Surfer Profile: Tyler Smith

Highlights:
Third place 2005 Mavericks event, second place 2006 Mavericks event, fourth place 2008 mavericks event, XXL nominee 2005

On February 7, 2006, South African surfer Grant 'Twiggy' Baker won the Mavericks Surf Contest in flawless conditions. Twig's fame spread far and wide, particularly seen as he managed to get a slot into the event via a readers¹ pole on surfermag.com. Yet scant regard was given to second placed Tyler Smith, a Mavericks local. Even more noticeable, seen as he placed third in 2005. That second place was a close one. He had surfed a winning event, and needed one more wave to come through in the final. He needed to gods to smile on him just one more time, to throw him a bone and to let him catch one final bomb. It was not to be and Twiggy Baker took the title.

Still, Tyler impresses both at Mavericks as well as at Ghost Trees. Having not really heard too much about Tyler, and having not met the guy, we got hold of Mavericks heavy-hitter Grant Washburn to find out about the enigma that is Tyler. This is what Grant had to say, Santa Cruzian Tyler Smith wears his hair tight, like a bowling ball.  His twelve o'clock shadow creates a peculiar velcro effect, allowing him to sport a wool cap in twenty five foot surf - and not lose it.  This disarming strategy has left heavyweight legends like Evan Slater and Brock Little gawking from the shoulder, as Ty flies by.  He's quiet and mild mannered on shore, and a gentleman in the sea. Though he faces the wrong way, he seems to have eyes in the back of his head - making just the right adjustment at critical moments.  When a big set storms in at Maverick's or Ghost Tree, chances are good that Tyler Smith will be in the thick of it.  He has made the finals at Maverick's in the last three events, and earned a narrow second to some guy named "Twiggy" in 2006.
"Tyler Smith rips, period."G-Man