First fins to the finish: ‘Finologist’ Larry Allison paddles against the tide with fins designed to make paddleboards faster
By Kevin Cody Larry Allison is confident his newest fin concept will be validated at the Fifth Annual South Bay Paddle on Saturday, June 3. Approximately 100 prone paddleboarders will compete in the 15-mile race, which runs south from the Hermosa Beach pier to Torance Beach, then four miles out to sea to the R10 buoy, and back to the pier. The paddleboards will vary in length and shape. But all will rely on a large tail fin for stability, and direction. Except the two paddleboards Allison is preparing. Allison’s boards will not have tail fins. Instead, they will have two small fins along either rail, just forward of the traditional tail fin position. The boards will be 14-foot Vesls, paddled by Vesl founder Mikey Roberts and a Vesl team paddler. Surfers began experimenting with twin fins in the ‘60s. But surfboard twin fins weren’t widely accepted until the late ‘70s when Australian Mark Richards won four consecutive world titles riding twin fins. Allison has experienced similar resistance to twin fins from paddleboarders, most of whom are surfers, and similarly tradition minded. “They follow the pros,” Allison said during an interview at his LA Fins factory last week, in…
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