Photo: Jamie Elliott
Surfgirl Magazine caught up with Single Fin Shootout Style Commissioner Candice O’Donnell to get the lowdown on style, surfing and what makes the event so special.
You’ve had such a long connection with surfing and with Newquay, what does this place mean to you?
Newquay is much more than just a place to me it’s home. It’s where I learned to surf, and where my professional surfing career began. I grew up in the water here, spending as much time as possible surfing. It has an incredible surfing community, with local shapers, surf shops and people who have helped give the town its own identity within the wider surf industry. There’s always been a sense of opportunity here. I’ve travelled all over the world, but there’s something about coming back here and seeing the coastline that still feels deeply familiar.
There have been a lot of changes and trends in surfing over the years. Where does the Single Fin Shootout fit into that story, and where did it all begin?
I surfed in the very first Single Fin Shootout, and at the time, it felt important because it offered an alternative to the modern day surfing that was becoming increasingly dominant. The event created a real connection with the past, with the boards, the surfing and the shapers who paved the way for modern surfing. It gave people the opportunity to experience a different kind of surfing and to appreciate the skill, patience and style involved in riding a single fin. For me, it was never about rejecting modern surfing or saying that one approach was better than another. It was about celebrating where surfing had come from and recognising that there are many different ways to ride a wave. The Shoot Out gave that side of surfing a place to be seen, shared and celebrated. It has also continued to evolve over the years. New generations of surfers have discovered single fins and brought their own ideas and energy to them, so the event feels connected to the past while still being relevant to the present
Photo: Toby Butler
Having spent so much of your life surfing, what is it about the Single Fin Shootout that feels special?
I think what makes the Single Fin Shootout so special is the mix of people it brings together. You’ve got surfers who have been riding waves for decades alongside younger surfers who are discovering single fins for the first time. It’s inclusive, with people of all ages and genders taking part, and there’s a genuine sense of community around the event. It’s grassroots surfing at its best. It’s serious, but not too serious. It’s fun, a bit wild, a bit loose and definitely alternative. There’s room for everyone, whether you’re an experienced single-fin surfer or simply curious about riding one. I also love the diversity of the event and the idea that everyone is taking a little piece of the past and bringing it into the future. Different generations are sharing the same lineup, riding these beautiful old boards and enjoying surfing for what it is. That combination of history, creativity and community is what makes the Shootout feel so unique.
You’re now taking on the role of Style Commissioner — ace! What does “style” mean to you when it comes to surfing?
For me, style is everything. It’s about individuality and identity, the way someone naturally moves on a wave and expresses themselves through their surfing. Good style doesn’t have to be complicated or flashy. In fact, some of the best style can be incredibly simple. It might be the way someone trims, the way they nose ride, the line they draw through a section, or even just the way they hold a position. I think that’s what makes style so interesting. You can have two people riding exactly the same board on the same wave, but they’ll surf it completely differently. Their personality comes through in the way they move and the choices they make. Personally I don’t think style about trying to look stylish. It’s something that comes naturally when you’re comfortable with your board, connected to the wave and confident enough to surf in your own way.
Photo: Jamie Elliott
There’s something quite timeless about watching someone surf a beautiful old single fin. What do you think those boards bring out in a surfer?
I think those boards make you respect the wave and the board in a different way. You can’t really force a single fin to do what you want. You have to ride it the way it wants to be ridden, otherwise it will let you know pretty quickly! They make you slow things down and think more about what the wave is giving you. With a modern shortboard, there’s a lot of emphasis on generating speed, whereas with a single fin you have to work with the wave and the natural speed of the board. I think that brings out a different kind of surfing. You start looking for different lines, finding trim, using the whole wave and being a little more patient. When someone really understands a single fin, there’s a beautiful sense of flow to their surfing. It can look effortless, but there’s actually a lot of feel and understanding going on underneath. And maybe that’s what makes them so timeless. They encourage you to listen to the wave rather than trying to overpower it.
“When someone really understands a single fin, there’s a beautiful sense of flow to their surfing.”
You’ve ridden all kinds of boards throughout your career. What is the feeling you get when you ride a single fin?
I’ve always taken a lot of inspiration from legends such as Jerry Lopez, Tom Curren, Leah Dawson and many others. Watching old surf movies, studying the way those surfers moved and learning from the legends of the past are all part of the experience. So is talking to shapers and understanding the equipment your riding — where it comes from, how it was designed and what it’s capable of. Riding a single fin gives me a real sense of freedom and connection. There’s something incredibly satisfying about getting one moving properly. When you find that perfect trim and the board begins to glide, it’s a beautiful feeling. For me, riding a single fin is like driving a Cadillac rather than a Ferrari. It encourages you to slow down and be fully present, with the wave, your movements and the board beneath you. You have to let everything work together, and when it does, there’s a real sense of freedom, flow and connection. Understanding the board, respecting its design and learning how to work with it are key parts of the whole experience.
Photo: Aqua Shot
Maybe that’s what keeps people coming back to the Shootout. What do you think it says about surfing that we’re still so drawn to these old boards and the way they’re surfed?
I think technology has given surfers incredible equipment and pushed surfing in amazing directions, but there’s still something really satisfying about stripping it all back. A single fin reminds us that surfing isn’t always about performance, progression or trying to do more. Sometimes it’s simply about the feeling. There’s also a real connection to the history of surfing. You’re riding equipment that has a story behind it, influenced by shapers and surfers who paved the way for everything we’re doing today. When you ride an old single fin, you become part of that story for a little while. And I think that’s what makes the Shoot Out so special. It’s not about looking backwards or saying that the old ways are better. It’s about appreciating something that still feels completely relevant today. You can take something from the past, put your own interpretation on it and carry it forward. Ultimately, I think it reminds us why we started surfing in the first place because it feels good. And that’s something that never really goes out of style.
Much Aloha. See you in the line up x
For more on the Single Fin Shoot Out head here > @single_fin_shootout
