Keyo

A SURFING FAMILY DYNASTY

IN 1957 A YOUNG DENNY KEOGH STARTED SHAPING SURFBOARDS FROM HIS GARAGE.

TWO YEARS LATER IN 1959, THE KEYO SURFBOARD FACTORY AND RETAIL SHOP WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN BROOKVALE ON SYDNEY’S NORTHERN BEACHES.

THE HUMBLE SUBURB OF BROOKIE QUICKLY SOON BECAME THE COUNTRY’S AND THE WORLD’S SURFBOARD MANUFACTURING HUB.

NU UN A FA F C CT TU UR R N IN I G HU HUB B. .

THE HISTORY OF KEYO INTERNATIONAL

Legend surfer Midget Farrelly was the fi rst surfboard shaper brought in to help with the workload at Keyo. Denny in fact shaped the board that Midget rode to victory in the fi rst World Surfi ng Championships, held at Manly Beach in 1964.

Enter Bob McTavish, another legend of the surf industry, who joined Keyo in 1967. Here he shaped his Vee bottom, wide backed nine footers which in part kicked off the short board revolution. The McTavish designed Keyo Plastic Machine Vee bottom models were soon selling at the astonishing rate of 70 a week.

In 1968, Nat Young came on board and with his high profi le Keyo produced another popular model, the Tracker.

Other high profi le shapers to work under the Keyolabel were guys like Kevin Platt, Neil Purchase, Geoff McCoy, Col Smith, Phil Cooper and Mickey Mac.

In 1972, Denny acquired the Hobie Cat franchise and began building catamarans. By 1974, the production of Keyo surfboards fi nished, giving way to the high demand of the popular Hobie Cat.

Then in the mid 90s, Johnny Gill married Denny’s daughter Vanessa.

The Keyo brand was brought back to life. With Johnny’s respected following, KeyoSurfboards is once again back in high demand. BEACHES COVERED. GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH THIS ICON OF THE BROOKVALE SURFING INDUSTRY AND ASKED JOHNNY SOME POINTED QUESTIONS.

Q. Johnny, how did surfi ng come into your life? What path has it taken you down? I have been surfi ng most of my life, nearly 50 years. I started surfi ng, well, catching waves at least when I was a toddler. Surfi ng was just what we all did as kids growing up in Avalon. It was almost weird if you didn’t surf.

As I got older, I took a slightly different path to a lot of my friends. I found a love of all kinds of craft, not just what the guys on tour were riding. I was interested in old boards, longboards, retro ones like Eggs and Fish, and fi nding out what all the alternative boards could offer.

Q. When did it become your career? I am a sailmaker by trade in my younger years, but eventually found my way into the surfboard game later in life. I married into the Keyo surfboard family, a little bit of surfi ng history, and eventually resurrected the label once again.

Q. Your brand Keyo is located out of the Rhino Laminating factory in Brookvale. What’s the gel there? Well, it’s nice I get to make Keyo surfboards in the suburb Keyo started in back in 1959. Rhino Laminating is a great place to work. It’s a hive of activity with lots of great labels and quality glass jobs.

Q. Why is Brookvale a great place for your business? Brookvale is a great place to work. There’s so much industry around and you don’t have to travel far for materials or even a good meal. It has everything, except the parking. There’s also some cool little boutique businesses popping up, bringing a little bit of culture to the area as well.

Q. Lastly, tell us three things you love about Brookie? Proximity to the beaches. You can get almost anything you need. And, it’s home to the mighty Sea Eagles. •

KEYO INTERNATIONAL 42 ORCHARD RD, BROOKVALE 0414 577 813

Insta: keyointl

www.keyointernational.com