Check it out! I won’t say who, but I have been talking with the editor of a MAJOR surf Mag. and I MIGHT (key word MIGHT, nothing’s set in stone yet) have a monthly article appearing about surfboard fins! I appreciate ALL of your support with my writing in the past, hopefully I have refined it enough that my writing can make the cut! Here’s a sample piece that I wrote for the Mag. Let me know what you think!
Words from a Finatic™
Are fins important? ABSOLUTELY. Should you change them based on real time conditions? ABSOLUTELY. If you want to take your surfing to the NEXT level, fins are the key. Fins allow YOU to use one board across multiple conditions. Do I work for a fin company? lol NO. Do I surf, do I experiment with my fins more that anyone you’ve ever met? YES. Do I catch more waves? Do I push my own limits? YES. We won’t get into the “how” I have access to ALL of FCS’s, Future’s and Kinetik’s fins, just know that I do. Google “Finatic”™ if you like, otherwise take my word for it.
Now, let’s get the OBVIOUS out of the way, “Is it just hype, GREAT marketing by the fin companies in order to get YOU the consumer to buy Fins?” NO and YES. It is HYPE and it is GREAT marketing; but will fins change your surfing? ABSOLUTELY, the HYPE is for real. FCS, Futures and Kinetik Racing Co. all have signature fins. Why? To sell more fins?!? YES. But, it’s also because the BEST surfers in the world can tell the difference a few millimeters can make. They can tell the difference in a fins’ template, in a fins’ size, in more rake, less rake, more cant, less cant, more flex, less flex, more sweep, less sweep. Their feet feel it and if you pay close attention yours can too. (Tip of the day: A THIN traction pad will also help you “feel” your fins.)
First and foremost let’s not buy into a “Magic Fin”. Kelly is amazing, I mean my God did you see the MASSIVE no handed 360° air he pulled at the Quicksilver Pro. New York? I watched it over and over again and it was done on the FCS K-2.1 PC Quad. MAYBE even with the new Knubster as a 5th trailer fin. I’m certainly not the first one to call him a FREAK, but he is. Are his fins the key? Simple answer, for HIM, YES, for you, maybe not. I have been told that most professional surfers refine their fin templates over the course of 6 months to a year!! That means those fins are DEFINITELY dialed in for them, for you however, maybe not.
So, what’s the BEST approach to fin experimentation? How can you get pointed in the right direction, trying fins that are the best for YOU? First, identify your “problems”. Maybe you’re a pro. and you don’t “think” you have any problems… FINE. lol Then what are your weak areas? What do you want to do better? Start there, identify what you need from your board, chances are you can get “it” by changing up your fins. Next, look in the mirror. lol Seriously though! Look at your body type; are you a grom, or light weight? Are you a middle weight? Or are you a HEAVYWEIGHT? Use the guides that FCS, Futures and Kinetik give you. The FCS JW-1’s are AWESOME. I love them in a bit smaller surf, but if you’re a “Grom” or a “Big Guy” steer clear, they’ll be too stiff or too loose as the case maybe. The JW-1’s are a mid ranged fin! You like Jullian Willson, (who doesn’t right now) YOU like the pop of the orange and black ascetic, GREAT, but if you’re a grom or a Heavy Weight they’re NOT for you. I am 6’2”, 170 lbs. I am border line a LARGE surfer; I would only even consider these fins in smaller surf where I need my board to be a bit loose.
SO, what’s the take away? Do you have more questions now than you did at the beginning of this article?!? GOOD, YOU SHOULD! That means you’re thinking about your surfing… That means you’re thinking about your fins, which are quite possibly the most important finishing touch to a good board. TRUST ME, a fin change can make a good board GREAT, or a GREAT board terrible. (If you’re not choosing wisely) A fin change can allow you to make the section you’ve been having problems making. A fin change can add drive or loosen things up. The RIGHT fin change can change your surfing.
Chris Hough Founder & CEO of www.TheSurfboardWarehouse.com
The Home of Finatic™
Thoughts?!? Feedback?!? You know it’s always welcome… Thanks again!
Anyway, we’re BACK with ANOTHER BRAND NEW Kinetik Racing Fin review and this time it’s the Phase 3 Fins! We have this and one other new Fin Video Review, that we just posted to our YouTube channel, so keep your eyes pealed, but for now lets knock out the Phase 3 Fin Review. The Phase 3 Fins feature a very stiff carbon base, with strips of carbon inlay running to the tip of the fins to control your flex and your surfing, helping you keep your speed when you want it most. The Kinetik Racing Phase 3 Fins feature a Small, Medium and Large Template, they come BOTH FCS and Futures compatible and have that carbon as we’ll as a dropped hex core and a lot of glass at the tip. If you like you can try the Kinetik Phase 3 Fins before you buy them in our Finatic™ Fin Testing Program! So, become a Finatic™ member and start testing fins to find which fins work best for you! As always any comments are welcome, thanks again for all your support!