How Far Can You Really Push A Twin Fin?

Ed note: scroll below for a chance to win a trip for two to Kandui Resort.

Growing up in early-2000s New Jersey, people rode twin fins — in that setting, known exclusively as ‘fishes’ — in small, summertime slop.

As soon as the waves were under waist-high, my friends would hop off their ‘real’ boards — typically, a 17-inch-wide thruster that could scratch the chin of a giraffe while lying flat on the tar-melting asphalt — and onto their 5’5 x 19 1/4s.

Not having a fish of my own, I would unscrew the center fin from my standard shorty in an attempt to keep pace with their effortless slipping and sliding. For anyone who hasn’t tried this before, it’s almost impossible. The combination of board shape, fin box placement, and fin size make a thruster practically unsurfable without a center fin.

So there I was: spinning aimlessly in the flats, casting envious glares at my peers, all the while unconsciously misinforming myself about a twin fin’s true purpose and potential.

Today, twin fins come in many different shapes and sizes, very few of which would be considered a true ‘fish’.

Thanks to advancements in board design — plus a few perspective-shifting performances by surfers like Ryan Burch, Torren Martyn, and Bryce Young — twin fins are no longer just the boards you ride in shit waves to make life less dul. They’re now designed to tackle world-class conditions, and for truly top-tier surfers, can actually enhance performance in these waves by providing more speed, grip, and linear freedom than traditional thrusters.

This is precisely the reason Kandui Resort enlisted William Aliotti to sample an eight-pack of high class twinnies during the Mentawais’ peak left-hander season (August – September) — to see just how far a duo can be pushed in serious surf.

As it turned out, they scored incredible waves at Kandui Left, Hideaways, and even a few secret right-handers (see the drop at 8:16) that highlighted these boards’ true versatility.

On average, William rode each board only four times, often deflowering the crafts in very serious surf at Kandui Left or beyond.

Given these parameters, the waves William managed to ride on these boards — and the positions he put them in — is a testament not just to his ability, but to the sheer perfection of Indonesian waves and the incredible leaps that have take place within twin fin design.

No longer will these boards be relegated to New Jersey’s short-period dribble. They’re now able to pierce over-vert tubes, shatter the horizon, and turn a steep face into a Jackson Pollock painting.

Twins are ready for the big leagues. Are you?

The boards

In this test, William sampled two boards apiece from four mainstream brands that have Indonesian board-building operations. You might remember these same brands from a previous test we performed at Kandui Resort, in search of the best Indonesian-made surfboards (in that case, thrusters).

Pyzel Indo
“Happy Twin” 5’5 x 19.5 x 2.4 x 27.3 L w/ Futures T1 Honeycomb Medium
“Wild Cat” 5’7 x 19.4 x 2.45 x 28.35 L w/ Futures T1 Honeycomb Medium

Channel Islands Indo
“Twin Pin” 5’6 x 19 1/2 x 2.4 x 27.7 L w/ Futures Brett Merrick Twin Fiberglass Large
“Free Scrubber” 5’5 x 19.75 x 2.4 x 27.9 L w/ “Futures T2 Fiberglass Large”

Lost Surfboards Indo
“Round Nose Fish 96” 5’5 x 19.5 x 2.4 x 28.9 L w/ Futures Mayhem Evil Twin Honeycomb Medium
“California Twin Pin” 5’6 x 19.5 x 2.4 x 28.2 L w/ Futures Mayhem Evil Twin Honeycomb Large

Christenson Surfboards
“Lane Splitter Squash” 5’5 x 19.75 x 2.4 x 28 L w/ Futures Rasta Twin Honeycomb with Carbon Large
“Lane Splitter Roundtail” 5’7 x 19.25 x 2.4 x 28.8L w/ Futures EN Fiberglass X-Large

Win a trip for 2 to Kandui Resort

As we did with our Vacation film earlier this year, we’re teaming up with Kandui Resort to give away a free trip (for you and a friend) to the Mentawai Islands. And this one is especially favorable for the goofs.

The prize pack includes:
– 10-day trip for 2 to Kandui Resort during prime time left season (Aug/Sept) – $8,690 USD Value (no expiration date)
– Roundtrip Transfer from Padang port to Kandui Resort – $790 USD Value (winners are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from Padang)
– 4 Surfboards for the trip (2 per person) – $2,860 USD
Total Value: $12,340 USD

To enter, all you need to do is fill out the following survey with your name, phone, and email address. Giveaway ends on July 31, 2023. Only Stab Premium members will be eligible to win.