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The Surfers Journal

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The Surfers Journal SOUNDINGS: TSJ-27-2-SOUNDINGS_.indd 78 14/11/17 12:53 PM 78 1st Proof Title: TSJ 27.2 Ship 2 Job No: P1117-30 / Sammi PHOTO BY TIMOTHY HOGAN Twin-fi ns in the modern context. Text & Interviews by Christian Beamish ACUTE ANGLES TSJ-27-2-SOUNDINGS_.indd 79 14/11/17 12:53 PM 1st Proof Title: TSJ 27.2 Ship 2 79 Job No: P1117-30 / Sammi 80 THE SURFER’S JOURNAL PHOTO BY SWILLY Where modern commitment to the twin-fi n design is concerned, Australian Asher Pacey is at the vanguard. Maldives, June 2017. TSJ-27-2-SOUNDINGS_.indd 80 14/11/17 12:53 PM 80 1st Proof Title: TSJ 27.2 Ship 2 Job No: P1117-30 / Sammi SOUNDINGS: ACUTE ANGLES 81 In the same way that all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, all surfboards with two fi ns are not performance twin-fi ns. The Mark Richards twin, with its wing- swallow plan shape, vee bottom, and high-aspect ratio fi ns, is as distinct from the keel-fi n fi sh as a thruster is from a single-fi n. The emergence of Steve Lis’ keel-fi n design into the mass consciousness via Derek Hynd and Andrew Kidman in the 1996 fi lm Litmus, and the ensuing interest in “retro” surfboards, did not seem to include MR-style twins. Perhaps the design was not “retro” enough, as it verged right into the contemporary thruster era, along with all the associated commercial trappings of high- performance surfi ng. Trends in surfboard marketing aside, the wing-swallow twin-fi n was arguably the design behind the biggest-ever leap forward in performance surfi ng. MR turned pro surfi ng on its head. Dane Kealoha and Larry Bertlemann blended raw power with sublime arcs. Kevin Reed boosted functional airs over the kelp patties in Nor Cal (albeit on a pintail twin-fi n). And Martin Potter brought that same air game to the pro tour. One look at MR’s carve in the Free Ride era, or Dane Kealoha drifting his Glenn Minami-shaped twin-fi n through caverns at Backdoor, illustrates the potential of the concept. The fact that twin-fi ns were only around, commercially speaking, between approximately 1979 and ’82 may very well prove the overall effectiveness of the thruster. But given present- day advances in foils and bottom confi gurations, perhaps another look at the concept is warranted. Naturally, any conversation about performance twin-fi ns begins with the creator of the design himself, and herein MR graciously explains the details of the boards he rode to four consecutive World Titles. His suggestion of speaking with Robin Prodanovich—head shaper at G&S when the company made MR twins for the U.S. market in the late 70s/early 80s—was well taken, and Prodanovich’s insight on the original boards, as well as the evolution of the design, puts the past and present into context. Glenn Minami’s voice is also essential, as he adapted the twin-fi n to powerful Hawaiian surf and shaped for the era- defi ning Dane Kealoha. In a similar vein, Lance Collins supplied the forward-looking Echo Beach crew with the fast and loose boards they needed for their New Wave program. And fi nally, Spider Murphy, of the venerable Surfari Surfboards label in South Africa, not only shaped Martin Potter the boards he rode to break into the top ranks of the tour, but also continues to hone the twin-fi n today with his heavily contoured “Missile” design. TSJ-27-2-SOUNDINGS_.indd 81 6/1/18 9:57 AM 2nd Proof Title: TSJ 27.2 Ship 2 81 Job No: CP0118-2 / peihua 82 THE SURFER’S JOURNAL The leap from single fi n to twin a revelation. Th e main aspects that how thrusters have morphed seems inevitable in this multi- I built into the fi rst board, which and developed in the nearly fi nned age, but not so when contributed to its success, were a 40 years since their fi rst you fi rst “split” the standard deep-vee bott om to help transition appearance, perhaps there was surfboard into two halves. How from rail to rail, a wing swallow to or is more to explore and refi ne did you come to that concept? narrow the tail and improve holding on the twin-fi n design? power through turns, a hard resin My interest was sparked by Reno edge from nose to tail for bite, and a By the mid 80s, Simon [Anderson]’s Abellira surfi ng a short, round- concave fl ute through the wing that thruster had “killed” the