Since 1979, Chuck Ames and the True Ames Fins team have been developing the finest fiberglass fins available. Known throughout the international surfing community for innovative designs and a prowess for experimentation, we continue to fulfill our mission to help surfers and windsurfers maximize and manipulate the performance of their vehicles of choice.
Today, True Ames offers a greater diversity of fin products than any other fin company. Our material experimentations have created the True Lite Hexcore fin line, which includes thruster templates that are FCS and Futures Compatible from Lost, Erik Arakawa, Hamish Graham, Timmy Patterson, and Channel Islands. Our close relationships to imaginative pros, such as Josh Farberow, Jimmy Gamboa, Oliver Parker, Daniel Graham, Ashley Lloyd, and Brad Gerlach, Tyler Warren, Christian Wach, Peter Mendia allows us to maintain the constant flow of feedback that will continue to establish True Ames as the industry’s greatest fin resource.
True Ames Fins is a proud sponsor of the 15th Annual T&C Surf/Surfer Magazine Grom Contest at Queen’s surf in Waikiki on May 19-20. Groms age 12 and younger take to the waves vying for top spots in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard division. Preliminary heats run all day Saturday with the top six advancing to the next round. Lunch is provided for competitors by Genki Sushi and drinks courtesy of Naked juice, plus free Enza apples. Returning this year is a Kokua division where adults can push their 3-6 year old into waves! Day two Sunday takes you back into the surf for final heats, where this year’s champions will claim their title as top grom. Join FreeSurf for a very special “Expression Session” on Sunday. Grown-ups and keiki compete in a tandem division where fun and creativity earns top points. Wrap it up with an award ceremony with the top six in each division earning trophies and prize packs.
3 Lucky kids will receive a gift certificate for a free set of system fins from True Ames…. Good Luck Groms!!
We had a chance to catch up with Cameron Biehl, our latest True Ames team rider for kite racing. He’s actively involved in designing and making his kite race fins. Here is what cam had to say about the new CNC project and the progression of kite racing equipment.
Well into our third year of Kite-racing development, we have slowly ticked the boxes toward going faster with a higher degree of control. The boards have gotten progressively wider and thus more stable, and our rocker and outlines have developed along this same theory of control. We seem to have plenty of power in the kite when you are rigged correctly, so its more about holding on rather than creating power. Its like motorcycle racing on the water, all the power you can handle is in the twist of your wrist but its more about reading the terrain and holding on; knowing your limit is part of the game but the further down the road we go; the more comfortable we are becoming at those top speeds. Part of that is the human aspect, and part is due to our equipment.
The fins have also run in parallel with this same theory of control. A reduction from 4 fins to 3 has dramatically reduced not only tip drag, but lift in the back of the board, which can be hazardous to ones health in big breeze and big waves! We had the master hand of Chuck foil a few tri-sets for us last year and even got a couple thursday night Wins on them. Once we had figured out the geometry and area, Chuck decided to help us out with his new CNC machine and we were really able to dial in our thickness to chord length percentages as well as the dynamics (flex characteristics) of the fin. We have locked in to a specific outline dictating the stiffness and center of area on the fin. When compared to our past fins which were merely old windsurfing or hand shaped specials, the newer CNC foils have a much more “slippery” feel, but in a good, faster forward way, not like the slip sideways feeling one gets when you jump back on a surfboard after race-boarding. Also the precision potting method has allowed us to guarantee our fins are at the correct cant angle and rake, which can vary depending on the rocker line of the hull and the boards attitude when skipping over chest high chop. -Cameron Biehl
We as riders are getting more and more stoked because our equipment is not only becoming more refined, but also easier to ride! This year will be very interesting in the San Francisco racing scene as a majority of the fleet is on the box rule boards, whereas last year only about 15% of the racers pushed their boards to the limit. I am stoked to be not only riding for, but throughly working with True Ames Fins to not only push my own racing to go faster, but to create a product that the public can go out and be competitive and in control on as well!
