Like many of the best European surfers, Aritz Aranburu returned to international competitions this week with the Pantín Classic.

Unlike most, in a big and powerful sea in the Galician breakers, the Basque decided to go into the water with a twin fin.

In the following paragraphs he tells what led him to make that decision that left him with the runner-up position in the classic tournament.

Why did you compete with her?
As we all know, this is a special year and so I came to the championship without too many expectations, nor did I come with a very big competitive vein… I was a bit down and suddenly on the morning of the first day of competing a lot of waves came in and it got to my head to experience something different, feel something different and try to put forward a different challenge.

There were big waves, a sea of ​​about three meters and I don't know why it got into my head "I'm going to surf with this twin fin."

I think in the end, it's been such a strange year that I said to myself: "Well, I'm going to do strange things too."

Pantín Classic is always a championship in which you want to win the title, but I came with low expectations and that made me make the decision.

What advantages do you feel?
I noticed that it's a board that goes faster in the transitions between turns and you have to make wider lines than normal, but in general I felt a lot of speed and it gave me peace of mind. But as I said: I really liked having the challenge with myself of trying to adapt to that board and surf well.

How big is?
It's 5'7 and is a hand-shaped board by my Hawaiian friend Daniel Jones.

It's rare to see you competing with boards like that.
As I said: Strange year, I'm doing strange things; to spice things up a bit.

Can you imagine a CT surfer with a twin fin?
Yes, I can imagine that. I think they are evolving in a way that, if you can combine the speed they have with high performance with a certain type of waves, I can imagine that. In fact, last year at the ISA World Championships, Kelly used one in Japan on small wave days and surfed incredibly, incredibly!

How are you?
All good, it's been a very experimental, very reflective year. I spent the lockdown at home alone and I remember it fondly. I'm lucky to have a little garden and I dedicated myself to planting things, cooking and furnishing my head a bit.