Twin Fins Coming Back? Ain’t That (South) Swell

Last week’s big south swell, which brought overhead waves to Southern California and smiles to Orange Coast surfers, made it tough to catch Rockin’ Fig and talk about surfing in the Olympics, a rebirth of twin fins and a new long-board association.

We got our first big springtime south swell, Fig said. It was a southwest combo that was rockin’ the beach for a week. You couldn’t catch me because I was out in the lineup! There were solid overhead sets at the top spots and most beaches. I hear Trestles and San Onofre were firing.

Fig, there’s talk that surfing has received “provisional recognition” by the International Olympic Committee. This means that the San Diego-based International Surfing Assn. has two years to convince the IOC that surfing deserves full recognition. But even if it wins recognition, there is no guarantee the sport will be part of the Australia Games in 2000.

That sounds great. I’ve been waiting 20 years to hear that.

I almost forgot, Fig, you were on the U.S. National Team after high school. Well, old guys can still surf in the Olympics if the sport is recognized.

Yeah, they oughta turn back the clock and let the old guys surf too. There are enough countries these days to make an Olympic sport out of it.

Fig and I named 14 countries off the top of our heads that could bring formidable teams to Sydney, including Australia, Brazil, South Africa and the United States.

Fernando Aguerre, chairman of International Surfing Assn. and owner of Reef Brazil sandal company, said the IOC’s action is “deserving and long overdue.”

Bob Mignogna, publisher of Surfing magazine, said that if surfing becomes an Olympic sport, it will be a powerful showcase for not only amateurs but also professional surfers, who might be allowed to compete too.

The downside is that a greater degree of organization and cooperation is needed among surfing’s amateur groups to win Olympic recognition. We’ll stay tuned.

Fig, tell me about these twin fins you’ve been seeing.

It looks like the twinnies are coming back. I’ve been seeing more and more of them on the coast. It’s just like the old days, but they’re updated with wider noses, more width through the center, a little more thickness and concave in the bottom. Sometimes they have this tiny, trailing fin.

What are they good for?

In mushier conditions, twin fins generate more speed because you don’t have that third fin in the water holding you back. But you don’t have the same control that you get with a thruster. With a tri-fin, it’s going to give you ability to do power turns.

Who’s making them?

Al Merrick and Rusty are starting to make a few and are leading the charge. Of course, you remember seeing Tom Curren playing around on a really short, thick board at the U.S. Open last year. Well, sometimes people get locked in the same situation and the same style of board, like today’s typical tri-fin, which is 6 feet 2 inches long and 17 inches wide. But seeing new shapes, or new old shapes, is refreshing.

And the message here?

Get those rubbery, Larry Bertlemann legs ready to roll!

Contests: Fig says Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach now shares fifth place on the world tour with Taylor Knox of Carlsbad and former world champion Derek Ho of Hawaii. Sonny Garcia of Hawaii is ranked first. The tour now travels to Japan on May 28 for the Marui Pro. Stateside, the U.S. Bud Tour heads for Oceanside on May 30 for the Body Glove contest.

Welcome: To the World Longboarding Assn. This San Clemente-based group formed in December and already has a tour for West Coast pros and amateurs. They’ll be surfing at Manhattan Beach, San Clemente and Oceanside. In addition, the group has scheduled a championship for Aug. 19 at Malibu. For more information, contact Dean Reynolds, at (714) 361-2612.

Grant: The Surf Industry Manufacturers Assn. has donated nearly $10,000 to the Newport Beach chapter of Surfrider Foundation to conduct water testing in Newport Beach. The association is having its sixth Waterman’s Ball on June 3, at Pelican Hill Golf Course. Cost is $100 and is tax-deductible. For more information, call the association at (714) 760-0784.

Farewell: Hey, it’s been fun covering the beach scene and trying to keep everybody in tune with what’s happening. But it’s time for us to say fare-thee-well, as this column is being discontinued. Mahalo and aloha, till we meet again. Time for Rockin’ Fig and Dave to find that million-dollar money tree on the hill above and perfect waves below.