Shaper Spotlight: Dan Mann

Dan Mann is a San Diego-based shaper who has been making boards since the mid-1990s. Dan started shaping his own boards around 1996 and turned Mannkine into a professional business by the early 2000s. Dan has become a crucial designer within Firewire for many years and is the brains and hands behind Kelly Slater’s renowned DRK, FRK+, and FRK Swallow shapes, S Boss, Boss Up, and more. We recently caught up with Dan and picked his brain about his shaping philosophy.

How would you describe your approach to shaping, and what sets it apart?

“I really don’t think I’m very different from other shapers. We’re all a little crazy. My approach may be a little more free to explore unique shapes because of my situation with Firewire/Slater Designs, and with Kelly and Rob. The other benefit of my situation is that I can explore unique processes and materials that give the shapes and designs completely different feelings.”

What did winning the Shape-Off at the Boardroom Show (and representing Eric Arakawa) mean to you?

“Winning the Shape-Off at the Boardroom Show and being able to represent Eric Arakawa means a ton to me personally, and it’s really humbling on the professional side. Eric is a precision-oriented craftsman and a gentleman. The other shapers in the Shape-Off are all incredible, and if I had not won, I would’ve been in great company.”

You’re known for surfing both regular and goofy-footed. Has that always come naturally to you?

“Yeah, that’s the way I surf. It’s how I’ve surfed since I was a little kid. I don’t know any different, so it’s just normal. There are benefits for sure, but there are also some things I’m missing, like being able to stall and slot into barrels on the backhand. I think I’m naturally a regular-footer, though.”

You’re one of the world’s best prone paddlers…what draws you to paddling, and how does it influence your surfing and shaping?

“Paddling is a great sport with a rich history. It’s directly tied to surfing and can benefit a surfer in a million ways. So far, and luckily, it hasn’t been exploited as a big moneymaker for any large companies, so it’s been left in the hands of a small group of passionate paddlers. There’s nothing like preparing for a hard race to keep me honest about my conditioning and what I eat leading into it. When I make a new board for a season or a particular race, it’s like a fast-forward in learning about water and how I can get myself and my board to move through it more efficiently and hold speed longer. It’s like Water College on steroids.”

You’ve compared shaping to other creative disciplines like sculpture and music. What connects those things for you?

“I think when it comes to sculpture or making music, there is infinite potential in taking formlessness, or “nothing,” and transforming it into something functional, recognizable, unique, and beautiful. When I make a surfboard from scratch, especially hand-shaping a block of foam or using unconventional materials together, I try to use the inspiration I see from other creators and how they use their minds and tools in unison toward that end goal.”