Back in the early ’80s, Simon Anderson introduced the world to the thruster. It was a game changer. A development that would alter the surfing world. A simple addition of a fin made a world of difference.
“With that one startling innovation,” said Sam George, “Simon reshaped the surfing style of an entire generation – and the next couple of generations to follow, for good measure.”
Sure, there were various three-finned options — Malcolm and Duncan Campbell’s bonzers come to mind — but none caught fire quite like three fins of equal size. As the years went on and surfing evolved, the quad came to the table and people like Kai Lenny swear by them in conditions that require a ton of speed.
“The idea behind the quad fin is to reduce drag that’s created from the center fin on the board and give you a lot more drive and speed.” Lenny explained. “The problem with quads is that they tend to make the board ride a lot flatter on the water and they don’t quite produce the same amount of thrust as a three-fin.”
Lenny, ever the experimenter, has been trying to find a way to bridge the gap between the classic thruster and the quad. Ideally, of course, you’d have the speed and drive of a quad while still having the benefits that a thruster offers (see control). He’s been working with the Maui Fin Company for over a decade on the problem, and he thinks they’ve cracked it with the fins featured in the video above.
“The results are incredible,” Lenny said, “and it has helped take my surfing to new levels.”
