In 1961 Bob McTavish quit his radio/TV career path (at 17) when he got fired for surfing, not working. So he started surfboard shaping up and down the East Coast of Australia to support his addiction. He became a world leading surfer/shaper, and he still shapes and surfs on a daily basis. He lead the charge into the Shortboard Revolution in the late sixties, progressed shortboard shapes through to the nineties, then redesigned the modern longboard and midlengths. He's currently working with his team on quads, loose guns, and travel boards.

Bob recently signed with Global Surf Industries, because, as he says, "It's all about DESIGN from here on. Anyone can MAKE surfboards, but now the best DESIGNS can be accessed by the international market, thanks to Global Surf Industries."

Bob based himself in the Byron Bay/Lennox Head region to benefit from the warm water and prevalent solid south swells. He's surf-travelled extensively, especially the Pacific, and knows how to score uncrowded surf wherever he goes. He's happily married to Lynn, now for 35 years, and together they raised 5 kids. You may catch him surfing around the area, but then again, he knows where it's going off, yet uncrowded.

View a video interview with Bob discussing his early surfing experiences and his endless passion for designing surfboards. (Sept 07)