Crafting a surfboard is more than just building boards for local shapers in Wilmington, it’s a mix of creativity, passion, and experience in the water. Two local companies, Brinser Surfboards and Savage Surfboards, are helping shape the surf culture in the area, each in its own way.
For Brinser Surfboards, shaping started naturally. “My dad is a very talented architect and builder,” he said. “I have always been surrounded by tools and creativity in my garage.” What began as building boards for fun slowly turned into something more. “I didn’t have a plan on becoming a ‘shaper,’ I just kept working and ended up where I am.”
His boards focus on trying new ideas instead of just copying what already works. “I build what I like to ride,” he said. “I like riding boards that make it exciting to just ride a wave, letting the board take you where it wants to go.” He explained that many companies make boards that all feel similar, but he prefers experimenting with different shapes and styles.
At Savage Surfboards, the approach is more rooted in experience. The company has been around since the 1990s and focuses on blending classic designs with modern performance. “We stay true to our roots with classic stringer and resin work, combined with a modern glide,” Shawn O’Donnell of Savage Surfboards said. After years of watching how surfboards have changed, he uses that knowledge to improve his designs. “We are able to take designs from the past and incorporate modern aesthetics.”
Both shapers also talked about one major issue in the surf industry’s sustainability. Even though surfing is connected to the ocean, making surfboards is not very environmentally friendly. “All boards are made from foam and resin, which are basically plastics,” Brinser explained. He also pointed out that some companies that claim to be sustainable may actually cause more harm. “They are often made overseas with higher waste and fewer regulations.”
Savage Surfboards agreed that there are limited options right now. “The surfboard industry itself is not particularly carbon-friendly,” he said. “You can upcycle a blank, but that is really the extent of it at this stage.”
When it comes to Wilmington’s surf culture, both shapers say it is still growing and changing. “It’s a growing city, so there are always new faces in the water,” Brinser said. He compared it to where he grew up in Massachusetts, where the surf community felt smaller and closer. “Wilmington is a different story… it still feels young.”
For Shawn with Savage Surfboards, the changes are very noticeable. “The scene is very different from when I started,” he said. “Many of the faces from the past are gone.” Even so, his passion has stayed the same. “I just know that my passion remains building high-quality surfboards.”
As Wilmington continues to grow, surfboard shapers like these are helping define what surfing looks like in the area today. Whether it’s experimenting with new designs or sticking to traditional methods, their work shows that surf culture is always evolving, but the love for the sport stays the same.