Almost complete history on surfboard fins

By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer

(July 28, 2023) Once again let’s continue our fin discussion. We’ve talked about it in our last two columns and this one will begin in the mid 1970s era.

The best surfers in the world were trying to make a living from their sport and finally in 1976 a World Championship Tour, or WCT, was established. Single fins dominated, but many of the events were held in relatively small waves around the world.

Let it be noted that any event required sponsors for prize money and these sponsors would want spectators to show up and have it known that their companies were supporting the event and hopefully the public would support and use their products.

So once again the search was on for equipment to perform better.

Australian Mark Richards had been developing a small wave board with two fins while influenced by others with the same idea. Richards stood out by winning four straight world titles from 1979 to 1982. Thus the surfing world took notice. A legitimacy became established, though other ideas were around as well.

As in any sporting endeavor, much of the attention will go to the individual or team that has the best record, or wins the most. This was obviously the case with Mark Richards. His idea worked well for many a surfer but not all.

Simon Anderson was one of these.

Twin fins were not working well for Anderson. Twins seem to require a certain touch and apparently An- derson’s was a bit too hard or heavy. He’s a bigger guy by surfing standards at 6’3” and 200 pounds-plus.

His idea was to put a third fin aft of the twin fins of the day and the “Thruster” or three-fin surfboard, was born.

This was certainly not the first time three fins were put on a surfboard but it has proven to have the most lasting effect. It can be said that three fins have virtually become the standard in surfboards.

To me it’s significant that the “Bonzer” was developed from the single fin as was discussed in the last column. The “Thruster” seemingly came from the twin fin idea.

Now none of this discussion belies any other fin or fins placed on a surfboard. It almost becomes like art in that it’s in the eye of the beholder, or in this case the feel of the surfer, as the wave is ridden.

It can even be thought of as fashion or style. Who can account for fashion or style or the lack of it? To re-iterate, these last few articles have been a brief on surfboard fins. What is stated is not a claim of totality, though despite its brevity probably a good basis for more intricate discussion.

A lot more can be said about surfboard fins and surfboards in general and I’m sure there are some holes that can be found in what has been written.

This isn’t a complete history on surfboard fins. The basis is still the single, and again only, one is really needed.

Speaking very basically, a fin or fins keep the nose in front and the tail in the back!

— Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City