Gordon “Grubby” Clark on Surfboard Design, Polyurethane, and Blank Monday and the End of Clark Foam

The mastermind behind large-scale production of the surfboard blank, Gordon “Grubby” Clark’s pioneering of polyurethane foam in constructing the modern surfboard enabled the progression of surfing as a culture. Enthralled by materials from a young age, Clark received a combined degree in math and physics from Pomona College before working as a glasser at Hobie Surfboards and as an apprentice to Tom Blake, inventor of the surfboard fin, while splitting time between Hawaii and California. When demand for foam boards proliferated across Southern California in the late 1950s, Clark was quick to employ his background toward industrializing and streamlining the production of polyurethane foam blanks, becoming the defining blank maker from the early ’60s until Clark Foam’s sudden and shocking closure in 2005. Since then, “Grubby” has lived and worked on a sprawling cattle ranch in Oregon, which is where host Jamie Brisick sat down and talked with Clark about the adaptation of modern surfboard design, the intricacies of foam and fiberglass, the value of an education in science, the emergence of computer programming, the shortboard revolution, and why he closed shop.
Become a TSJ member at surfersjournal.com
Produced by Jonathan Shifflett.
Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin).
Feature image by Sierra McClain/Capital Press.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

Such a fascinating and interesting legend. Awesome interview.

[@jeremyjpegan]

Dana Point! Let’s go

[@GrynerSurfboards]

This is the best surfing industry story in the whole planet

[@olafhenke5654]

Great one! Thank you. What a legend 🙌

[@stevenwood7613]

Remember diving in your dumpster and getting caught a little unclear exactly, but you told us about the rejects and it changed my life! You kept my 3X5 card for years.

[@darinrmcclure]

Thank you for sharing this great interview!!! 🖖😎 #TeamBigKook

[@Tblanktim-mu1bh]

Another case of government oversight putting a producer out of business. Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face. Such a great story of development only to be ended by small minded drones. That in a nutshell, is the story of modern day California. The closing of Clark Foam rocked the industry however, it liberated the backyard shaper. We all owe a HUGE debt to Mr. Clark.
Amazing fellow.

[@juanjacosurf]

El mejor!