Twin Fin Invitational Vol. III Ends in Zarautz
The third Twin Fin Invitational has wrapped up in Zarautz, in the Basque Country, and what stands out to me is how different it is from a normal contest. Local legend Ander Mendiguren won the men's division, and Zoe Jaeckin, a young surfer from nearby Hossegor, took the women's. Each winner received a 3,000 euro check and a guaranteed spot in next year's event.
The format is the point. There are no heat scores, no priority and no interference. Surfers are asked to trust one another to do their best and to respect each other, and the emphasis in the water is on style, creativity and flow. It's still a contest, with heats, rash guards and prize money, but the idea is that it feels like much more than that, and the twin fin boards at the center of it are a big part of the mood.
Pro surfer Alex Gray, with over 20 years on tour, said he had never been to a contest where he was so well looked after. The free days were reportedly just as fun as the competition days. Tom, Pat and Leann Curren played an intimate show at Shelter Bar after the first day of competition, and when the swell got too big for Zarautz, the group split up on strike missions to Hossegor, Mundaka and closer spots.
The Mundaka day sounded special. It wasn't the legendary perfection of September 9, 2006, with side-shore, choppy conditions and a swell of six to eight feet, but Tom Curren, Clay Marzo, Kepa Acero and Ander Mendiguren were all in the lineup, and many felt they had been part of a memorable day.
I enjoy events that put the focus back on how a board feels under your feet. SURFER says four YouTube episodes recapping the week are on the way, and I'll be watching for them.
Source: SURFER
The format is the point. There are no heat scores, no priority and no interference. Surfers are asked to trust one another to do their best and to respect each other, and the emphasis in the water is on style, creativity and flow. It's still a contest, with heats, rash guards and prize money, but the idea is that it feels like much more than that, and the twin fin boards at the center of it are a big part of the mood.
Pro surfer Alex Gray, with over 20 years on tour, said he had never been to a contest where he was so well looked after. The free days were reportedly just as fun as the competition days. Tom, Pat and Leann Curren played an intimate show at Shelter Bar after the first day of competition, and when the swell got too big for Zarautz, the group split up on strike missions to Hossegor, Mundaka and closer spots.
The Mundaka day sounded special. It wasn't the legendary perfection of September 9, 2006, with side-shore, choppy conditions and a swell of six to eight feet, but Tom Curren, Clay Marzo, Kepa Acero and Ander Mendiguren were all in the lineup, and many felt they had been part of a memorable day.
I enjoy events that put the focus back on how a board feels under your feet. SURFER says four YouTube episodes recapping the week are on the way, and I'll be watching for them.
Source: SURFER
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