How to Choose a Fin
Choosing the right fin can elevate your surfing experience from good to exceptional.
Trying out different fins and setups can lead to surprising improvements in your surfing. Trust your instincts and pick something that feels good, and equally important looks good
with a little understanding of fin theory it might just be the game changer you've been looking for.
Understanding the Terms
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Template
The outline of a fin, often simply referred to as the "Template," is its outline or shape. This is essentially the design you would sketch on a piece of paper, indicating the fin's overall form and contours.
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Rake
Rake refers to how far back a fin curves compared to standing straight up. The more a fin leans back, the more rake it has. More rake typically offers smooth, drawn out turns, while less rake typically offers more pivot with tighter, quicker turns. The “Chunk” pictured above has very little rake.
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Surface Area
A larger surface area gives you more stability and drive. A smaller surface area, however, lets you make quicker, sharper turns, allowing you to move more easily and with greater agility.
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Flex & Foil
How much does it take to get the fin to bend? How quick does that bend go back to normal? That’s flex. How does the fin contour looking at it straight on? The curve from the skinny edges through the thickest part of the center. That’s foil.
OUR STYLE GUIDE
THE CLASSIC — YOUR ULTIMATE ALL-AROUND FIN THAT DELIVERS VERSATILITY AND PERFORMANCE IN EVERY SESSION. DESIGNED TO EXCEL IN ALL WAVE CONDITIONS, THE CLASSIC IS YOUR EVERYDAY GO-TO, WHETHER YOU'RE CRUISING ON A MIDLENGTH, OR STYLING ON A LONGBOARD. ITS ADAPTABILITY SHINES ACROSS ALL SIZES, FROM SMALLER FINS PERFECT FOR MIDLENGTH MANEUVERABILITY TO LARGER FINS THAT OFFER UNPARALLELED STABILITY ON CLASSIC NOSERIDERS. WE RECOMMEND SIZING UP SLIGHTLY FROM YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE. ELEVATE YOUR SURF GAME WITH THE CLASSIC—WHERE TIMELESS DESIGN MEETS UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE.
EL PIVOT — THE FIN THAT REDEFINES WHAT A PIVOT FIN CAN DO. WITH A NARROWER BASE, THIS INNOVATIVE DESIGN SHEDS THE CLUNKY FEEL OF TRADITIONAL PIVOT FINS, OFFERING A PERFECT BLEND OF SMOOTH NOSERIDING AND EFFORTLESS MANEUVERABILITY. EL PIVOT TRANSFORMS YOUR RIDE INTO A FLUID EXPERIENCE, ALLOWING YOU TO GLIDE WITH EASE WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE CONTROL YOU NEED TO TURN ON A DIME. IF YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE, THIS FIN WILL TURN YOU INTO A BELIEVER. The narrower base allows you to go a little longer in size than you might expect.
THE CHUNK—A TRIBUTE TO THE ICONIC '60S AUSTRALIAN MAL DESIGNS. THIS FIN EMBRACES ITS HISTORIC ROOTS WITH A CLASSIC SHAPE THAT DELIVERS A POWERFUL, AUTHENTIC SURF EXPERIENCE. WITH LESS RAKE AND A FULL OUTLINE, THE CHUNK OFFERS UNMATCHED DRIVE, MAKING IT IDEAL FOR FAST WAVES AND ALLOWING YOU TO TAKE OFF DEEPER WITH CONFIDENCE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CHANNEL THE TIMELESS STYLE AND PERFORMANCE OF VINTAGE SURFING, THE CHUNK IS YOUR FIN OF CHOICE. EMBRACE THE PAST, POWER YOUR PRESENT.
RAKE —WHERE MODERN DESIGN MEETS EFFORTLESS GLIDE. ENGINEERED WITH MORE RAKE THAN OUR CLASSIC MODEL, THIS FIN IS THE GO-TO CHOICE FOR MIDLENGTH ENTHUSIASTS AND THOSE RIDING SMALLER LONGBOARDS. THE INCREASED RAKE ENSURES A FLUID, SWEEPING TURN CAPABILITY, ENHANCING YOUR BOARD’S RESPONSIVENESS AND AGILITY. WHETHER YOU'RE CARVING TIGHT ARCS OR CRUISING ON OPEN FACES, THE RAKE DELIVERS A DYNAMIC, SMOOTH RIDE THAT KEEPS YOU CONNECTED TO THE WAVE. PERFECT FOR SURFERS LOOKING TO ELEVATE THEIR PERFORMANCE WITH A FIN THAT OFFERS BOTH HOLD AND MANEUVERABILITY.
