Shaper Interview with Gary McNeill

In this episode I catch up with Gary McNeill from Gary McNeill Concepts.

I first met Gary when I was working on the Gold Coast nearly 20 years ago.  From the very first meeting I found him to be friendly, dedicated, talented and a real individual pursuing his own path.

Gary grew up surfing competitively, but a few changes in life would motivate him to move from Wollongong to the Gold Coast.  He started working for Nev surfboards.  Soon after starting work, he was promoted to production manager at a time when Nev was one of the biggest surfboard brands in Australia.

In the years that followed, Gary would be poached by DHD and JS before deciding to focus on his own surfboard brand.  After a couple of decades surrounded by high performance surfboards, Gary wanted something different.  His first step was joining the Formula Energy surfboard family until he decided he wanted 100% control of his surfboards.

It took two years of research and development with the highly talented Dave Rastovich to establish his surfboard range.  It was during this time that Gary and Dave explored the Taurus channel, a design so good that Gary cannot believe more people are not doing them.  Gary continues to design without constraints and is always producing something new like the 'Frankenfish'.

Gary provides a bit of information from behind the scenes of STAB's - Electric Acid Surfboard Test, his journey with flax cloth as well as a few tips and tricks on how to use it best.

I hope you enjoy my chat with Gary McNeill.