There was a tremendous amount of interest in the local favourite, and much of the chatter was about his progressive surfing equipment. Up in the commentary box, we heard surfing legends agree that with 4WFS surfers have more adaptability and performance in their fin set-up than ever before. They are not the first to acknowledge this sea of change in the surfboard design arena (FuelTV picked up on it over a year ago, as did the South African media).

For over a decade, FCS (fin control system) has had the strangle-hold on removable fins. This popular alternative to glassed-in fins allows surfers to travel without the fear of fin damage. It also opens up a range of fin options, so that surfers can try different fin permutations that contribute to the flow and ride of the surfboard. 4WFS blows FCS out the water however in its 3D interchange. Not only is there a range of removable fins to sample, with various composites, flex and shape, but the unique plug system is built for experimentation in fin direction and angle. Whereas FCS is static, fixed to the two drill plugs set into the glass, the 4wfs uni-plug swivels and tilts. Adjustment in toe-in and splay make an incredible impact your surfboard performance. Have a listen to Shaun Gossman, or hear all about 4WFS from the man himself, Dean Geraghty, in this interview from a trade expo in San Diego.