Tyler Surfboards: Best shop shaper
Tyler Hatzikian in his shaping bay. Photo by Brent Broza
“Advanced traditional design” is the guiding principle of Tyler Surfboards’ Tyler Hatzikian.
“My goal was to build longboards with no shortboard influence, as if shortboards never existed,” Hatzikian said.
Over the past three decades, his prized longboards, which he shapes, does the color work, pinlines, glasses and finishes have become among the most respected in surf history.
“I started building boards in 1984, when I was 12 years old,” he said. “I picked up where guys like Hap Jacobs and Dale Velzy left off, at the pinnacle of traditional longboard design in 1966.”
In addition to being a master in all surfboard building disciplines, Hatzikian is his own best test pilot. “There are not many shapers who ride their designs and push them to their full potential in the water,” said longboarder and traditional surfboard enthusiast Shawn O’Brien. “He really put El Segundo on the map in the surf world and there’s a reason he’s always a finalist in the South Bay Boardriders Big Wave Challenge. He charges.”
Tyler Surfboards: 118 W. Grand Ave, El Segundo. (310) 322-6861.
Runner-up: Mark Brog, Brog Surfboards & Soul Performance Surf Shop.
2215 Artesia Blvd. Redondo Beach.