surfresearch.com.au  the catalogue #119

FINS Two 5 3/4" x 5" base  Brewer, inside flat/outside foiled,  toed and tipped/cambered Five colour laminate  White/blue/white/red/white Image right.

DECOR DECALS Deck 1.'Mark Richards' script and ribbon graphic, light blue/silver 2.'Shaped by  Bob Margetts' black, tail  Bottom 'Mark Richards' script and ribbon graphic, dark blue/white  MARKINGS Deck: None Bottom: COLOUR Deck Gold wing, nose to flyer + red winged foil, with black pinlines  Bottom: clear

NOTES BOARD HISTORY Stewart Bartley collection, subsequently sold.  Photographs and dimensions 21st March 1997 Significant damage, possibly from the leg rope, to swallow tail. DESIGN HISTORY Mark Richards was familiar with the Twin Fin I, see #71 and #106, a circa 1970 design by Mike Eaton / Rolf Arness / Corky Carroll / David Nuuihwa -all USA. Imported to Australia by Tom Hoye (USA) at Bennett Surfboards, the design had a strong following in Sydney, particularly at Narrabeen) by McCoy Surfboards. Image right: Tom Hoye and Twin Fin, Bennett Surfboards, 1970 Photograph Tracks Magazine. Nat-History, page 106.  Although the design quickly disappeared from mainstream production in Australia, a number of surfers found the design complimented their style or local conditions. Over the next six years a small number of Twin-fins were produced as custom boards.

 In the USA,a small following lead by kneeboarder Steve Lis developed The Fish, a design with long base twin fins and a split 'Fish' tail.
From xxx, Bear Miradon precedent.
The fish tail was later supplanted by the Swallow tail.

The design was adopted by standup surfers, a longer version with with a more standard fin template, was designated The Rocket Fish, the name at least credited to Clyde Beatty.
There is much dispute amoungst US commentators as to the originators of the design.

This was to influence Reno Abellira, (Hawaii) who rode a 5 ft 3" x 20"  model in the 1976 Coke contest, Sydney.
Inspired, Mark Richards  built his own version and subsequently refined it at a month long shaping seminar with Dick Brewer in Hawaii 1976-1977.
The design was tested in Hawaii the following winter and contest success in the Bells 1978 and  Stubbies 1979 contests and the 1979 World tiltle proved its high performance capabilities, particularly in small waves. Available from all Australian manufacturers, it was the dominant small wave board design 1978 – 1981.
The design also had a strong following on the south shore of Ohau, notably Larry Bertlemann and 'Buttons', and was to be extensively used in the USA - Mark Richards models were made under licence by Gordon and Smith Surfboards.These apparently were available with fin boxes, a uncommon feature in Australian boards .
The design was also shaped by  Mark Platter, Ken Freeland and Tony Cerff at Maddog Surfboards.
Mark Richards Surfboards (single fin designs) were first manufactured by Morning Star Surfboards, Mona Vale.
The fin to flyer channels rarely appear on later/copied examples.
The ribbon decals were early designs, gradually replaced by a MR/Lightning Bolt, a MR script and a MR/Lizard graphic.
Apparently the famous MR/Superman logo only appeared on Mark Richards' personal boards during this early period.
COMMENTS
Legrope damage indicates possible pre rail saver use, tip damage to the tail is emdemic to this design.
REFERENCES
Other Boards
#165
Book
Knox: Mark Richards    pages 61 to...
Film
Free Ride1977 Bill Delany , Water footage by Dan Merkel.
Surfers : Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards and Rabbit Batholomew
 *The definite film of this period, note that most of Mark Richards' surfing is not on a Twin fin II .
CONDITION: 8

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Photograph by Peter Boskovic
Printed in The Australian Surfers Journal Vol 1 #  3 Winter 1998 page 44
Note : Original Apia Surfboards 'Flame' Stinger,  Twin fins  with various decals.
All boards much photographed. 

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Other Twin Fins II (old Scale)

	Mark Richards' first Twin fin II, based on Reno Abelira's Fish, Coke Contest 1976 Photograph: Andrew Canning
	#39 Bryne Bros. Surfboards Twin Fin II 1978 Shaped by Laurie Byrne.
	#55 Pipedreams Flyer Roundtail Twin Fin II 1979 6 ft 2''

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