Labor of Love by Parker Schmidt
as seen on Type7
"Surfing is a passion that's tightly entangled in my family DNA. For myself, the sport of surfing wasn't what particularly drew me in, but it was the time spent en route to the shore, rallying through the jungles of Costa Rica that gave me the drive and energy,” explains custom surfboard maker Forrest Minchinton
Forrest was taught the trade of shaping, glassing, and coloring surfboards by his father and hall of fame shaper, Mike Minchinton, who himself had been shown the traditional way of board shaping by surf legend Robert August (some might know this name from the iconic surf film, "The Endless Summer"). Forrest had the opportunity to be a young apprentice and shop hand to his father and August to make an extra buck to keep his dirt bike running.
"I quickly put that before surfing. When I was younger, cleaning up the shop and helping my dad shape was a labor of love, something I endlessly cared for, but in reality, the work fueled my true passion."
As Forrest split his time between Costa Rica and California, he had found himself more in the dunes and backcountry than the shore. Come 2019, Forrest had taken on the Baja 9000, a non-stop, south of the border offroad battle from California to Mexico and back. Adding an extra element to this endeavor, Forrest had decided to direct a feature film of his experiences during the race, which is releasing later this year.
While hopping around the world, touring South Africa, and surfing in Japan, Forrest continued to make extra money with his board shaping side passion.
In these more recent years, his passion for shaping has had something of a second flame, as Forrest found joy in meeting new faces and bringing the joy of surfing to those worldwide.
In these more recent years, his passion for shaping has had something of a second flame, as Forrest found joy in meeting new faces and bringing the joy of surfing to those worldwide.
Now, Forrest has established something of a home base in the local surf infused town of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. He's made his mark in the local scene by establishing a surf hotel and shaping space known as the “House of Somos”, a space founded on the respect of surfing tradition. Sometimes, it turns out, the road will lead you back to where you started, but it will never leave you unchanged.
CREDITS
Subject: Forrest Minchinton
Lead Creative: Parker Schmidt
Supporting Photographer: Giulia Woergartner
Client: Type7
Lead Creative: Parker Schmidt
Supporting Photographer: Giulia Woergartner
Client: Type7
