Page 175 - Demo

173This wasn%u2019t an invention that went through a million prototypes, computer modelling and wind tunnels. He simply made one, took it out in the surf, and it worked.In 1980, Aussie surfer and board shaper Simon Anderson changed the world of surfing forever when he came up with a brilliant idea: why not add a third fin to the board? Until then, boards had one or two fins, which didn%u2019t always o%u00a0 er the best control. Anderson wanted more stability and speed, so he added that extra fin %u2013 and just like that, the thruster surfboard was born. This wasn%u2019t an invention that went through a million prototypes, computer modelling and wind tunnels. He simply made one, took it out in the surf, and it worked.This simple tweak made a massive di%u00a0 erence. The third fin gave surfers more control and precision, making it easier to ride bigger, more powerful waves without losing balance. It also allowed for smoother, sharper turns. Anderson proved the thruster%u2019s potential when he rode it to victory at the 1981 Bells Beach Classic. His win not only grabbed attention but also kicked o%u00a0 a surfing revolution. Suddenly, everyone wanted to try this new design!Simon made no attempt to patent his invention, and by 1982 almost all major manufacturers were releasing thruster knock-o%u00a0 s. A%u00a0 year later, almost every short board being ridden worldwide had three fins, and that%u2019s still the case today.Simon was responsible for one of the single most influential surfboard innovations in surfing history but didn%u2019t make a profit from all those boards sold. His view was that others had been experimenting with three fins at the time, and if he hadn%u2019t done it, sooner or later someone else would have.YEAR 1980DESIGNER Simon Anderson