COREY

Years surfing: 22

A former chef, Corey became addicted to riding Ben McTavish shapes and jumped at the opportunity to work in the retail store, where the opportunity often presented itself to slip out and test a new model.

Corey’s formative years were spent between Port Macquarie and Currumbin, so with that wave-rich coast as his playground, it makes sense that his favourite break is about at the halfway point – Angourie. Now living on a hobby farm acreage at Stoker’s Siding with high school sweetheart Tara and their four young kids, Corey likes nothing better than to gather the family up and “chug” down the highway to The Point, although he says he enjoys the natural surroundings as much as the wave.

Corey’s workmates describe him as down to earth, but with a wicked sense of humour. For his part, he says that the best thing about working for McTavish is that there is “continuous progression”.

ROISIN CAROLAN

Years Surfing:13

Roisin (it’s Irish and pronounced Ro-jean) is one of the smoothest and most versatile of the new generation of female longboarders. Although competing is not a high priority, she is a regular fixture on the podium whenever she dons the contest jersey, particularly in logger and old mal events, where her old school moves come to the fore.

Something of an all-round “retro chick”, Roisin can be found searching for waves along the Byron coast in her old Volkswagen, or at home in the family cottage at Binna Burra cooking or drawing. (Her baked treats are greatly appreciated whenever she drops by the McTavish factory.)

Although she spent her early years at Manly, the family moved to the Byron hinterland when she was 12, and she has taken the place to her heart, delighting in hosting visiting surfers from around the world and sharing her favourite breaks. She cites Bob McTavish, Kassia Meador, Erin “Worm” Ashley and Ray Gleave as her major influences and her McTavish Noserider as her favourite board.

Surfing buddy El McCready says Roisin is “the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met”. Add to that a “cracking sense of humour” and you have a surfer who’s not only fast becoming one of the best of her generation but is fun to be around.

LOCKIE MARLEY

Years Surfing: 14

Lockie, the in-house photographer at McTavish, is originally from Perth but now lives in the Byron hinterland and surfs the many quality breaks of the adjacent coast on a variety of surfcraft, although since making Byron his home, he has become a stand-out longboarder.

A photographer who also likes to paint, his photographer influences include William Eggleston, Saul Leiter and Ryan McGinley. His favourite McTavish? The Involvement.

A creative soul who is calm and softly spoken most of the time, Lockie can also break out a hilarious side that has workmates in stitches.

DAVE ENGLISH

Years Surfing: 39

Another former carpenter who ran his own building company on Sydney’s northern beaches, Dave made the move north six years and has worked in McTavish retail ever since. He now lives at Cabarita with wife Laurie-Ann and youngest child Rubin, and not surprisingly, nominates right out front as his favourite surf break.

Dave grew up around the surfboard epicentre of Brookvale and knows his way around the contours of a surfboard better than most, making him an invaluable part of the retail team. His favourite McTavish board? “The Rambler…at the moment”.