As part of Carve Collective, we are catching up with surfers, shapers, photographers and all round local legends across the UK and Ireland.
Next up in the series is Mark Boyd, Sport Operations Manager for Scottish Surfing and a fixture at Thurso East for over two decades. Alongside a Carve cover and a stack of national titles, he now splits his time between Caithness and Edinburgh, chasing swell and family life in equal measure.
Give us the basics - who are you, where are you based, and what’s your lane?
My name is Mark Boyd, and I'm based in Thurso in the north of Scotland. Recently, while renovations on my house in Thurso have been ongoing (I'm putting an extension on with a good view of the surf), I've been spending a bit of time in Edinburgh, where my wife is from, and surfing the wave pool a fair bit this summer. It's been nice surfing somewhere where the water is warmer than the sea ever gets in Scotland.
Although, I've just been at home for the last couple of weeks doing some bits at the house, and I've had a few fun summer beach and slab surfs, which has been nice for this time of year.
What does a normal week look like for you right now?
A normal week when I'm not offshore at work looks a bit different to what it did previously. A few years ago, I'd rarely leave Caithness unless it was for work or a surf trip, and every day would literally revolve around the wind and the tide.
Now I'm going between Thurso, having my son, who is in Aberdeenshire, every second weekend, and spending time at my wife's flat in Edinburgh, while things at my house haven't been particularly comfortable with it currently being a bit of a building site.
You grew up surfing the north east of Scotland largely alone, and now you're living overlooking one of the most recognised breaks in the world. How do you reflect on that journey?
I learned to surf on the Moray Firth coast, where I grew up, and got into surfing through skateboarding, really, and a local skate, surf and snowboard shop, which put me onto the fact that I lived beside a good beach for surfing. I started surfing at maybe 13 or 14 and was lucky enough to live within walking distance of the beach.
Progress was pretty slow, though. We didn't have access to the information that kids have these days, so I spent a lot of time at the start on the wrong boards and in the wrong wetsuits, just freezing. It's pretty tough for a kid in northern Scotland in the winter months when most of the surf is happening when it's dark before you even get home from school.
There weren't many surfers about back then. I'd see a few more at weekends and would try to bum lifts to Thurso any chance I could. At 17, I went to university in Aberdeen for four years and did a good job of cramming any lectures I had into a couple of days so I could get to Thurso for any swells. I got fed up of driving up and down the road to Thurso and moved there permanently as soon as I could after graduating in 2008.
What keeps you hooked on surfing at this stage?
That's actually a difficult question, there's so much that keeps you surfing. Being out in nature, keeping fit, and the drive to progress and improve. Competing can amplify that drive to improve, but staying sharp for when those pumping days of surf come about is probably the main thing that keeps me surfing consistently.
And then there are those amazing, fleeting moments when the surf is really good and you're getting tubed or just getting some really good waves. That's the thing that keeps you hooked.
You got a cover shot on Carve — what did that mean to you, and what does print still mean in a world that's moved almost entirely online?
Along with my Scottish National titles and making a UK Pro Surf Tour Final, getting the cover of Carve is probably my proudest achievement in surfing.
I was actually on my way back from a surf trip in California/Mexico, in an airport, and had never been so ill in my life when I got the news about the Carve cover in December 2018. This was about a year before Covid, actually, and looking back, I wonder if I might have been patient zero, as I was so floored with this illness I picked up in Mexico that had all the symptoms of Covid. Anyway, the news of the cover definitely cheered me up and made the journey that bit more bearable.
Thanks to Jordan Godley for the shot. It was from such a sick session at Bagpipes, totally flawless, and it broke for hours with so many good waves. One of the most memorable sessions I've had there.
I'm obviously so delighted I got a cover shot, especially for Carve, as I've always been an avid reader, but I'm not overly keen on my surfing in the shot. I don't think I actually made that wave! I came from really deep and it was a big, thick one, which was good for the photo as it threw that heavy, wide lip, but I look pretty hunched over.
I think I'd actually not been making the most of that session and had pulled back on a couple of good ones, which I was kicking myself about, so I decided to go on that mutant one. It paid off with the shot, but I'd love to get another cover shot on a wave I feel I surfed well and looked good on. Hopefully one day.
