ASB MAGAZINE: Burleigh Heads based 3DFINS has picked up a 2020 Australian Good Design Award (Sport and Lifestyle) for their soon the be released ‘soft’ fin. The brief was to create a fin that had to perform at an advanced level while being safe and reducing the chance of injury. The concept was to create a fin that bridged the gap between high performance fins constructed from a hard inner core and prone to cause injury and the rubbery, low performance fins commonly found on learn to surf softboards. 3DFINS solution was to create a soft fin using their patented dimple technology on the outer soft skin that is durable, UV protected and can be applied to any fin or keel design and can be made from recycled or eco-friendly materials.
“Over the last couple of years, I have been developing a high-performance fin with a stiff inner core and soft outer skin. I saw a definite need to bridge the gap between current safe but rubbery beginner fins and the high-performance but sometimes dangerous top end fibreglass fins. I set out to create a fin that could perform at an advanced level while at the same time be safe and reduce the chance of injury. The result is a fin that meets the needs of surfers at all levels from beginners through to rippers,” said 3DFINS Founder, Courtney Potter.
Utilizing the proven technology used on golf balls to reduce drag and create lift, 3DFINS proved, through rigorous computational flow dynamic testing, that adding dimples to the outer surface of their fins also reduced drag and created more speed. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength and now includes such innovative surfers as Jamie O’Brien, Christian Fletcher and Matt Hoy as part of their international R&D team.
Receiving a Good Design Award is a significant achievement for the Burleigh based company and given the very high calibre and record number of entries received in 2020. The Good Design Awards Jury also praised the safe, high-performance fin. Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia observed the design was;
“An elegant solution to a simple problem. Injury and durability appear to be well considered in this product through the use of suitable materials. The dimple effect is also a great discovery and application.”
The new soft fin series will be available in all good surf stores and online from October 1st, 2020. More information 3dfins.com.au
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The 2020 Good Design Award Winner accolade is awarded to products, services or projects that, in the opinion of the judges have satisfied the evaluation criteria for Good Design. From a record 835 projects submitted to the Good Design Awards this year, 322 innovative projects qualified for the Good Design Award Winner accolade.
