Meet Patrick Dumas | Product Designer and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Dumas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For me, the ventures that carry the most risk, are ones that I haven’t experienced before. Launching a new type of product, a new brand, or even working with a new action photographer, all carry risk and likelihood of success is difficult to gauge without a point of reference. The best way to combat this is to work with experts in the particular field wherever possible, or at least whenever you are looking at committing a large sum of money. Beyond that, if you treat every new experience as an opportunity to learn, then you will never fail.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Waterborne Skateboards is an innovation company in the Surfstyle Skateboard (Surfskate) industry. We tirelessly look for ways to improve existing surfstyle skateboards, engineer solutions, and bring them to the community. Waterborne started because there was a $240 barrier to entry in the market. Thats about how much a surfskate costed in the US, and there was effectively only one company that offered them. I found a way to convert any skateboard into a Surfskate by designing a universal mount, that lent that +$200 value to any rider with an existing board. We offered this solution, called a Surf Adapter for just $59.
Shortly after we launched a second universal skateboard Adapter, which increased our profitability, and took the feel of our boards beyond what our competitors could offer.
We continue to iterate skateboard component design, patent new inventions, and refine our image, to be the best surfskate company in the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dream Itinerary: Surf 44th ST Jetty in Newport
Breakfast at Balboa Lillys
Skate the Santa Ana River Superbank in Irvine behind Del Taco
Pizza for lunch at Trenta in Costa Mesa
Make some art in the Waterborne Workshop
Cook up a storm in my kitchen for dinner
End the night with drinks and pool at BeachBall in Newport

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Early on, Waterborne skateboards was taken under the wing of a local executive named Ken Fairbanks. Ken is an extremely likable larger than life character in the OC. He also has a special ability to see the perspectives of all parties at a negotiating table. The combination of these traits means that he knows great people, and he’s never shy about making an introduction where it could help. That’s how we found our designers, lawyers, investors and manufactures. Shout out to Ken and many others for very selflessly helping to bring Waterborne so much of the success it’s seen to date. A special thanks to fellow board members, skateboard marketing tycoon Richard Pyles, and our premium branding expert Brent Carter. 

Website: https://waterborneskateboards.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterborne_skateboards/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickwaterborne/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waterborneskateboards/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WATERBORNESKATEBOARDS

Image Credits
Credit all to Waterborne Skateboards