twin-fi n. nose twin-fi n during the Coke 2SM acted like a litt le fi n on the rail. I felt there was more design work Surfabout in Sydney in 1976. Reno and life left in the design, but the helped me with some dimensions How do the fi n templates and surfb oard-buyers’ market wasn’t and I made one, which I named placement affect performance? interested any longer. the “Bumblebee.” In 1977, I spent a few months shaping with Dick One template, one fi n position— It seems like the Lis-style, Brewer, and I explained to him that never changed it from day one. San Diego keel-fi n fi sh is a I was having trouble in small-wave I can’t comment on this because completely different design conditions in the events, riding I don’t experiment. than your twin-fi ns. Not to single-fi ns, which everyone rode compare, or rate the two—but at the time. I told him I had the How did the overall design was there infl uence from that Bumblebee twin, which went great evolve then, from the fi rst ones design on what you did? And in 2-foot surf. He said the solution you started making, in terms did you give the characteristics to my dilemma was to design a of plan shape and bottom of the keel-fi n boards much twin-fi n and aim for a shape halfway confi guration. Was there an consideration in the creation of between the round-nose Bumblebee “ah-ha” moment that made the your twin-fi ns? and the narrow 6'8" single-fi n I was concept fully realized? riding. I went home to Newcastle Absolutely none at all. I was not and started working on this project. From ’78 through to ’85 there were aware of those boards prior to Th e fi rst one I shaped was the four-distinct “generations” of my designing my early twin-fi ns. twin-fi n I rode in the movie Free twin-fi ns. Th e main changes with Ride, and which is now known as each generation were a narrowing The move to “ride anything” the “Free Ride Twin-Fin.” It was of the nose, a litt le extra curve in these days takes in a lot of 6'4" long, 21 inches wide, and 2 7/8 the tail outline, a reduced vee, and different design ideas. And inches thick. I rode it on the pro a more-foiled thickness distribution it seems that thicker and tour in 1978, winning the fi rst of with less volume in the nose. wider boards, relative to my four Bells titles on it. For me, it “competition” or “pro-style” was a revelation in terms of speed, You build a range of boards thrusters, can still have high- maneuverability, and performance. today, including “retro” and performance characteristics. It fi nally felt like I had a board “contemporary” versions of What are the aspects of your that was an extension of my feet, the classic MR twin-fi n. What late 70s and early 80s twin-fi ns something that would take me aspects of contemporary that still resonate for you today? where I wanted on the wave. surfboard design do you incorporate in the I think we’re in a golden era of Some surfers believed that the “modernized” versions of surfb oard design. But in surf up twin-fi n was almost too loose. the twin? to 4 to 5 feet, it’s still hard to I recall some guys describing beat a twin-fi n in terms of speed, it as “squirrelly,” but there My retro series boards are genuine, maneuverability, and just plain fun. are many photos and much exact reproductions of the old Th ey’re still my absolute favorite, fi lm footage of you riding the designs. I also make a modern go-to, ride-everyday design. Without boards on the North Shore twin-fi n, which I’ve named the sounding like an egomaniac, the in thick waves at Backdoor “Super Twin.” Th e only aspect reality is the “Free Ride Twin-Fin” and OTW. There is one shot in carried over from the retros is the was right from the start—and a lot particular that comes to mind, wing swallowtail. Th e bott om of of people who made twin-fi ns just of you gouging with a large these boards is single-to-double made imitations of mine. wake behind you. You were concave, soft rail through the center, hardly holding back on those and a hard edge in the tail, with a turns. Was there something you slightly fuller nose template than a did or still do in the shaping to standard thruster. Th ey come stock provide your boards with hold with a third fi n plug in the tail, MARK RICHARDS Australia Newcastle, and drive? for the option of adding a small stabilizer fi n.
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