the "rediscovery" of quad fins

mike schmaeling · Post by **mike schmaeling** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:52 pm

I just read an article in the new Surfer Mag. on Quad fins. It seems that in the stand-up world, they have just "rediscovered" quads. I can't remember how long I've been riding a quad, but I know that it's been over ten years.

No where in the article is credit given to kneeriding. At first I was offended at this absence, but then I realized that I didn't know who developed this fin system. Sooooo, I'll ask the question,,,,, When and by whom was the quad fin setup perfected by?

mike

Richard Hewitt · Post by **Richard Hewitt** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:25 am

Hi Mike, I've been riding them for about 20 years and about the time I started Martin Potter was ripping on a stand-up 4 fin and getting plenty of exposure.

Pretty sure they were around before then as well though. I luv 'em

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:27 am

mornin

Seem to recall a cover shot of bertleman.[surfer/surfing] V-land maybe...airborne;on a quad.Late 70's?.....

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:14 am

Bud at Blast very early eighties.

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:22 am

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:29 am

Yea then along comes Simon Anderson......Discovery is a process. Notice how many fish riders there are now

Who gave them that idea? Next thing you know they will move there fins forward. I guess you dont need to take off on some one to be out in front.

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:29 pm

maxb · Post by **maxb** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:16 pm

romo has been shaping and riding quads since 1984, and was putting them to the test in big wedge. i have been riding his quads since about 85 and have tried others off and on,but always seem to go back.i did pick up adean cleary quad pin that i really like. it's my first dc but definitely not my last.

stevea · Post by **stevea** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:55 pm

i go with beeline it was glen winton who i first saw surfing high and tight at speed on a quad that influenced me to go for a quad a board i was riding as a twin fin was losing bite in the wrong places ive been on a quad ever since around 1981 although i do have a 3 fin in my quiver the quads ive surfed have never failed to deliver

CONTIKI · Post by **CONTIKI** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:20 pm

Beeline2.0 wrote:http://www.surfresearch.com.au/agq.html

Great site...

hart · Post by **hart** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:59 am

Glen Winton Dee Why Centre East-swell June 1984 consistant 4 foot (beachbreak)

Wave for wave 8 maybe 10 guys out

He was the consumate surfer, professional and good bloke to boot

(particularly given he wasn't surfing at home). he shared every setwave that pumped..

The kneeboarder in the water was riding a tri-fin slab (no..not a THRUSTER

..it was 2 early for kneeboard thrusters

)

and was given equal respect on the beach..

Winton carved turns from one rail to the other..EVERY WAVE..he used his rails to generate his momentum..nothing else and he was FLYING

Carving lines on the face of a wave at speed in EVERY direction

Quadfins to me are rail boards..not bottom boards (so they like a pocket

)

And I'm not sure I've seen anyone surf them again like I did that afternoon

hart

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:04 am

In 1980 I rode a stand up twin fin, and enjoyed that almost out of control feeling you get, so you are constantly having to re-adjust.
Have to say since switiching to kneeboards not long after that I have always looked for a similiar feel. Even had a twin fin shaped, but the pakes quad I have at the moment is something special it has increadible straight line speed, but can still turn hard and slide.
I have a few tri-fin kneeboards amongst my collection, one goes really well for me (bro diplock shaped it).

Given the choice of just one board in any conditions I would always to reach for the parkes 5'10" quad.

Didn't the quad develop from a standard twin fin (and the twinzer a bit later) stand up and kneeboard with lots of shapers trying the same thing at the same time across the world. It just suits kneeboards/kneeboarders because we can transfer the weight better (directly over the fins) using a quad set up than a stand up surfer can, thats why we are still riding them.

splashy · Post by **splashy** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:51 pm

I think the original Friar Tuck boys (Peter Ware etc) were shaping, riding and developing quads in the late '70s with extra set of smaller fins forward and outside the main twins to lead the turn...

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:03 pm

That sounds about right.There was a thread on twinzers awhile ago,and I believe bud posted some pics of those 70's/80's boards with small forward fins.
Looked thru the board section..no luck.

Headwax. · Post by **Headwax.** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:34 pm

[albumimg]1087[/albumimg]

search for lowrider

[albumimg]8116[/albumimg]

[albumimg]8117[/albumimg]

They have four fins yet are they quads?

And did Jaimie Judd invented the tri fin circa 1974?

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