Derek Hynd is considered one of the most unusual and influential surfers of his generation.
He sees surfing not as a sport, but as a form of communication with the ocean—an expression of feeling, energy, and trust.
Anyone who has seen him in the water quickly realizes: Hynd doesn’t surf against the wave, but with it.
His style is fluid, intuitive, and uncompromisingly honest.
His sessions in Jeffreys Bay or Byron Bay show that he understands the ocean not as an opponent, but as a partner.
Career and turning points
Born and raised in New South Wales (Sydney, 1957), Hynd started as a talented competitive surfer in the 1970s.
He was considered an analytical mind with an extraordinary feel for the board before a serious accident in the 1980s changed his career.
After losing sight in one eye, he turned away from contest surfing—and began to question surfing itself anew.
Inspired by George Greenough and his hydrodynamic experiments, Hynd began to minimize the friction between the board and the water.
He reinvented the concept of finless surfing—not as a trick or trend, but as a philosophy of letting go.
The philosophy of finless surfing
Hynd’s approach was radically simple:
"The less control you force, the closer you get to the truth of the wave."
He experimented with fin positions, materials, and bottoms until he was surfing completely finless.
This type of surfing—the so-called Free Friction Surfing—is unique to this day.
It requires complete trust in the dynamics of the water, precision in balance, and a deep understanding of current and energy.
Hynd’s style was not only technically innovative, but also aesthetically revolutionary.
He proved that speed and flow do not arise from control, but from harmony with the wave.
Encounters and mutual inspiration
Derek Hynd was never a loner, but part of a network of surfers and shapers who have decisively shaped modern surf culture.
His most important companions included George Greenough, Bob McTavish, Terry Fitzgerald, Nat Young, and Tom Curren.
He shared a deep creative friendship with Curren, which resulted in countless experiments, board tests, and film projects.
Their shared ideas shaped not only the modern surf style, but also the mindset of entire generations.
Hynd, in turn, inspired surfers like Dave Rastovich, Ryan Burch, and other representatives of today’s “Free Surfer” movement, who prioritize experimentation over perfection.
Personality and attitude
Derek Hynd is known for his calm, reflective manner. He doesn’t seek the limelight and consciously avoids the commercial surf circus.
Conversations with him rarely revolve around competitions or sponsors—instead, they are about currents, light, sandbanks, and tides.
He is convinced that surfing lies not in mastery, but in understanding.
His most famous quote sums up this attitude:
"If you think you've mastered surfing, you've already lost it."
This humility in the face of nature makes him a respected voice in the surf community to this day—independent, headstrong, and uncompromisingly authentic.
Further information about Derek Hynd
In the 1990s and 2000s, Hynd also appeared as an author and filmmaker.
His collaboration with Andrew Kidman led to groundbreaking 🎬 surf films such as:
- Litmus (1996) – Andrew Kidman & Derek Hynd
- Glass Love (2006)
- Beyond Litmus (2016)
These works showed surfing as a meditative state—beyond performance, fame, and advertising. Hynd
wrote regularly for magazines such as Tracks and The Surfer’s Journal, away from the camera.
His texts are known for their profound tone, their critical reflection, and their clear view of what surfing really means: connection.
