Are Hectic Lefts The Final Finless Frontier?

Choosing a limited number of boards for a surf trip requires a high degree of mental fortitude.

4 (maybe 5) spots in your board bag, and seemingly always too many boards to choose between.

If you’re headed to Indonesia, chances are you’re tossing a step-up (or two) in the bag, plus a reliable shorty (or two), and likely something with an even number of fins for the other days.

If you’ve watched his clip ‘Just Like Heaven’, you’ll note that the contents of William Aliotti’s board-bag don’t even remotely resemble this description. His arsenal consists of strictly short n’ stocky twins and, as elaborated above, unidentified finless objects.

Finless is a tried and true concept for those looking to alter their learning curve perceptions but — between Derek Hynd, Beau Cram, Jordan Rodin, and S.U.R.F. sweetheart Ari Browne — goofs have had minimal representation in the dizzying medium.

Finless surfing is notoriously difficult (nearly impossible) on the backhand, severely limiting the scope of waves approached by our favorite regular footed spinners. Aside from Ryan Burch on his infamous Lord Board — and the Drag boys RIP 3 coffin tubes — few finless goofs come to mind.

After first picking up the fin-free bug in France five years ago, William Aliotti has pioneered the frictionless frontier of hectic left-handers. First Teahupo’o, now Desert Point — both on Ryan Lovelace’s patented Rabbit’s Foot design.

“The wave was working with a higher tide than normal, so it was a little less shallow,” William tells me. ” I knew the board would work at a wave like Deserts because it went well in Tahiti. I really want to bring it to Namibia or Kandui. The board definitely likes specific waves, the hollower the better. There’s so much to discover.”