed during the annual Creators Gathering, this episode captures Donald breaking down some of his most experimental surfboard shapes, each rooted in its own hydrodynamic theory.

Through surf montages and lighthearted conversations, Donald explains how curiosity, play, and a willingness to experiment, fuel progression. The result is an episode that looks toward the future of surfboard design without taking itself too seriously.

Donny puts it best: “Hi, I’m Donald Brink. Welcome to the weirdness.”

Tune in. Open your mind. Keep surfing fun.

Explore the Creators Collection:
https://www.vissla.com/collections/cr...

FILMED & EDITED: @brian_elliott
INTERVIEWED BY: Thomas Campbell
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Jack Rose

SUPPORTED BY:
@yeticoolers
@barebonesliving
@topatopabrewingco
@kungfutonic
@lospadresoutfitters

20 Comments

@d6anders 8 months ago

Can we please just have a series of Donald making weird boards then testing and talking about how things rode

@aarondrew4861 8 months ago

A 9'6" handplane!!! That's so rad and so funny at the same time - I'm dying. 🤣

@Thebeautifulconspiracy 8 months ago

What a treasure of a human!

@RaulEdu33 8 months ago

The hipster surfboard shaper final boss

@yoyoyoanyoneseenmyyoyo2974 8 months ago

I want to try all of those boards

@headmondronary2127 8 months ago

Exploration is one avenue of discovery. Punk is you sticking to your personality being you. When you're old you'll be so content you explored.
Get amongst it and fingers crossed you stumble across the next thruster scenario.

@ErgoCogita 8 months ago

Ouroburos; dome deck swept back through the body into a slight keel leading to a skeg. It’s not just art, it’s ART!

@ericburtron7568 8 months ago

So sick, I just wish we saw more of the boards being ridden!

@yoelchriqui5249 8 months ago

So lucky to have met him when they were trying boards out one day he was to nice and explained his concept of the q-tip I was completely blown away

@jjsvid 8 months ago

Love Donny’s boards I have a 5’2 quad asym & 5’3 channeled tri fin. I ride them all the time my go to boards and they work. I won’t be surfing any other shaper for the foreseeable future

@esdubya 7 months ago

Fair to say, Donald is bored with surfing, bored with shaping what is the status quo.
Someone once said variety is the spice of life, Donald stuff is the kind of spice most will cough up.
But at the same time I’m glad he’s around with his creative and different outlook and views.
Good for you man and good for those who like your spice.

@KennyTang125 8 months ago

Beyond excited to see more of the narrow board project. Feels like a very open field to play in as far as design and surfing are concerned.

@brightenthecorners_ 8 months ago

The art of surfing and surfcraft building. True artist and super inspiring 💫

@kahunaal1631 7 months ago

The more I watched, the more bought in I became. Very cool.

@davidwilliams7552 7 months ago

Ooh this is the best thing I have ever seen

@scbamboo204 7 months ago

Great stuff, as usual Donnie. Keep it up.

@nathanmorales4355 8 months ago

Such sick designs! Those boards look so fun. I love when shapers think outside the box

@ImposterJones 8 months ago

13:47 I'm honestly surprised that the word embarrassing is in his vocabulary. Experimentation has value beyond what others may think.

@masonklink 8 months ago

Best dude! Love his approach to surfing and life, forever student and incredibly humble.

@petervanmeerem3835 2 days ago

I was looking at him surfing that weird board with the coke bottle on a stick, and I was wondering why he was positioned for far forward, almost over the handlebars, and then I remembered: oh jah he's literally dragging a bucket behind the board... :)