fin help

Hrkitegirl · Since 12 May 2009 23 Posts Hood River, OR

I would love some advice on surfboard fins for gorge kiting. I am a 5'10" woman who carves hard and jumps a lot. I was on a Naish 5'5" Custom Global that I loved until I broke it. Now I'm trying to like my gorge-made custom board, and I think with the right fins I could love it. I just haven't found the right fins yet. It was made for 5 fins and I think I've determined I like a quad set-up best. It takes future fins. I like quick rail to rail turns and to really lay into and hold my carves on the swell. I don't like to ever break loose and slide at all. Is that enough information for some of you knowedgeable people out there to have an opinion about fins I should try? I appreciate your advice.
-Aspen

Pepi · Mon Oct 08, 12 10:40 am

Quad set up = more rail engagement into the water and usually a more pivoty or snappy of a feel in your turns. Not usually for long drawn out turns, but for more jaggy or snappy quick turns.

Tri set up = looser/slashier feel in short radius turns and a bit more stability in longer drawn out turns allowing more confidence with power and/or speed.

As for making the board quicker rail to rail, that is primarily determined by the width of the board. Narrower is quick rail to rail, while wider allows you to stand further back and have a more pivoty feel in the board.
If the board is not super quick rail to rail, moving your back foot all the way back to the deck pad wedge or over your back fin can improve your quickness from rail to rail.

Just my two cents.

specialk · Guest

I'm curious about this too! I have found that the shape of the board has a lot to do with that sweet carvy-feel - it's like the side cut on a pair of slalom ski's!!!!

...but then what exactly am I looking for with the fin set-up with both a tri-fin vs quad? We need fin demo days! Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks for putting it out there Aspen!

Kirstan

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Like Pepi said, to really lay into carves and not break loose you might be better off with a tri-fin setup. Quads are usually more snappy, but won't hold a long turn as well since there's no middle fin to give you grip no matter what part of a transition you're in. If you feel that standard sized fins for all 3 spots in a tri-fin set up drag too much and aren't snappy enough you can compromise by using a smaller middle fin. Then you'll have a quicker/snappier feel more like a quad, but will still have some grip for carves due to the middle fin. As far as what size and shape I'm not sure since I mostly ride surfboards at the coast. You can probably get away with slightly smaller fins in the gorge. I prefer glass fins since they're more durable and snappy than the cheap alternative. Good luck.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1490 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Agree with Pepi.
I recently switched from quad to tri-fin and I love the smooth carving turns I can do now. Also better upwind.
Also, my new tri-fin is way looser than my quad boards but it's because of a different shape - not the fins.
Aspen - you have a beautiful smooth style to your kite-surfing. I would think it's better suited to a tri-fin setup, medium size fins, medium to firm flex.
Lastly - I've never been able to make my boards cut loose, quad or tri. Has that really been an issue for you?

Hrkitegirl · Since 12 May 2009 23 Posts Hood River, OR

Kirstan - you 'da woman for fin demos! We need a fin rep, girl!

Laird and Pepi - thanks for the thoughts. Maybe I will try a tri set-up. I do break loose sometimes (usually on my heel-side carves), and it often ends with me skittering across the water on my back downwind - if you see it happen, I'll just say it's a rad new move I'm working on. Probably user-error more than anything, but I was hoping magic fins might make up for user error a bit.

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Everything everyone has said so far seems to fit with my experience as well. I had a thruster board with a very cheap set of fins and I was spinning out a lot. I picked up a new set of much nicer/ stiffer fins and the difference was night and day. Maybe a little longer fins that are a bit stiffer could be the answer?

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Try some long board side bites (Future SB1) for your quad trailers. Then a slightly larger set +1" for the fronts. Knock the leading edge down if it's sharp. Most quad surf sets are too big for Gorge kiting. imo. Ask your board builder to use Probox on your next board for more adjustment. With multi-fin setups you might be getting turbulence from the open slot(s) that is spoiling the flow and causing the fins to spin out. Fill the unused slots with something.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Great post! I wish there were more posts like this one; very informative. I ride a tri fin setup and like it a lot. "Cream Dream"--T.D.--goofy foot madness coming soon to an ocean beach near you. Check local forecasts and tidal charts for a "green room"--unknown author--near you. Great time to try some different fin set ups.

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