ABOUT THE SHAPER
CROWD CONTROL SURFBOARDS
As a young punk growing up in Juno Beach, Fl. back in the 70’s, I Skated, Biked, and Surfed nearly every day. The heat always kept me in the salt water. Before I was 15, I must have surfed every board shape made, If I didn’t have one, one my friends did. I started surfing in 1975 on a boogie board at the age of 4. Having been raised by my mom in a lower income family, yet artistic home, my quiver consisted of primarily used boards found at Garage sales or from a friend that I repaired. Fortunately, having surfed so many boards in a short time, I figured out what worked and why.
I started to travel, seeking the perfect wave, as a teen Costa Rica, California, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, North Carolina, and all over my home state Florida. From steep reef peelers to sand rock shore brakes, I was immersed in the salt water surf culture. I grew up in South Florida and the state has a wave to offer everyone. We get Mush, Slop, Chop, Low and High pressure Swells, Boat wake and Massive Hurricane Mayhem. Juno beach, Reef Road and Pump House on Singer Island, Fl. were my testing facilities.
In the years leading up to COVID, I began working closely with legendary surfboard shaper Timmy Patterson. That relationship eventually led me to acquire the original DSD CNC shaping machine, a piece of equipment with an incredible history of its own. This was the same machine used over the years by Lost, Timmy Patterson, Rusty/Rumaner, and numerous other Southern California shapers. Bringing this machine into Crowd Control Surfboards helped take the operation to another level and brought our shaping capabilities in line with modern industry standards.
Since then, I’ve continued to expand my experience and knowledge by shaping and testing boards in both coasts of Australia, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central America. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit and study the operations of numerous high-volume surfboard factories around the world, gaining firsthand insight into different manufacturing processes, materials, construction techniques, and production methods. I now have many Expert Shapers that I have talked shop and studied with from around the world, Dick Catri, Edwin “CARTON Villalobos and Reno Abilerra to name a few. Making Custom Sticks is my game. If I know your weight, height, skill level, and expectations, I can make you a “Magic Stick.” I can also replicate any “favorite board” that may be to worn out to ride anymore.
Today, Crowd Control boards are being delivered on a regular basis to surfers in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Costa Rica, El Salvador, California, Puerto Rico, and New England. Over the past three seasons, I’ve also had the opportunity to extensively test my equipment and designs throughout Indonesia, along with participating in surf-industry trips to Dubai, Japan, and Portugal.
That combination of hands-on shaping, international travel, real-world testing, and exposure to some of the best surfboard manufacturing operations in the world continues to influence everything I build at Crowd Control. Every board is an opportunity to refine the design, test the limits of construction, and create something that performs in the real world—not just on paper.
I’ve also had the privilege of competing in international shaping competitions, earning second-place finishes against top shapers from around the world. For me, those experiences are about more than competition—they’re an opportunity to continually challenge my designs, learn from other shapers, and push Crowd Control Surfboards forward.
Crowd Control Surf Co. Palm Beach, Florida
Brett Prinz
FAQ's
How did Crowd Control originate?
The Crowd Control brand was born on a day of a predicted large north swell back in the mid 80’s. The night before my board was in the middle of a quick nose repair in which I hung my board from the leash and simply dunked the nose of it into a cone shaped water cup of resin and let it dry. That following day the Surf was up and I had no time to sand it down so I tore the paper off and left what looked like a spear head, My buddy saw the board and laughed “Now that’s what I call Crowd Control!” Thus was born Crowd Control. I never did sand down that tip and coincidentally was in 2 car accidents and spearing through a windshield in one incident . That board survived both accidents!
How did you learn to shape?
I was fortunate to have mentors that developed my sense for materials and processes. My Grandfather was a carpenter and my Dad followed his footsteps and I learned to work with my hands from them both. My Mom and Grandmother are talented Artists and they showed me the other side of creating. I grew up working along side of boat builders, fiberglass pros, wood workers, metal fabricators, carpenters and artists thru my teens and into my 20’s.
With these technical principals such as mixing resin, increasing hull strength, manipulating materials, converged with my knowledge of board design, and wave conditions and an artist eye I was able to develop ideas that I surf and suggest to this day. My fascination with form and artistic placement was a direct influence of my Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Uncle all of which have made their living from their artistic gift. My desire was for the surf community to go beyond the logo and focus back into the “Art of Shaping.” I felt it was my time to grind. My early shaping days local influences were Doug Soveril, Skull Frog, and Eric Rumaner, I watched and learned the industry techniques. Eventually, I was confident enough to invest in the materials, and I got my first blank in 1997. I have been shaping ever since, 1 board at a time, each with a unique artistic twist.
Why buy a Crowd Control surfboard?
My boards are one of a kind, a history of experience that can only be told in a story. I would never claim my style to be the best however, my boards fly and, are affordable, built to shred, and can be hung on the wall with artistic world class craftsmanship. Hand or CNC shaped, airbrushed, glassed, and sanded, under 1 roof.
CNC SHAPING PROCESS
SUPPORTING TEAM RIDERS
It's always rad to hand deliver boards and immediately see them in use!
CUTTING EDGE
SURFBOARD DESIGN
I love what we do and it shows in my work. I spend the time with each client perfecting the specifications to meet a riders style of surfing or for a specific break.
Ready for a custom board?
Call us at 561-723-8039
