After a 1965 trip to Noosa with Nat young and Greenough, McTavish came up with the thin railed high aspect ratio fin board ‘Big Sam’ that young used to win the World Contest in 66 and kickstart the shortboard revolution. Later, he came up with the first ever vee bottom boards, the short wide ‘Fantastic Plastic Machines’ which he and young rode at Honolua Bay as a start alternative to the conventional Brewer mini-guns. Credited with the first production swallowtails in the mid 70’s, McTavish was reportedly a meticulous record keeper, compiling detailed archives on all his design developments, only later to destroy them after converting to Krishna.
Share