The Surfboard Shapers

JEFF “DOC” LAUSCH

Doc got his nickname from an original Huntington Beach California punk rocker in 1980. "Rex Collision" loved to give the punk nick names and Jeff was the recipient of "Doc Mad" because of the dust mask he'd wear that looked somewhat like a doctor's mask, as Jeff would emerge from the shaping room with his latest creation to the chorus of "There's Doctor Mad". Jeff made the mistake of complaining about the "Doc Mad" nick name, and well, the rest is history.

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LARRY MABILE

Larry Mabile or "Larmo"...Doer of good deeds..... Larry grew up in Pacific Beach, California and spent his early days bombing hills, surfing law street, the point, and working as a captain on a fishing boat. Learning to surf in 1973 led him to his first job in the surfboard industry for G&S in 1979. During his time at G&S, Larry shaped and worked with legendary surfer and shaper, Skip Fry. more

GARY LINDEN

I was born in El Centro (a big desert) on December 11, 1949. Our family moved to San Diego, 120 miles from where I was born, about three years later. My dad grew up in Hermosa Beach and loved the ocean. We used to go to the beach together on the weekends and bodysurf. Later we got canvas mats, and finally, in 1962, when the Beach Boys were singing “Everybody’s Surfing Now”, I had to give it a try. From that first day, it has been pretty much non-stop. more

JIM PHILLIPS

Jim Phillips’s experiences in becoming a shaper span both coasts of the United States. Through the years, his understanding of wood, foam and its properties makes him one of the few expert craftsmen that can produce a work of art whose exceptional quality translates to performance in the water. more

HANK WARNER

A California shaping legend, Hank Warner started shaping in 1967 with his brother in law Billy Caster. He has traveled the world to surf and shape custom surfboards in Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and most of coastal mainland USA. more

COLE SIMLER

Longtime San Clemente shaper Cole Simler has been at the forefront of innovation and high-performance boards for nearly a decade. Following an in-town tutelage at the Hobie Surf Factory, Simler moved up the coast in search of waves and an education. more

BILL “SHROS” SHROSBREE

Spanning a career in the surf industry of over 45 years, the legendary “Shros” is as prolific a shaper as they come. He has shaped for and with an incredible collection of surfing’s most notable names. Many would argue that he is one of the top “ghost” shapers of all time. more

JOHN KIES

My 1st inspiration for shaping started in 1965 after surfing a 9’6” Dale Bewoodward. I cut the fin into a speed shape & realized I could redesign a board for maximum performance. In 1969 I started shaping & glassing boards in my parents garage for my own personal use & found that there was a market for my boards. I was selling a new board every week. more

BOB MITSVEN

Born and raised in San Diego, Mitsven first started surfing in 1967. Surfing the best breaks with friends around the area led to shaping his first board in 1972. It was also the year that he considers his defining moment in shaping. “In 1972, I rode my first 6’6” down rail board. It was just so responsive and you could push the board so much farther. It really opened the doors to what was possible.” more

DAVE PEARSON

Dave Pearson has over fifteen years and 10,000 plus boards experience. He is the head shaper and co-owner of Ezera Surfboards and has become one of the most innovative shapers in the industry. more

DAVID BARR

At age 16 David Barr began a promising shaping career only to be interrupted by another career as a professional surfer.  After working his way up, he broke into the pro tour top 20 and stayed there four years competing in contests all over the world including South Africa (winning at Jeffrey’s Bay), Hawaii, Australia, Europe, and the East and West Coasts of the USA. more

TIM BESSELL

Tim Bessell loves his job. He combines lifelong surfing experience with expert craftsmanship to create some of the best custom surfboards in the world. From world class professionals to weekend warriors, ask anyone who knows him and they'll tell you the same thing: Tim is more than a shaper, he's an artist. more

GREG SAURITCH

After catching my first wave in Huntington Beach, I was hooked on surfing and decided that I needed a board of my own. I was young and couldn't afford to buy one, so I learned how to shape one on my own. As time went on, I began shaping for anyone that was looking for a new board. more

CORDELL MILLER

After catching his first wave at the age of nine, Cordell fell in love with surfing. This love led to a promising amateur career in his early teens and an enviable professional one by the time Cordell was old enough to drive. Focusing on editorial coverage instead of contests, Cordell became a standout at Southern California’s most famous beach and point breaks. more

MIKE WALKER

Mike started shaping in 1996 and has already shaped thousands of boards under labels like Rusty, Sharp Eye, Xanadu, G & S, Kane Garden, Lightning Bolt, Rossin, Hynson, and his own label, Walker. For his every pass of his planner he is focused on one thing... more

MICHAEL ANDREWS

Michael Andrews grew up in Cronulla, Sydney, home to some of Australia’s gnarliest waves. He started shaping out of his garage when he was 16 and is now regarded as one of the best handcraftsman going around, with almost 20 years shaping experience under his belt. more

BILL MINARD

The summer of 1960, Bill Minard rented a 35lb. long board from a small surf shop one block north of Crystal Pier.  He then walked the ½ mile down to Pacific Beach Drive to surf without the crowds.  Twelve years later he was shaping boards for that same shop and has since gone on to become one of San Diego’s premier shapers. more 

STEVE BARTO

Barto started his shaping career as an underground custom surfboard shaper in 1977. In the beginning he was mostly shaping for friend and friends of friends but the lifestyle afforded him the opportunity to surf blacks and other breaks around San Diego, and then to travel to surf destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, Fiji, and France. more