Watch: Fast and Loose
"It paddled great, it was loose, it was fast, it was everything I couldn’t get from a single fin on a three foot wave," recalls Mark Richards of the first twin fin he ever shaped - dubbed the 'bumblebee twin' for the bee picture on the deck.
The bumblebee twin and the boards MR shaped immediately after it, altered the path of surfboard design with MR winning a then-record four straight world titles on them.
But then 1981 rolled around, Simon unveiled the Thruster, won Bells, the Coke, and Pipe on it, and suddenly no-one wanted twins anymore.
Fast forward 25 years and MR again starts making twins because the qualities that made them popular in the first place - they're fast and loose - make surfing so much more fun.
Comments
Thanks for that Mark is a legend. I love my twinnies.
Unreal..redoing retro twinfins
Mark redo the 1970s diet - Steak and chips Chocolate and Coke
Get some Calories into you....Cos you look like shit.
Great clip. Would love to see guys jump on these on tour when the waves are small but fast and running. Seeing Lau on that was as good as i've seen him surf.
Lau not really riding a Twin
2 large front fins and a trailer fin
ahh missed that one. Cheers. Still ripping though.
Kelly has been doing well in competition this week in Japan, riding a 5'5" Twinnie
I’ve been riding MR twin fins with the lil trailer/stabiliser on everything under 5ft this last month, and loving it. The fins saved a board for me actually, as I’d ordered too much volume.
Rode a twinny exclusively for a year or two in the 90s. Slabs n all. Big fan.
He was brought up on them and can ride them really well.
A BIG thankyou to MR and Simon as these guys changed surfing history. i have been riding twins for over 20 years. and thrusters for about nine years on and off, i always come back to twin fins as i have so much fun. i have been experimenting with my fins over the years and the back of my twin fins to the back of my board is 18 inches.
it never spins out and is so loose, i love it. i cant believe i can still do it
2.13 mins - Quad.
Advertorial?..but so what. MR is a legend, hope he cashes in and sells bucket loads. Biolos is probably already rich enough and good on him. I'm jumping on the bandwagon.
Once the surf gets to head high I'm on a thruster but for the last couple of years been back on a twin in the small stuff. Forgot just how much fun they are. I'd like to try one of those MR boards.
You would love it ! No better shaper of the twin !
Incredible boards!!!
With a modern bottom and rails?
So much to admire about MR - innovator, athlete, statesman, gentleman ... never heard him say a nasty word about anyone
Cool to see how those old boards still perform well, but also some of their limitations, and how they can be tweaked and improved, and be grateful for where it has led board design and the incredible performance sticks it’s evolves into and we get to enjoy today ... awesome vid
i had never been in the lineup with him till this week- says hello to everyone- what a nice man- still surfing good
Missed him in the water by 10 minutes this week, but passed him on the track with a friendly gday. Talk about good manners.
MR’s guns are also incredible I have a 7’6 from him down to a 6’2 super twin, the bloke is a craftsman of the highest order.
Brings back lots of memories of going from a 7' single fin to a 6' MR twinny at the ripe old age of 12. Damn good boards and sooo much fun to ride and a really nice bloke to talk to in & out of the water.
Remember when Tracks used to have a national MR day? I remember one year they supplied an MR mask with each issue to be worn on the day. I don't know what happened about that but national MR day should be a public holiday. The guy's a dead-set legend. May as well have a national Occy day while they're at it. We need some more holidays.
We now need a vid on Shane (runner up how many times?) who is often overlooked and obviously was not in with one of the big mobs, but is still super keen. For whatever reason he seems shunned a little by the mainstream but was really and still is a great surfer. Check his instagram it is a hoot and he shapes non stop all sort of off centre boards and fins.
Yeah, good call.
Got to love a bit of MR .
Rips , mellow , articulate without contrivance, charger , skilled craftsman , innovator , self sufficient, confidence with humility, driven , grateful, self effacing, respectful, friendly , analytical and encouraging of others.
MR is a true statesman of world surfing.
Thanks for everything, MR.
PS Never met the man but I’d have loved to share a line up with him.
Ocean and Earth just released a MR softie twinfin in 2 sizes
MR is frothing over them..