SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) – For more than half a century, Hank Warner has helped shape the surfing industry--literally. Known as one of the most influential surfboard shapers in the world, Warner is recognized for his craftsmanship and innovation.

Since first immersing himself in San Diego’s surf scene as a 10-year-old in the early 1960s, he has shaped more than 40,000 boards and worked with some of the sport’s top athletes like Kelly Slater and Joe Roper. Today, he continues shaping and surfing in the city.

FOX 5/KUSI met with Warner at his shaping unit to gain insight into his journey as a standout in the surf industry. Here’s what said:

“I grew up in Mission Beach with an older sister. When I was about 10, she had a boyfriend named Billy Caster, who owned Olympic Surfboards, and

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