It's maybe a bit ironic that I'm doing this interview for online then, because there is definitely a special place for print. It does seem so much more meaningful, and with so much content in the world now, print really does draw you in for a read or to look at the photos. It's still got a really important place for me, especially on aeroplanes and offshore when there is poor internet access. As handy as it will be, I hope Wi-Fi onboard aircraft doesn't change that, as I think a lot of people still have mags as their go-to in the air.
Are you still working as Sport Operations Manager for Scottish Surfing? What does that role actually involve, and what are you trying to build for the next generation?
So, I've worked offshore on survey vessels since I graduated, as well as doing some coaching for Renegade Surf Travel, but I've been volunteering for Scottish Surfing since the early 2000s. That became a part-time role a few years ago, which means I can do a bit less offshore, which is great now that I have my son and another baby on the way.
The role involves so much, really. Everything from website updates, accounts, running courses and events, para surfing, grant applications, to policy writing, strategy, volunteer management, fundraising, pathway and development management, as well as running programmes and initiatives. One we've started this summer is called 'Catch the Wave', where we're giving hundreds of kids in Scotland the opportunity to try surfing for free!
Thurso East has grown massively in profile and popularity. As someone who's been part of the scene there for decades, what's that been like to watch, and do you think the community has handled that growth well?
I definitely wasn't there at the beginning, Pat Keiran has been surfing here since the '70s, but I've been surfing here long enough to see the changes over the decades.
I started surfing Thurso East regularly around the turn of the millennium and, back then, on the good days it was a small, friendly group of locals and regulars mostly, with the odd traveller. People never used to surf Thurso East as much on the poorer days or onshores either, and there would always be quieter windows.
Things changed a bit after the WQS came through from 2006–2011. Thurso started to get a lot more coverage in the surf media and, in turn, became more popular with travellers and surfers settling in the area. As a result, it's a lot more crowded these days on the average day. That said, there are definitely busier and quieter seasons, but there's always a crowd on it now any time it's breaking, like most world-class waves.
It's not a wave that handles a crowd particularly well either. On the good days, it can be really slow, it's obviously freezing, and there's now a larger group of surfers dedicated to surfing there whenever it breaks, which makes it slightly trickier for visiting surfers than it perhaps used to be. Those who surf Thurso East regularly know the lineup well, communicate well with each other and know where to sit so that good waves don't go to waste. Like any heavier world-class surf spot, visitors should be a good level of surfer, communicate, get an understanding of how the lineup works, demonstrate their competence and show a bit of awareness and patience and you'll generally find the locals are welcoming.
You've been coaching with Scottish Surfing for nearly two decades while staying competitive yourself. Craig McLachlan has talked openly about looking up to you growing up, and now you're going head to head in finals with him. What's that dynamic like?
I've been runner-up to Craig a few times in the Scottish Nationals since I won my last Scottish National Open Men's title in 2022, and I had countless runners-up to Chris Noble and Scratch from 2009 until I won my first Scottish National Open Men's title in 2018. I then won a few Scottish Open titles myself, as well as some Masters (then Over 35s), and did the double (Open & Masters) in 2022. I had also previously won 4x consecutive Scottish Longboard titles.
I last got the better of Craig at the Gathering of the Clans (Inter-Clubs) in 2023, but we've had some really good finals since, especially last year's Gathering of the Clans final at Lost Shore and also the 2025 Scottish Nationals final at Thurso East in fun waves. In both of those heats we each had multiple very good or excellent scores, and the heat turned a couple of times, which made it really exciting and fun.
Craig definitely brings out the best in my surfing. He's surfing so well now that I know I don't stand a chance unless I go for it, and that stops me from surfing safe in contests. I never really had the head for surfing comps and never felt like I had ever performed my best in a heat. I wasn't particularly happy with any of my performances, even when I won any of my national titles. I always knew I was capable of so much more in freesurfs than I ever did in a heat. The last couple of years, though, I've felt I've surfed a couple of good heats against Craig, and it's definitely to do with him pushing me.
In the 2025 Nationals final, I got off to a pretty good start, and it's a total credit to Craig and how capable he is of keeping a strong head and delivering excellent scores when he needed them with the pressure on. He is surfing so well now. He's so well-rounded, and it makes me really proud to see a Scottish surfer surfing at such a high level. I'm also really proud that hopefully I've helped push him to get to the level he's at now.
The last few years have actually been really fun surfing against him, and I've enjoyed competing much more again being the underdog and feeling like I've done a couple of good turns, especially in those closer heats where maybe one different decision, or even one mistake from him, and things could have gone the other way.
