Walden Surfboards Enigma Session

Words by John Streit. Photos by Jill Thomas.

If you’re a regular follower of our site, then you already know we’ve been banging the drum on the Walden Surfboards “Enigma” model now for years. Formerly known as the “Hushpuppy,” the Enigma has been an R&D labor of love between shop owner Rob Lindauer and Steve Walden. Both as a standup paddleboard and a hybrid shortboard, the Enigma adheres to the shorter-wider-thicker philosophy that has come into fashion — but more importantly function — in recent years. Click here for our board review covering this fresh design.

As board outlines have changed over the years, so have the fins that suit these wider shapes. Futures Fins innovated the “Controller” quad set, which is taylor-made for boards like the Enigma featuring wide tails. The wide-based, raked lead fins hold in the rails through turns, while the upright trailer fins provide a reliable rutter under the back foot for pivotal and vertical turning. The result corrects the bad wrap quads have gotten over the years in terms of the fins sliding out uncontrollably through hard turns: hence the name “Controller.” Shapers Fins Australia has also produced a quad set called “D.V.S. Keel Quad” which feature a similar design but with a more defined cutaway at the fin base and a ton of flex, making them extremely lively and fast through turns.

There’s no doubt that these fins ride the best in the Walden Surfboards Enigma and many other wide-tailed boards. The proof is in these awesome photos of the Enigma crew of Rob, Kenny Mills and Craig Thomas captured by Jill Thomas in s this past weekend.

If you were in Virginia Beach this weekend, you saw these guys putting on a show! Photo: Thomas

The brainchild of years of Rob Lindauer's R&D with Walden Surfboards, it's safe to say he's got the Enigma wired -- both as a hybrid and a SUP. The proof is in this fierce wrap. 1 of 5. Photo: Thomas.

Rob Lindauer, 2 of 5. Photo: Thomas.

Rob Lindauer, 3 of 5. Photo: Thomas.

Rob Lindauer, 4 of 5. Photo: Thomas.

Rob Lindauer, 5 of 5. Photo: Thomas.

"Hey, that's my friend!" Kenny Mills with the backside rock on the 6'0 Enigma. Photo: Thomas.

Craig Thomas cranks it off the bottom on the 8'6 Enigma SUP. Photo: Thomas.

Another smooth and powerful turn from Rob Lindauer. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills with a stylish backhand carve, proving the Enigma holds a true line when put on rail. 1 of 6. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills, 2 of 6. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills, 3 of 6. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills, 4 of 6. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills, 5 of 6. Photo: Thomas.

Kenny Mills, 6 0f 6. Photo: Thomas.

Craig Thomas on trim. Photo: Thomas.

Rob Lindauer puts it on this wave like a boxer with a right hook. In the next frame, he actually forces the entire board through the lip and back to the service in the frame after. Frontside lip punch to airdrop, 1 of 5. Photo: Thomas.