WHEN MARK RICHARDS SHOWED WHAT COULD BE DONE ON A TWIN-FIN, IT SHOOK THE SURFING WORLD. BUT WHAT IF THEY'D GIVEN HIM A TWIN-TAIL? HERE'S PROOF THAT SIX FINS ARE BETTER THAN TWO.

Wakeboarders, skaters and snowboarders have been borrowing and refining each other's moves for years. Now, the latest word in extreme integration: the twin-tail, a surfboard which will theoretically let you do anything the other boardriders can do - and a lot they can't. It's not all that difficult when you've got a board that allows you to surf in either direction, ie with either foot forward. 360s become routine; aerial tricks, kickflips, ollies, and the rest of the skating repertoire are currently being redeveloped on waves by a stoked crew headed up by gun surfer Ed Fanning. (Fanning's exact words after his first test surf: "It blew me away.") Even more technical manoeuvres should be made possible by a hand toggle fixed in the centre of the board. According to Dean Mundy, who along with his wife Janice and mate James Klobasa originated the concept after years of mucking around with symmetrical double-ended wakeboards, snowboards and skateboards, "It should be possible with the twin-tail to roll under the lip of a wave and land in a switch stance - that is, a spin as well as a flip." The mind boggles.

The three partners operate Spun Sports. As far as Mundy is aware, Spun is the only outfit in the world currently manufacturing a double-ended board. They put a lot development work in before applying for the patent, and it shows in the design: "Aggressive rails along with wide tails and the continual motion rocker give the board speed and control in either direction, in any size wave."

Maybe it's not the first thing you'd pack for a trip to Hawaii, but when it comes to small wave fun, it's pretty hard to see how a normal board could compete.

You can get one (in any of four sizes from 5' to 6'6") via a limited number of surf shops in WA and around the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, or order from the website: www.spunsports.com