The History Of Surfing Innovation Part 6: 1980’s -90’s

The History Of Surfing Innovation


The History Of Surfing InnovationThe 1980's-90's were an interesting time in the history of surfing innovation, the era marked the dawn of the new boards as surfing became a professional sport. With surfing well and truly in the mainstream, and surfing producing professional athletes such as Mark Richards(MR), Tom Curren and Simon Anderson pushing boundaries and disqualifying the surfer from previous decades the 80's can mark The point of mainstream surfing. Mark Richard's neon 80's quiver. Although the notion of three fins had been toyed with for years, in 1981, Aussie surfer Simon Anderson popularised the  or three fin board. According to surf historian Nick Carroll in Carroll says that Anderson’s design was spawned from his need to create a fin setup that suited his style. "Simon Anderson's surfing suited single-fins, but the events at the time were all being won on twins. Frustration led him to consider a weirdlooking mix – three smaller fins, one set three inches from the tail, the other two set 11 inches up and on either rail a la the twinnie.

Following the development of this innovation, Anderson won the BellsCoke double riding a thruster, and prompted another worldwide surfing revolution the tri-fin thruster.  By the 90’s, Kelly Slater was in the picture, establishing himself as the undisputed king of modern 











Following the development of this innovation, Anderson won the BellsCoke double riding a thruster, and prompted another worldwide surfing revolution the tri-fin thruster.  By the 90’s, Kelly Slater was in the picture, establishing himself as the undisputed king of modern surfing, armed with a thin, narrow Al Merrick with little surface area. As the mere mortal surfers followed suit, the lighter, shorter, thrusters became the norm. Stylin’ -Anderson, nut huggers and a tight bottom turn.

The History Of Surfing Innovation  

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