Gregg Tally: surfboard shaping legend and Ryan Lovelace mentor

Gregg Tally was a master surfboard shaper from Santa Barbara, California, whose deep connection to surfing and craftsmanship left an indelible mark on the sport. Born and raised in Montecito, he began surfing at the age of five at Hammond's Reef, immersing himself in the culture and traditions that would shape his lifelong dedication to board building.

Gregg's journey as a shaper began in 1961 when Jeff White opened White Owl Surfboards in Summerland. Under White’s mentorship, he learned the intricacies of surfboard design and craftsmanship. By 1967, he co-founded RAG Surfboards with Rush Hinsdale, engaging in the transition from longboards to the emerging shortboard revolution. His pursuit of innovation took him to Hawaii, where he honed his skills in various aspects of surfboard production before returning to Santa Barbara in the mid-1990s.

Tally would later become a guiding force for a new generation of surfboard shapers, including Ryan Lovelace and Catherine Girard. Lovelace credits Tally as a monumental influence on both his work ethic and his personal journey. Gregg was a driving influence of Lovelace’s interest in hull design and helped him find his balance of blending modern surfboard performance characteristics with concepts of the past.

More than just a craftsman, Gregg Tally was a historian of surf culture, a preserver of traditions, and a mentor to those who shared his passion. His legacy lives on through the boards he shaped, the shapers he influenced, and the surfers who continue to ride his designs, carrying forward the spirit of innovation and respect he embodied.