JC: Scotty McKercher is a natural explorer, driven by his urge to seek and experience new places and ride perfect waves all over the world. The word ‘drive’ is a key element in his life! Not only for those thousands miles behind the wheel, chasing forecasts up and down the coast of West Australia but ‘drive’ is what he demands from his wave boards as he powers through his bottom turns, ready to hook up into one of his trademark gouges.
SM: “Drive is one of the most important elements of any wave board in my eyes! When you put the board on rail and push, acceleration and speed come as a result. But that motion has got to be smooth and the board has have the ability to redirect at any point in the turn. It’s critical in a jibe, bottom turn and top turn. Drive comes from the entire package of rocker, rail and fins. There’s multiple ways of attaining it. In terms of technique it’s almost an attitude of wanting to push. You lean into your turns with front foot bias utilizing a lot of rail. Once the rail is engaged you pushed harder and acceleration and speed comes as a result. A vertical approach to the lip is my favorite way of sailing so a board with drive makes this much more attainable. When we first started designing quads, there was this drive sensation that I’d never experienced before and I was definitely excited. Generation one had a stupid amount of squirt and drive, but they were a bit hard to handle. They were a bit like a Muscle car with a massive V8 – tonnes of power, but with handling issues. Now we’ve gotten to a pretty good combination of easy-to-use, smooth-yet-controlled power. I’d say a bit like an Audi RS4!”
JC: Talking of cars, when back at home in the Western Australian summer, Scotty’s wheels are just as important as his boards and recently he has purchased a new ride into his quiver:
SM: “Yeah, you could say I’ve done quite a few Ks in WA, hundreds of thousands in fact! It’s lucky that I kinda like driving. I find it almost meditative. Forcing you to sit, think and reflect. Right now I have two vehicles. A 2001 Mazda Bravo 4×4, which I bought with my bonus money from winning the World Title. It’s had pretty much everything replaced so it’s not cost effective to sell it considering the amount I’ve spent on it to keep it going. And it’s gotten to the stage where I’ve got a little bit sentimental about it. And in WA you just have to have a 4-wheelie to get where you need to go sometimes. Then, last year, I bought a secondhand Passat wagon as I reckon they’re super stylish, ‘hell economical’ and heaps faster than the truck. So that one is basically the luxury ‘between Perth and Margs’ car and for fangs over to Esperance. I’d say my truck has been semi-retired to the Margies tracks and up-north runs. I do love ‘em both. I guess you can say I have an old love and new love!
