There's a surf spot at Broken Head called Dereks. I guess most of the crew that hit it every morning wouldn't have a clue how come its called that. Well here's the rub.

The classy goofy in this photo is none other than the Derek. Mr. Derek Beckner, son of Bo Beckner, both of them very cool California surfers.

Derek lobbed here from the States in the mid-sixties, chose Byron as his base, and grooved on the lack of crowds and the absolute abundance of waves, with warm water! Concurently, I was at Hayden's at Alexandra Heads, surfing Noosa every time a ripple appeared. We often caught up, and we became great friends.

I lived with him in North Counties San Diego in 1970. He returned to Byron in '72 and started the best eatery in town, the famous Ribcage, making superb teriyaki burgers, fat tuna/mayo sandwiches, and great coffee. He bought a house at Broken, and surfed those left beach breaks so well the locals just had to name it Dereks!

This is a great photo of Derek at Signals, by the first real Byron Bay surf junkie, Max Pendergast.

Photo courtesy Max Pendergast

Here's another classic Barry Kelly photo snapped on the P&O Orsova, 1963. 

On the left are the three Maroubra gremlins, Bobcat, Natch, and Ugh. I haven't seen Natch or Bobcat since the sixties, but would really dig it if they got in touch. But Ugh, alias Barry Andreas, has been a mate and local Byron Builder since the early seventies. We even hung out at Noosa in the sixties. He just loves his golf, at the club about two hundred metres from my house.

That's Stowaway Bob in the middle (with some nice board bumps on my knees), next is Pikey, then the man himself, Barry Kelly.

Barry met the girl to become his wife and mother of his boys on that trip. The guy on the camera was most likely Dave Chidgey, fellow stowaway. Groovy! 

Bob

These miniature McTavish Surfboards were sent over to us this week all the way from Japan. They're hand-made by Hatsushi Yamanaka, who has made over 500 mini surfboards since he started the hobby in 1996. The detail is amazing and all of the materials used are the same as what we use on real boards, right down to the timber stringers, foam blanks and PU resin. Check out more of his work here.

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The Bluebird is just 230mm long, and the longboard is 255mm

This week we had this special board come into stock - its a 10'1" NEO and features a printed fabric deck patch designed by Valori Wells from Sisters, Oregon in the US of A. The print is pretty striking and looks great against the red pigment bottom and rails, and the volan deck. Its all set off with a brown pinline. 

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This beauty is a full carbon fibre G2 with a timber veneer insert for the logo - a work of art and credit to the skills of the factory team.

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Now ready to slide - this Fat bugger. Should be interesting.

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This is late news but the McTavish team put in some great results at this years ANZAC Dawn Surface, hosted by Burleigh Longboard Club. McTavish retail guru Dave English posted a win in the over 40's, and Greg Tilley also upheld the honour with a 5th in the over 60's. Roisin Carolan also placed 3rd in the ladies AND had a great result in the Byron Malibu Classic the week after. 

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Hollywood Dave English, on his way to a win in the over 40's

GT - hitting the lip in the over 60's

Surfing World called him 'one of the most influential and important surfers and shapers in history' and today Bob McTavish marks a half century of shaping with a special offer that allows surfers to have Bob shape their board with him. For $400 on top of the cost of the board Bob will work with you at the McTavish Factory at Byron Bay to design and hand shape your board. If the surf is right, Bob will surf with you to get a take on your style. Bob will fully hand-shape the board, start to finish, with your input and personally sign it.

Customers will be able to choose a classic from any past era, or a current hot design to lift their surfing to a new level. Each board will soon become a collectable.

Bob McTavish

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