So hopefully I'm at least keeping him on his toes, and if he ever does make a mistake I'll be there to capitalise. Reckon I've still got a couple in me if things align. But to summarise, yep, the dynamic is good. I look up to him now, and I'm inspired to keep progressing watching him, even though I'm pushing 40!
As a dad, has that changed your outlook on the sport or surrounding community?
Absolutely. I'm absolutely loving being a dad. My wee boy is four now and has really been loving surfing and skating with me. It's literally the best feeling ever surfing with your kid, and I'm now looking at 0.5ft @ 8-second forecasts with a completely new perspective. The fact he's been absolutely buzzing and asking me to take him surfing, to the skatepark or pump track is the coolest thing ever. Getting to do and share the things I love, especially with the wee person I love so much, is indescribable, and it feels good to be able to pass on some of my knowledge too. My wife and I have a baby on the way in October too, so we're really excited for another baby boy and for lots of adventures with all of them.
Having kids makes you connect or reconnect with friends who surf or might have kids of a similar age too, which has also been really fun. I'm just really looking forward to doing lots of family stuff, surfing and having fun with them all.
It's definitely given me this new outlook on a day at the beach which I otherwise definitely wouldn't have surfed, but my wee boy has asked me to go and it's literally been pumping and the best conditions imaginable for him. I'm just as, if not more, stoked than I would be from a proper pumping day of surf because he has enjoyed himself so much. Makes me grin just thinking about it.
What are your plans for the future — as a competitor, a coach, or anything else?
I'm just really looking forward to surfing and enjoying it, continuing to progress, trying to land some airs more consistently and obviously getting tubed as much as possible, especially at some of the heavier waves we have at home.
I'd love to get another cover shot and try to look stylish in it. I'm looking forward to the Scottish comps, the Clans (Inter-Clubs) and the Scottish Nationals, and getting another couple of cracks at it against Craig. We also have Finn Clark and Israel Noble making finals now, so it's really fun for me to be mixing it up with those young guns. Who knows, maybe if conditions or things went my way I could get another National title or two. That would be cool!
I'll keep trying anyway, but I'll be 40 in December, so at least I'll have some Masters titles to fall back on from next year since the Masters age criteria was changed to 40+! I'm also really keen to give the European Masters event a go next year once I'm old enough.
We used to have competing at the Worlds and Euros to look forward to with the Scotland team, but Olympic qualification has been a bit of a spanner in the works there. Scotland will be competing in the Euros in 2029 again as it will be outwith the Olympic qualification cycle, so I'd like to make the team again for that. I'll be 42 by then!
Scottish Surfing has Suds doing most of the coaching now with the Scottish Juniors, but I'd like to help out here or there with the Scottish and North Shore Surf Club groms. I'll also continue to do some coaching trips for my friends at Renegade Surf Travel. It has been really cool to see the company grow after helping owner Simon get it off the ground as their founding coach right at the beginning.
I'm mostly really looking forward to being a dad again and surfing with my own kids as they grow up.
Shout out one local spot, person, or crew that deserves more love.
I'd like to give a big shout out to Scotty Main. I don't think Scotty gets enough credit for his contributions to surfing in Scotland and, in particular, backhand tuberiding at Thurso East. There weren't many guys surfing Thurso East well when I was younger, and those who were getting barrelled were mainly regular-footers such as Chris Noble, Hamper, Ali Matheson and Iain Arrowsmith, but Scotty was pretty much the only one doing it on his backhand, and it was Scotty who really showed me the way and gave me valuable pointers, especially in backhand tuberiding. It's because of those pointers that I went on to really try to improve the level of backhand surfing at Thurso East, and as a result, my backhand tuberiding became the strongest aspect of my surfing.
Also a big shout out to Malcolm Anderson. Malcolm is a great friend, and without his filming and photography, I don't think the level of surfing in Scotland would be where it is today. It's always fun chasing waves with him, and getting to watch the sessions back afterwards is pretty special.
Also a shout out to Zach for getting barrelled both goofy and regular, and to Phoebe for pushing it in the heavier stuff for the girls.
If you think we should be sitting down with someone from your local scene, let us know. Who's next?
Photo credits in order: Malcom Anderson, Sam Howard, Malcom Anderson, Jordan Godley, Arthur Picard, Malcom Anderson, Arthur Picard, Malcom Anderson.
