Although people have been catching waves along Lebanon’s coast since the 1970s, Paul Abbas may have the distinction of being the only surfboard shaper in the country. When the avid surfer realized all the surfboards he loved were made outside Lebanon, he saw an opening. After countless hours spent watching YouTube videos, asking questions in online forums, and good old-fashioned trial and error, Abbas developed his own style — and his own following of Beirutis looking for homegrown boards to ride their homegrown waves.

Additional video and editing by Elie Khadra.