Alex Lopez on the Joy of Surfboard Shaping and His Go-To Designs
If you know or have met Alex, you love this guy. Incredibly humble and unassuming, Alex is genuine, in the moment, and has a massive stoke for surfing - like actual feet in the wax surfing. It's been fun to get to know Alex better through the process of building his fins. We are honored to be a partner and evolve with him on his journey as a shaper!
The board that set everything in motion for Alex was a 7’4” Terrapin - a shape that clicked immediately and has since become the backbone of his quiver. Originally shaped as a single fin, it was intended to be the one board you could always keep in the car-versatile, reliable, and fun in almost any conditions. Over time, the design proved adaptable. It’s been built as a twin, tri-fin, quad, bonzer, even a twinzer. The familiarity of the shape remains, but each fin setup opens a new window into performance.
The Diamond Twin was made with the initial idea of making a shortboard for people who don’t ride shortboards. The dimensions haven’t changed much since the first 6’4”, but the refinements never stop. Watch Noa Mizuno go ham on a Diamond Twin in warmer waters.
Testing with partner Leah Dawson, who brings a wide range of experience and important feedback, has been key to evolving Alex's design. Her input, sometimes subtle, sometimes direct, has helped keep the boards honest and responsive to how people actually want to surf.
Shaping out of Moonlight Glassing has only deepened the design progression. Surrounded by master builders, the shaping bay has become both a creative outlet and a place of constant learning. Surfboards may be toys, but they’re toys meant to spark stoke. That’s the spirit behind every board: make something with intention, let it evolve, and hope it brings someone a little more stoke in the water.
