[author]Story & photo Eve Jeffery[/author]
They came from far and wide to hear the lord of surfboard shaping hold court last Friday in Byron Bay.
Bob McTavish, the designer who is considered instrumental in the development of shortboard surfing, says that since he started shaping in 1959, he has shaped more than 50,000 boards. Bob was at the Stone and Wood Brewery for the opening of the inaugural Byron Bay Surf Festival, a three-day fusion of surf culture now, including surfing, art, music, film and lifestyle with a focus on the creative culture within surfing.
He spoke about the current trends in shaping and the interesting designs on the market.
‘Some of the new designs have a lot of art and heart but many of them are just crap,’ said Bob. ‘The best surfboard is that thing that Kelly Slater rides.’
As he declared the festival open, McTavish said it was about time that Byron Bay had a surf festival, a sentiment wildly applauded by an appreciative audience that was keen to listen to the master speak.
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