How to Buy Fins
Riders seem to spend more time buying decorative nuts and bolts than the
fins they'll use with them. That's like buying a really fast motorcycle and not
considering what kind of tires are going to keep you on the road. While
advanced riders may already have a sense of what types of fins they prefer, the
tips we've included below should help beginners and experts alike narrow down
their selection.
Function
Fins keep the board traveling in the direction in which you
point it and prevent it from freely rotating on the water. It does this using
vertical depth and the shape of the foil, or profile,
of the fin from front to back.
- Wider foils move more water and create drag and lift under your
feet
- Thinner foils push less water and let the fin guide your board without
resistance
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Depth and Base
Rocker and fin hole placement should be considered when selecting a fin
depth.
- Extra rocker pulls the fin up out of the water and compromises hold, as
will a wider fin setting
- Elongated bases address rocker problems, giving the water a snowy feel
and giving shallow fins more surface area for effective cutting and
tracking
- Measure the rocker and fin holes in a complete board that feels
comfortable to you and compare it to those in a new board you're thinking about
buying.
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Conditions
- Rough conditions call for a larger fin that will provide hold and
control while you're bouncing around in the chop
- For smooth, clear conditions, the maneuverability of a smaller, thinner
fin is preferred by most boarders
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Styles
In general, a ramp style fin is a good place to start. It is considered
the most universal of shapes, and seems to work for a lot of different
riding styles. Having a few sets of fins can give you almost as much versatility as
owning a collection of complete boards. A long base shape with different depths and foils offer a great deal of
riding variety.
- Sharper and deeper for choppy conditions or extra control in new
maneuvers
- Rampy and shallow for smooth, free-riding conditions
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