Thursday, Sep 10, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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Surfboards are commonly configured with a three-fin setup known as the thruster.

The Claim

Surfboards can be configured with three fins.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

The claim is true. The three-fin configuration, commonly known as the 'thruster' setup, is a standard and widely used design in modern surfing. Invented by Simon Anderson in 1980, it revolutionized surfboard design and remains one of the most popular fin setups available today.

Caveats

  • While the three-fin 'thruster' is standard today, single and twin fin setups were more common prior to 1980.

The Receipts

  1. Surfdom's king had greatness thrustered upon him

    smh.com.au

  2. The History of the Thruster Surfboard Fin Setup

    theinertia.com

  3. Thruster: the revolutionary fin setup by Simon Anderson

    surfertoday.com

  4. Surfboard Fin History, Archaeology, and Evolution

    surfmuseumhawaii.com

  5. Simon Anderson Thruster

    cdm15730.contentdm.oclc.org

  6. TURNING POINTS - THE BOARD THAT CHANGED THE SURFING WORLD - Australian National Surfing Museum

    australiannationalsurfingmuseum.com.au

  7. Powerhouse Collection - 'Energy Flyer Square Tail Thruster' Surfboard

    collection.powerhouse.com.au

  8. surfresearch

    surfresearch.com.au

  9. Fins Part Three: Why choose a thruster setup?

    scienceofsurfing.com

  10. 40 Years Later It's Time To Celebrate The Thruster And One Helluva Contest Run In Australia | World Surf League

    worldsurfleague.com

+ 22 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Surfboard

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