From Humble Beginnings…
Oceanside, California — 1978
In 1978, Gary Linden opened the Brewer Surfboard Factory few blocks from the beach on South Cleveland Street in Oceanside, CA. At the same time strengthing the linden surfboard brand that he had created as a teenager in his parents garage
What started as one craftsman’s passion quickly became a respected name in performance surfboards, earning a reputation built on precision shaping and an intimate understanding of the ocean.
Quality Since 1967
“Building boards the way they should be built — by hand, with care, one at a time.”
Meet Gary Linden
Master Craftsman · Big-Wave Pioneer · Tour Founder
A master craftsman, big-wave pioneer, tour founder, and Oceanside icon — Gary Linden has shaped not just boards, but the very history of surfing for over six decades. From his first McTavish-style Vee-bottom at age 17 to founding the Big Wave World Tour (now the WSL Big Wave Tour) in 2009, his journey resonates with artistry, innovation, and raw ocean wisdom.
At 76, he continues to defy time by staying deeply tethered to the ocean. As he puts it: “Surfing keeps me healthy… I surf until I drop.”
Each Linden board is shaped with precision regardless of the material, be it foam, balsa or agave — artful masterpieces that offer performance, durability, and environmental elegance. Gary began experimenting with agave early on, embracing its natural beauty and responsive flex to forge boards that are both unique and sustainably refined.
Gary on Film
Documentaries · Interviews · Podcasts
The Agave Gun — Short Film
Featuring Gary Linden & Alex Gray · Directed by Ross Haines
At 73, Still Stoked for the Planet’s Biggest Waves
Gary Linden Profile
The Late Drop — Big Wave Podcast #9
Hosted by Jamie Mitchell
Dare Bigger™ — Gary Linden Profile
Big Wave Surfing Feature
The Linden Rise to Stardom
In the mid-’80s, Linden Surfboards rose to become one of the top three surfboard brands in the world, ridden by the champion surfers of the day.
Ridden by the World’s Best
The OG Team — Mid-’80s Through the ’90s
A Mentor to the Best
His intimate knowledge of heavy water is earned both from his own feats and feedback from some of big wave surfing’s most renowned names.
Alliance With Dick Brewer
After building boards together over fifty years ago, Gary & Dick Brewer chose to work together intermittently — a shared vision of big-wave surfing keeping them close across decades.
President of the ASP
As former president of the Association of Surfing Professionals, Gary founded the Big Wave World Tour in 2009 — which became the WSL Big Wave Tour.
As Seen In
Press & Media Features
Documentary Film
Shaping A Life
Directed by Denise Galvao, Shaping A Life follows Gary Linden — surfboard shaper and big wave rider — at a point in his career when most would have long since stepped back. At age 56, he was still riding the most dangerous and formidable waves on the planet.
The film traces Gary’s story as both a purist and an idealist. One board at a time, one wave at a time — a life spent in pursuit of something most people only ever watch from shore.
Est. 1967 — Where Heritage Meets Timeless Innovation
Still at It, Still Stoked
As a highly sought-after competition judge and organizer, Gary still lends his expertise at big-wave events each year at Jaws, Killers, Nazaré, and Mavericks.
In addition to custom foam boards, Gary’s hand shapes are centered around sustainability — using balsa and agave to create beautiful boards that are performance-oriented, durable, and hydrodynamically refined.
When he’s not chasing a swell or sitting in deep water at Todos, Gary spends his time with his family right where it all began — in Oceanside, just a few blocks from the beach.
Preserving an Art Form
Today, Linden Surfboards produces a number of custom high-performance foam boards, along with a premium collection made from balsa and agave. Each board is a hand-shaped original.