Greenough Stage III

Originally developed by George Greenough in 1968, this high aspect ratio fin blew the doors open to the shortboard revolution. Longboarding would never be the same once these modern fins came into the scene, and ushered in the era of modern power surfing. The surf world is forever indebted to the design and performance innovations of George Greenough, a Santa Barbara native and avid kneeboarder, who is the reason why people today use high-aspect ratio fins and perform radical turns on waves that surfers in the 50s and 60s only dreamed of. A backyard craftsman and inventor, Greenough became known for his hugely influential board and fin designs dating back to his high school days in the early 60s where he would shape his first boards in wood shop out of balsa. Fast forward a few years and the Velo-spoon (short for velocity) was created. A short, red kneeboard with the deck scooped and a wide flex-tail. This board rocketed Greenough into the next dimension of wave-riding as it showcased a combination of design ideas to allow the types of maneuvers that inspired generations of surfers to this day. His kneeboards weren’t the only thing catching the attention of the surf world. The high-aspect ratio fins Greenough created to compliment his kneeboards, a direct influence of sea creatures, took the world by storm. The likes of Nat Young and Bob McTavish took notice and soon the best of the best surfers were ditching their D-fins for Greenough’s design and in 1966, was a direct influence to Nat’s winning of the world surfing championships and the ushering in of the shortboard revolution.