Mark Richards Free Ride Twin Fin Replica #71 review

Updated 2026-09-19

The Mark Richards Free Ride Twin Fin Replica, number 71 of a limited run, is a 6'4 custom retro twin fin. It is a collector's board as much as a rider's board, built flat and fast in the style that first made twin fins famous.

What it is and why I bought it

I ordered this replica in August 2014, a PU board with a flat rocker, hard rails and a bottom running from flat into a mild vee, through a double vee, into a deeper double vee out the back. At 21 inches wide and 43.6 litres over 6'4, it is a faithful retro shape rather than a modern reinterpretation, numbered 71 as part of a limited edition run.

How it surfed

Its best wave came at Freshy, at a top speed of 29.3 km/h (about 18.2 mph) over a 74 metre ride, a strong number for a flat-rockered retro shape. It has been out only rarely so far, in keeping with its role as much a piece of surfing history as a regular rider. The wave range noted is 2 to 4 ft, ideal at 3 ft, matching the smaller, faster conditions this style of twin fin was originally built for.

Who it suits and who it does not

A flat, fast, retro twin fin like this suits someone drawn to the heritage of the design as much as the way it rides, particularly in small, fast waves where a flat rocker excels. It is not a board for someone chasing modern high-performance turning or a wide range of conditions; the flat rocker and hard rails that make it fast in small surf work against it once size or steepness increases.

What happened to it

It is still in the rack. It cost $2,060 to order and carries an asking price of $1,399, but a numbered, limited-edition board like this tends to be kept rather than moved on.

Questions people ask

What makes this board a limited edition?

It is number 71 of a limited production run of this Mark Richards retro twin fin design, which the register notes directly against the model name.

What conditions suit this board best?

The logged range is 2 to 4 ft with 3 ft as the ideal, matching the small, fast waves the flat-rocker retro twin fin style was originally built around.

Why does it stay out of the everyday rotation?

It sits more in the collector category than the everyday rotation, valued as much for its place in twin fin history as for how often it gets ridden.

For the full spec sheet, see the current quiver. For another Mark Richards board in the log, see the Mark Richards Mega Twin. For more on the different types of twin fin, see twin fin fins.