In an era where a customer can get lost in surf shops that resembles a giant discount emporium or a pretentious art gallery and customers are forgotten by the smug help, ET Surf stays true to its 1972 roots. Last year’s South Bay Big Wave Challenge winner and ET Surf co-manager Dan Connel’s knowledge and friendliness epitomizes the help that’s been at the shop for over 40 years.
“With 500 boards at one time, we have the biggest selection in the South Bay,” Connel said. “We carry brands Channel Islands, Lost, JS, Rusty, Firewire, Bing, Jacobs Takayama, Pearson Arrow, and shapes by our very own legend Pat Ryan, who’s been here since the beginning.”
ET carries nine brands of wetsuits, all the accessories a surfer could ever need, and stocks the leading surf clothing and shoe companies.
“We’ve kept this place surf and wetsuit first,” Connel said. “[We’re] more than just an apparel store.”
ET Surf: 904 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach. (310) 379-7666. ETSurf.com
Runner up: Spyder Surfboards 65 Pier Avenue (310) 374-2494 and 2461 Pacific Coast Hwy., (310) 374-8276. Hermosa Beach. SpyderSurf.com
