Almost 12 months have passed since we announced Bob McTavish as the recipient of the inaugural FCS Legend Shaper Award. Cast your mind back and you might remember watching Bob and Mick sharing a few special hours in the bay. As Bob mowed the slab of foam into what would become one of his classic 70’s Bluebird models, you could feel Mick’s excitement build at the thought of surfing the masterpiece on a long clean wall.
After setbacks with injury and a global pandemic we had no choice but to wait… but then eventually we got the text from Mick… “My knee feels amazing, let’s do this”.
Bob had always envisioned Mick riding the board at Lennox Head, where that particular model was developed, and as luck would have it, the stars aligned with a groomed 6 foot swell that would provide a perfect canvas for Mick to give his new Bluebird its maiden voyage.
Sit back and watch as one of the most technically advanced surfers on the planet rides a 70’s design that holds significant relevance in the development of modern day performance surfing. Old meets new, classic meets progression. It’s a marriage that produces some pretty magic moments.
The Legend Award is about recognising the impact of a shaper on the evolution of surfing and surfboard shaping.
Bob Mctavish's influence on surfboard design and performance dating back to the 1960s is undeniable. Here’s a man who spearheaded the shortboard revolution and found new ways to ride waves. The fact that over 40 years later, he’s still in the bay and surfing daily is a testament to his love of the craft.
Congratulations Bob, and on behalf of the global surfing community… Thank you!