ECHO BEACH The Shape of Things to Ride Geoff McCoy gives us the lowdown on shaping boards for riding the waves.
G
eoff started shaping at Ron Surfboards in 1964, initially producing what everyone else was doing at the time: early traditional 9ft to 10ft mals with multi-stringers were standard. Geoff spent his free time surfing around Narrabeen and took the leap opening up his own factory in Brookvale, allowing him to push his design theories to the limit. Using the world’s best surfers as test pilots ultimately propelled the McCoy brand to global recognition. After expanding his brand by opening McCoy USA, Japan and Hawaii, the business grew
exponentially but through circumstances out of Geoff ’s control he was forced into receivership and he found solace and a more sustainable lifestyle in Byron Bay, living at what was then the easy, relaxed pace of town.
Geoff, what do you see when you look at surfing in Byron Bay? While the high profile of Byron
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18 November 19, 2013 The Byron Shire Echo
Bay may be good for business, the pressure on local surfers has been relentless. Far too often we are contending with ever-increasing numbers for each wave. Often these visitors are aggressive and egotistical with little real surf experience. The Bay has become a mecca for uncontrolled chaos, which causes long-term locals much frustration and disappointment. I might also point out that the popularity of Byron Bay this time around has ridden on the back of the surfboard industry. Where is surfing today and in what direction do you see it going? It has completely diversified with countless board manufacturers and a wide range of equipment available, eg jet-propelled surfboards, standup paddle boards and everything in between as well as a whole host of accessories and paraphernalia. Is surfing at a pivotal point with the advent of machine shapes and the epoxy boards? Yes. The influx of poor-quality Chinese product has had a major affect on the surfboard industry worldwide. But, because of the low quality of the product, I personally have found people returning to the locally crafted, higher-quality product. What is your take on this? Personally, I believe that there is a place for high-quality handcrafted and machineproduced, polyurethane as well as the high-quality epoxy constructed surfboards. Where do you see yourself in surfing today? I see myself as having a massive amount of knowledge, accumulated over
four decades in the dedicated study of the surfboard and its interaction with the energy forms of waves – it is an endless journey to transmit that understanding into my designs. I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to work in a career that I both enjoy and love.
Where do you see Australia in the world of surfing today? Sadly we are no longer recognised as the design leaders. However, we do currently have a bunch of world-class surfers with Joel Parkinson as current world champion and a group of up-and-coming talented surfers, which will keep us at the forefront of international surfing into the future. Australia is a nation of sun-loving beach worshippers. You must also remember that 99 per cent of all surfers are recreational, just doing what they love to do, at every opportunity. What do you think about the number of female surfers in the water today?
‘ I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to work in a career that I both enjoy and love.’
life. On a broader scale I am extremely disappointed in our Australian government for not recognising the critical condition that our world is in – unlike more enlightened nations who are actively
working towards solutions. Recently I watched a YouTube about a guy in Japan, Akinori Ito – he has invented a machine that turns plastic into fuel, not to mention right here in Australia on Lord Howe Island where they have a state-of-the-art recycling facility.
I think it’s great! My partner Mieko is a very keen surfer. It has given the lineup a completely different vibe and it satisfies the eye candy! Do you have an opinion on climate change? Yes, I do have a strong opinion on climate change and the planet’s health overall. I believe that each individual needs to be responsible in the way they lead their own
Through a desire to provide everyday surfers with more practical surfing equipment, Geoff has followed his own design path that has resulted in a strikingly different form of surfboard that is functional and versatile. As the sport of surfing evolves and the equipment continues to reflect the needs and wants of the everyday surfer, Geoff ’s approach, refined over decades, is being used as a reference for some of today’s up-and-coming shapers and surfboard manufacturers. J
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