Simon Anderson (born 7 July 1954) is an Australian competitive surfer, surfboard shaper, and writer. He is credited with the 1980 invention of a three-fin surfboard design, called the "thruster".

When were thruster invented?

Conceived in October 1980 after an encounter with fellow-shaper Frank Williams, Australian Simon Anderson created the Thruster in the beginning of 1981 by squaring-off the tail and adding a third/central fin to what was essentially a twin-fin surfboard.

What turns better quad or thruster?

In other words; quads are simply more efficient and so better than thrusters when it comes to holding a high line and doing rail turns. This means that quads perform well in particular conditions where a surfer needs as much speed as possible, such as in big waves, deep barrel sections and tiny, "gutless" beach breaks.