Fin Experimentation

Mix it up and try new fins:

The number of manipulable factors that affect how surfboard fins perform is truly bountiful. Consequently, tinkering with the fin setup on some of your go-to boards can open up new possibilities, and ultimately expand the palette from which you draw when plotting lines across whichever waves suit your fancy. The collection of fins we offer are the result of decades of experimentation and refinement, and the bottom line is that as the collection expands and progresses, so can your surfing experience.

SINGLE FINS:

The simplest way to change the feel of a single fin is to adjust the position of the fin on your board. Moving the fin forward in the fin box will make the board looser, which allows for easy turning. Moving the fin back towards the tail will widen the turn radius and give the board an overall stiffer feeling, which allows for more drawn out turns. Another way to change the feel of your board is to try a different size fin: larger fins will have more stability and control, while smaller fins will loosen things up. Additionally, experimenting with different amounts of flex can deliver fresh sensations; more flex delivers more power and projection in your turns, while less equates to a more responsive and quicker feel.

 


2+1 SETUPS:

This venerable setup consisting of a single fin coupled with side bites will have your board feeling loose, but with the added versatility of increased holding power in bigger surf. A popular size combo would be a 7” center fin and a set of two 3.25” sidebites. However, copious possibilities await, and we encourage experimentation with center fin and side bite sizes, and center fin placement.

TWIN FINS

If you are after a searing blend of speed and maneuverability, then a twin fin set up may be the solution. More stable than single fins, yet looser than a standard thruster setup, twin fins provide a unique blend of performance characteristics, thus garnering an enthusiastic following. Generally, the boards that work best as twin fins were designed with a twin fin setup in mind.

TRI-FINS:

The thruster setup has been the standard in high performance surfing for the past 25 years in great part due to its commendable ability to provide the ultimate blend of control and maneuverability in anything from small mushy waves to 15 foot barrels. This blend of control and maneuverability provides access to the upper echelons of modern performance surfing, but also allows for classic surfing with clean, powerful lines. Typically, a thruster setup will have 3 fins of the same size and template, but there exists room for tinkering -- e.g. some thrusters have a slightly smaller center fin for a looser feel.

QUAD FINS:

Faster than thrusters, and with more drive than twin fins, quads align well with a “down the line” style of surfing that leans towards comparatively horizontal -- as opposed to vertical -- maneuvers. The notable increase in effortless speed is a consequence of reduced drag by way of eliminating the center fin, and the generous drive and hold come from 2 fins working with each rail. Quads also tend to be a favorite in racy barreling surf thanks to their unique combination of speed, drive, and hold.