Finless twin tip?

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Do people do it? I know you have to be finless if you want to do sliders but for normal riding does it work? Fins help you go upwind right? So do you have to be well powered to go upwind without them? Is riding finless ill advised for some reason under normal conditions?

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hey Youkai ,
I had to laugh to myself when I read your use of " ill advised " .
You can do whatever you want man .
I was a newb at SPI yrs back and a fella suggested to make things easier " take the fins off ".
Now for the rest of the story . I was using my first and only kite and board setup , a 13m foil and a 159 flydoor . Gusty winds so the lack of exp. saw my kite fall at the edge of the window and fill up as it goes back in and bam you get a serious yank . It was pulling me off the board . So a fellow kiter told me to try it without the fins and it would be more forgiving , it was ! Again as a newb , now this big board is shooting out from under me so easily , another new experience .
Nowaday I removed the fins to use my board on the kicker . I also have a skim board without any fins and it's such a blast .
So any how to answer you from my pov , I would say take your fins off to try it you may want to try a skim board too as it's a whole new feeling and a surfboard without all the stuff on it is fun too . You will improve your kite skills riding this way as well .
You can still go upwind and everything else it's just not as easy thats why they use them fins .
Have fun
JackZ

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Ok thanks. I know the board gets more "slippery" when you don't have fins and you have to be a lot better about using your edge. I want to start working on my toe-side riding so I figure it will be easier to switch around without fins so long as I can keep the board under me.

ericvs · Since 05 Jul 2008 133 Posts Stoked

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

I wouldn't think about it much and just do it. I've broken 'em and rode, forgot to put 'em on and rode, bluh bluh and duh duh. Sometimes i noticed it and sometimes i didn't. Kiting makes you over think things sometimes. Through it all, its just ridin' boards. Go have some fun, toe side and nothin' but a thang!

forrest · Fri Jun 10, 11 8:33 am

I used to ride finless exclusively. It's super fun, go for it!

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

I took my fins off two years ago and I'm never going back. Fins are a crutch and they hinder your technique more than they help. The edge of the board, not the fins, is what you edge on. Sans fins is "looser" compared to slippery. Sliding from heel to toe is seamless. Less worries on surface passes. Seriously, ditch them.

Chooch · Fri Jun 10, 11 6:00 pm

Yup been finless for the last 3 seasons. I would say it feels more like a snowboard when finless. Might take a few sessions to get used to it but once you get it you'll love it.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

I took the fins off for my gorge session on Saturday. Didn't miss them at all. I'm definitely going to stick with that.