Billy McLean

Age: 56

Position: Head Laminator

Years of industry experience: 38

Years surfing: 41

Billy McLean started out glassing at Nirvana surfboards in Avoca in 1969, having been taught by industry veteran Alf Jefferies. After taking a surf trip to Noosa in 1970 Bill fell in love with the north NSW coast and moved to Byron Bay, starting out at San Juan. Bill first met Bob McTavish at San Juan in 1972, when Bob was working there as a shaper, and they’ve been good mates ever since. Billy left San Juan in ’73 and went to work for Warren Cornish, glassing boards for Mark Richards and Michael Peterson, before taking a break from the industry in 1982. Bill returned to Warren’s factory in ’93 following a revival in tinted laminations. Bills laminations are regarded as the finest quality tint-work worldwide.