Finless surf craft riding is unbelievably unique yet easy to those who have mastered the art of traction free surfing.

Across late November I was lucky enough to share a few mind blowing sessions out at Byron Bay’s Wategoes Beach and The Pass with none other than Derek Hynd himself.

The first session I was riding a longboard picking off a few runners at Wategoes only to see Derek slide, drift and coast straight, sideways and spin in a low crouching, speed efficient ball of style. Mindblowing.

After a friendly introduction and a exchanging a few tales about Victorian surf (classic story I’ll share when I finally develop my film) he talked me through what seems to be his original 13 something channelled, dinged up, no legrope, modified, front and back foot pads and general physics of his craft and later let me have a quick shred, it went like nothing I’d ever dreamt of.

Derek’s impact on surfing across the world has been prolific in the further development of the creative expression that surfing, in it’s purest form is. Introducing ideas & excitement, both in shaping and riding, that many had maybe touched on in the past but not mastered. Derek is a master, and a damn friendly, stoke-filled bloke.

This stoke inspires others to create also, which is what I was originally going to just talk about until I went on the Hynd tangent, all good.. So introducing this interesting number the fellas over at Bali’s Temple of Enthusiasm made possible with the shaping skills of Chris “Phantom” Garrett made and tested by Salsa.

The craftsmanship looks amazing with the symmetry, extra section of concave/foam taken out of the tail, extra side hips for grip watergrip in the tail but releasable from front weight control, upper channel to funnel the water and more all illustrates the performance shown of Salsa riding both lefts and rights, carving, toobing and grab rail spinning. Rad.

Check out the full story at the Deus Bali Blog and keep creating.