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November 2005 Issue
Shaper Spotlight: Gabriel Loyd
Words and Photos by Vincent Shay
First impressions are everything. Walking into Gabriel Loyd’s shaping room gave me a first impression that I will not forget for some time. Vivid blues and greens under fiberglass give his boards a life of their own. A living, breathing entity that almost begs to find that perfect wave on its own. No rider needed. Central Coast board shaper Gabriel Loyd is a surfer and has been all his life. Born and raised around surfing, his philosophy has always been centered on the joy of the ocean and the form of a wave as art.
Not a particularly competitive surfer, Loyd would rather be known as one to give a wave than to take one. He is the son of legendary photographer and board shaper Aaron Loyd. He learned early on that quality and the final product is the most important component to the art of shaping. Every shape begins from a raw blank and ends with the final polishing. Gabriel does everything and enjoys being in control of every facet of his shapes. Learning every aspect of the final product is his goal.
“A lot of people don't know that I do everything! From shaping, to glassing, to doing my own airbrushing!” he said.
In Pismo Beach his shapes stand apart not only because of the quality of his boards, but his unique airbrushing. Each board is a piece of art that seems to breathe, but even more than that, the creation seems to have a soul.
Loyd learned from the best. He credits his development to working with his father who shapes for Al Merrick and PJ Wahl, local Central Coast shapers. Both role models have been pivotal mentors in not only his personal life, but also for his passion for shaping surfboards. “When I go into shops, I check out every shape. I truly believe Al Merrick designs are the best. The quality of the boards and consistency of the shapes are what I model my own shapes from.”
Equally important is the feedback he gets from surfers who regularly surf his shapes. Always evolving and learning, a shaper fine-tunes his art form. This is the destination of every shaper and Loyd is no different.
None of Loyd's boards are pre-shaped digitally. He believes in the art of finding the shape. Like most of the artists I have met, Loyd truly believes the perfect shape is already in the blank; it‚s just up to the shaper to find it. Not to say that Loyd is against computer shapes, he just wants to truly learn and hone the art of shaping before he starts to utilize the computer.
Loyd's specialty board is his 'Miss Piggy‚ model. Not just the average short board, but also more of a high-performance hybrid model. He believes that boards in general are getting shorter with increased width and more curvature in the templates, especially in California. This philosophy is what drives his board designs.
Loyd is very excited about the future. Creating a business and working with his father is his goal and his passion for the industry is driven through his dedication to the art of creating a quality surfboard design. Loyd believes in hard work and a 'never give up‚ attitude' Loyd is here to stay.
“I am a shaper, but I really want to be a ‘company.’ I don’t want to be just a ‘backyard shaper’! Everyone starts somewhere, but my goals are set very high.”
If you are interested in surfboards that ‘breathe’, check out Loyd Surfboards at Solutions in Pismo Beach, Shell Beach Surf Shop, and Azhiaziam in Los Osos. Loyd Surfboards also has an exclusive dealer in Cayucos at Cesmat Surf. You can contact Gabriel at gabrielloyd@hotmail.com or 441-5103.
Posted November 2005 Blue Edge Magazine. All rights reserved.
