Axel Lorentz has shaped over 25,000 surfboards, carving a legacy as one of the most versatile and respected shapers in the surf industry. A five-time finalist at Stab in the Dark and two-time invitee to the Icons of Foam at the Boardroom Show, Axel’s reach extends beyond his roots in Europe.

Axel’s approach is that high performance and alternative shapes can co-exist, with his impressive results in said competitions a testament to this.

Raised in the French Alps with a passion for snowboarding, Surfing didn’t enter the picture until his early 20s, when a summer trip to the Basque Coast changed everything. Starting small, literally, with hand-shaped 10cm miniature boards, Axel immersed himself in the craft, learning the ropes of laminating and sanding in a local factory. By 1997, he launched his first factory, Saioa, named after his daughter.

Axel’s breakthrough came in 2001 when he crossed paths with Australian shaper Chris Garrett at the Paris Gliss’ Expo. That meeting led to winters spent shaping in Australia, side by side with Chris, which Axel describes as fundamental in his progression and understanding of shaping concepts.

The duo went on to create “Surfboards Deluxe,” a collaborative venture that helped Axel gain recognition globally.

In 2009, Axel became the official shaper for Peter Daniels in Europe, working with top surfers like world champion Adriano de Souza. As well as being
headshaper for Lost and overseeing production in Europe for Matt Biolos. By 2012, he was head shaper at Pukas, pushing the boundaries of big wave design for pros like Natxo Gonzalez and Grant “Twiggy” Baker.

His board for Mick Fanning for Stab in the Dark, the fastest ever tested with a speed of 38.4km/h, solidified Axel’s
place as a shaping icon.

Beginning of 2025 Axel launched his own factory, returning to his roots and crafting boards designed for performance and fun, no matter the conditions.