True Ames welcomes Peter Mendia to the team. Here’s a sick clip of some ripping going on. Also check out the 2 page spread in Surfing magazine from this month. photo: Ira Amerson.
featuring: Brandon Smith, Trevor Gordon, Travers Adler, Dane Reynolds, Tom Curren, Dylan Perkins, Dillion Perillo, Pat Curren, and more!! surfing Rincon, California By: Morgan Maasen
Welcome March! Now that Spring is just around the corner, thoughts of warmer waves and sunshine are in mind for many of us. Springtime is a great time for getting waves at home or taking a surf trip. Here in Santa Barbara, we’ve had a few NW swells this season… As spring winds pick up the surf can get pretty tattered from the onshore flow and water temps will probably hover in the mid-50′s. Makes for a great time to travel somewhere warm like Hawaii or Mexico, Central America or even take off to see the Quiksilver pro at snapper rocks in Australia.
Wherever you are getting waves, make sure you have the right fins. Here are a few sets of system fins that are a perfect size range for travel, from a standard size template for your typical beach or pointbreak to a solid set of fins that will hold you into some solid reef passes or deepwater waves.
ALL AROUND FINS FOR SMALLER WAVES: Timmy Patterson:Close base-to-height ratio and moderate rake. An all time favorite. A great fin for your all-around shortboard. These fins excel in the ripable waves of Trestles.
FINS FOR MEDIUM WAVES:
Lost: A tried and tested design that has high rake and slender tip for maximum projection. The classic Lost fin template is a full size design. Longer power turns are where this fin excels. Best in point or reef waves with some size.
FINS FOR BIG WAVES: Eric Arakawa: A Hawaiian favorite designed by the master. A medium rake / area design with a solid tip. Try these fins out during the next big swell and you will feel the difference!
We make these System fins that are FCS and Futures Compatible…
Just a few random shots from the past few days. Was really stoked to get some glassy waves last weekend. I switched it up from an old set of clear fins to these yellow hexcore set. These were the Eric Arakawa template that were working perfect in the 3-4 foot clean surf. They really excelled in the glassy conditions and were nice for cutbacks.
Then I went for a body surf in the shorepound for some closeout tube shots with the water camera. Waiting for that big swell and good lighting to get some more.
Hawaii usually conjures up images of blue skies and turquoise waves. Sometimes taking out the color can show the true power of the surf even more. It’s not always sunny either, so on overcast days with rain squalls lighting and water color is far from perfect as are the waves. Here are a few shots from Pipe and Rocky Point on some not so perfect days. Although the color of the waves has been desaturated, the energy of the surf is raw and oversaturated…
These were during the lay days of the Vans World Cup of Surfing.
Photos By: Ryan Kleiner
Here are a few shots from the 2nd day at the Sunset Contest on the North Shore of O’ahu. The swell has become a bit more manageable with lighter winds today. The first day of the contest (Sunday) saw larger windy unorganized swell with way bigger sets. Today the sun was shining and still double overhead on the sets. Swell is kind of dropping but more on the way for later in the week with less wind and should be good.
Photos By Ryan Kleiner:
( top ) Looking up from Rocky Point on Monday Morning at the contest scene. Some heavy tubes for sure…
( middle ) Contest crowd was massive on Sunday. Great weather and good swell = lots of people from all over.
( bottom ) Adam Robertson getting a good top turn in his heat.
True Ames Team Rider Chris Harvey recently took a 2 week trip to Portugal for some surf kayaking. Chris also met up with the shaper from Watertech Kayaks to start work on a new surf kayak design. Thanks for the update Chris! The photos are rad!
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Wednesday, November 2, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has claimed a historic 11th ASP World Title today, clinching the year-long pursuit with his advancement out of Round 3 at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
The Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
September 24 & 25, 2011
Dana Point, CA — The stand-up paddle phenomenon known as the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez “Battle of the Paddle” first ignited at Doheny State Beach, California, back in 2008. Since then, the ingenious formula of high-energy races and stand-up paddle (SUP) exposition has become the heartbeat of an industry and the pulse of a global lifestyle. The fourth annual Battle of the Paddle 2011 returns to Doheny State Beach September 24 & 25, and by all accounts will be the greatest battle yet.
Looking to stay in the tube longer, surf more vertical, or just surf faster? We have a bunch of templates to fit your style, board, and surf conditions. Our Hexcore technology fins give you more drive and perfect flex. These fins are available in FCS compatible, Futures compatible, and glass on. Not only does the Hexcore perform better but is also 25% lighter than standard fiberglass fins. Try a set today and feel the difference!
