Raised at Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma, Terry Martin worked for Hobie Surfboards, shaping more than 80,000 surfboards. During his career Martin shaped an average of 10 boards a day. He was given the nickname “The Machine.” Over a span of six decades, he created signature boards for surf legends Corky Carroll and Phil Edwards Gary Propper, Gerry Lopez, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew and Joyce Hoffman.

Timmy Patterson is a well-known California shaper and creator of innovative fin designs. Some of his surfboard models have been ridden by surfing legends such as Andy Irons, Christian Fletcher, Mike Parsons, Jordy Smith, Sunny Garcia, Jaime O'Brien and the recent world champion Italo Ferreira. A second generation shaper from a legendary surf family, he was raised in surfboard factories, starting his career making fins in the glass shops.

Jerry O’Keefe shaped over 25,000 surfboards over 25 years while shaping for labels such as Hobie Surfboards, Stewart Surfboards, Dewey Weber, Timmy Patterson, Lost Surf Boards and Hurley as well as his own label Soul Stix. His surf boards have been ridden by Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Mick Fanning, Brett Simpson, Yadin Nicol, Neco Padaradtz, David Nuuhiwa, Damien Hobgood, Martin Potter, Nat Young, and others.

Cole Simlar started at the Hobie factory learning from the legends, then at the Surf Spot with Roy Gonzalez in San Clemente. Cole Surfboards opened in 1987 in San Luis Obispo, after Cole moved there to attend school at Cal Poly. In 1999 he soon relocated back in San Clemente, hooked up with his old crew and began building boards for Jordy Smith, Matt Archbold, Nathan Fletcher, Bruce and Andy Irons, Chris Ward and a host of others. 

Raised in Buena Park Rick started shaping on his own in 1970 under the Rockit surfboard label. In 1984, he began working at Brad Basham’s shop  where laminator guru Mike Muir introduced him to Shaun Stussy who became his mentor. He struck out on his own with  Fredrick Surfboards. In 2022 he won the Boardroom Icons of Foam award.  A shaper for Lost and Mayhem, he has been Mark Richards exclusive USA shaper since 2004, Rick Rock may be the longest running board builder in the Los Molinos Surf Ghetto.

Winner of the 2015 San Clemente Times People’s Choice Awards, Garth Day was a well-respected shaper and beloved character in the Southern Orange County surfing world. Part of the Surf Ghetto crew and a hot surfer himself, Day died on July 25th, 2015. Nearly 300 people gathered July 31 at Lasuen Beach for a paddle-out in his memory. Friends said he had been dealing with financial troubles and painful health challenges.

Matt "Mayhem" Biolas first entered the shaping scene sanding surfboards under Herbie Fletcher. He created Lost Surfboards, one of the biggest and most successful surfboard brands in the world. One of the most recognized names in shaping, his boards have been ridden by three-time World Champ Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, Cory Lopez, the Ho family, Taj Burrow, Kolohe Andino, and the late Andy Irons among others.

Born in Belgium before landing in Southern California as a youngster, Jean Pierre Van Swea, known exclusively as “The Fly” is the only surfer in California to have a street named in his honor. In 1961, he was employed at Wardy Surfboards. Over the course of his career, Van Swae was part of many production teams most notably for both Dale Velzy and Hobie Alter. He continues to make surfboards, paddles, and hand planes today.

An original pioneer of modern foam shaping Del Cannon was among the surfers credited with riding Waimea Bay for the first time. He appeared as a performer in early Bruce Brown films After shaping for Hobie and Ole surfboards, opened his first shop in San Clemente in 1965. He moved to Maui in 1970, shaped for Lightning Bolt, then moved to the Big Island to become a charter fishing boat captain. He died in 2021 at 85.