Becker

Phil Becker began his shaping career in 1958. The numbers since then are staggering. Phil has hand shaped over 120,000 boards to date-easily twice as many as any other shaper in the world. All of those boards have been shaped in the original shaping room he started almost 50 years ago, in Hermosa Beach California.

You could literally chronicle the history of the foam surfboard from start to current through his work. He is an amazing craftsman whose both Versatile and accurate. Phil was one of the pioneer shapers to reintroduce longboards to the scene in the '80s, and he is considered an important influence in the evolution of the mid size fun board.

Some interesting Phil facts: We did some rough calculations and figure that during his long career moving back and forth from nose to tail, Phil has walked to New York and back 31/2 times. Phil has never worn a watch, or owned a TV. He has never purchased a new car. As you can see in the picture, he is noticeably taller than his hair, and has been since his early '20s.

Unlike many surf personalities, Phil has chosen a professional career out of the limelight. He has always shied away from cameras and interviews.

Phil has kept a North Shore Hawaii getaway house since the mid '70s, and now splits his time between that house and his beach house on an unnameable secluded break in Southern Costa Rica.