Darshan Gooch keeping things loose
Surfer: Darshan Gooch
Height/weight: 6’4″ 185lbs.
When did you start surfing twins?
One of my first subscriptions to Surfing magazine in the early nineties, there was a feature on a variety of different fish’s ( I believe it was before Lost’s 5’5” x 19 1/4” video.) Probably in my early teens that whole fish revolution wave came through. And then again down the road in the early 2000’s. Luckily I had some friends that allowed me access to some classic twin keel type boards that really freaked me out a little bit.
There has been some dabbling through the years.
When did you switch to surfing twins exclusively?
Probably 2 plus years ago now. I purged all my thrusters and just went head first into a twin fin exploration.
Reason for the change?
Well, I think I was just having so much fun! Originally I had this mind set that I was riding twins because they thrived in small surf and it was something different. Then I kinda got to this place where I only wanted to ride contemporary short boards when the waves were really good.
But honestly, the first 2WIN I got from Stretch started shining in decent waves as well. I just felt some electricity and excitement, so there was an eagerness to keep going / learning!
After spending nearly 25 years forcing thrusters in all types of conditions, I think it just felt good to be a little more loose and free in the approach. It kinda became a quest for me to see if we could get the twins adapted to good surf, even though others had already done it before.
One of the things I appreciate about Stretch’s approach is he doesn’t want to take the shortcut and see what or how others are doing it with their equipment, he insists on honoring the process and finding his own way. Further down the road, Stretch explained to me that these twins were basically a modern version of the boards he was ridding at some of the beloved home spots years ago.
What boards do you opt for during winter swells?
All depending of coarse, but mostly ranging from 6’1” to 6’10” single or double wing round pins . All twins, no trailer fin. Tazy has been ridding twin fins at Mavericks for some years now.
Has surfing twins limited any of your performance surfing?
Good question! On this twin fin journey, I have basically relinquished my mental association with “performance surfing”. It’s all just been learning a new dance. You can do everything as one would on a three or four fin surfboard. There is no limitations, it’s just an altered approach I think. Part of it is learning to engage in your rails a little more and utilizing the outline of your board. Naturally twin fins are fast, so you are giving less effort and receiving more. Tighter angled trajectories become a little different because you are usually working on bleeding speed just as a race car might be down shifting into a turn before accelerating .
What do you want to improve on design/surfing with the current boards?
It’s been great fun! Mostly I am happy with my boards and where we are at right now in the process. We have been working on various flex patterns and playing with different constructions. Also, Now we have kinda moved into some different outlines as well. Basically just keep the learning and passion moving forward. That’s where the fun is at for me.
What’s next?
Well, I think we are in a pretty good place. I don’t think I will be going back to thrusters at this point personally.
More recently Stretch and I have moved into some more classic type twin fish’s. Perhaps there is some opportunity to explore the balance between performance capabilities within that particular genre of the twin keel fish.
Cheers Darshan! Board model: 2win – 5’11 x 19.75 x 2.4 – Vol: 31.1L.
"INSTANT CLASSIC" ALONG SIDE ONE OF STRETCH'S OLD SHAPES VIA 1982
Photo: Guerin Myall @myallsnaps
Board model: Double Wing RP 2WIN - 5'11 X 19.25 X 2.38 - Vol: 31.13L.
2WIN DFT- 5'11 X 19.25 X 2.38 photo: DARSHAN GOOCH
photo: Bryan Garrison @wetfeetphoto
Photo: Guerin Myall @myallsnaps