Most people don’t realize that the fins on their board have a very important role in how well they are surfing. Fins that are too big are going to obviously make the board hard to turn, fins too small will slide and not give you drive. Fine tuning your fins is trial and error but when you dial in the perfect setup, you will surf better for sure. One of the main things you want to accomplish with your fin setup is to get the most drive and then turns will follow. A Hexcore fin is going to give a lot of drive where plastic molded fins will not. If you’re surfing smaller fun waves you may want to go with smaller fins to allow more release on your turn and better turning radius. When surfing bigger, more powerful waves, switch to larger fins for more drive and more drawn out turns to keep from sliding out on critical sections. The size of the fins in direct relation to the waves you are surfing is the first step. Not all fin templates are created equal! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fin templates. Here are some key point on fin design to help you choose the right surf fin.
Flex
Flex is a very important element in our designs. Many of our fins come with a tuned flex. A fin that has flex can be very different than a fin without flex. The flex concept brings to life an otherwise average ride. Cutbacks have more power and bottom turns have more projection.
Foils
True Ames Fins incorporate a constant foil which means you will not find any flat spots on our fins that may cause water disturbance which will ultimately cause poor performance. Smaller fins do not need to be so thick to have the proper foil.
Size
The depth of your fins is measured from base to tip vertically. Adjusting your fin size will affect the performance of your board. Larger fins provide more stability and control, so a larger board will need bigger fins.
Template
The outline of a fin is what determines the area and the look. The way the area is distributed on the fin is what makes fins individual and work in so many different ways. A wide base fin with a wide tip is the most stable but not forgiving. A narrow base fin with a narrow tip will be very loose and fast but unstable at slow speeds. The fin’s sweep (or rake angle) affects the board’s ability to carve turns. A more vertical fin will make tight turns and fast directional changes while a more raked fin will carve wider arcs and handle more power through turns. Tail width is also a factor in fin choice. Narrow tail boards do not require deep fins because there is less distance from the fin to the rail. A wide board requires a deeper fin than a narrower board. range.
If your looking to try some new fins on your Fish, take a look at these. From solid fiberglass to Hexcore to wood… We’ve got you covered. Our Twin fins come in FCS compatible, Futures compatible, and Glass ons.
Check out the site for our full selection and latest products.
This morning, under the variable clouds of a thousand fractions of
sky, perched on the dented hoods of cars domestic to a hundred
countries, we are looking at the same waves we looked at yesterday.
As the other 99.9% of surfers, we’ve cheated, become infidels to the
savagely nomadic wavesledder wed to our minds long ago. We’ve
instead become frontiersman of our own backyards, cartographers
to an infinity of patterns across the wave faces we know best. For
over 30 years at True Ames, we’ve forged enterprise and folk science
from our desire to redesign these lines in as many languages as we
can learn. Faster. Stronger. Lighter. Stranger. Each member of
our little family of designs is an opportunity for reinventing our
turns and reliving old ones, this time with a little magic, and next
time with a little more. Enjoy.
There are probably hundreds of boards that are snapped each day around the world, and most are thrown into landfills or left on the beach. Not cool! Think about how long it takes for these materials to break down, like a million years! A great way to recycle the fiberglass and foam is to add some art and hang it on a wall for inspiration. So the next time you get a chance to recycle a broken board, go for it!
Wayne Rich Classic Wayne Rich needs no gimmick. He thrives because he is a good surfer who makes good functional boards, and this fin is a perfect reflection. Its popularity derives from its versatility as a low area performance template, welcomed by all types of boards.
The 2011 Quiksilver Rincon Classic will be postponed until week 3 of the waiting period Saturday and Sunday January 22 & 23. With our official swell forecasters at Surfline predicting head high plus increasing swell that weekend there is a great possibility that the event will be held then. Check back next Wednesday January 20th for the official call, schedule of events, site map, and heat draws.
The 2011 Quiksilver Rincon Classic will feature:
Video Highlights from both days
Heats On Demand From Sunday
Wetsuit Demos By Quiksilver
The Gunshow –
Best surfers in the 805 will be firing off their six shooters during a 45 minute expression session. What slingers do you want to see?
Age Divisions:
Gremlins (11 & under)
Boys (12-14)
Juniors (15-17)
Wahines (17 & under girls)
Youth Longboard (17 & under)
Longboard Open (all ages)
Mens (all ages)
Masters (35-44)
Grand Masters (45-55)
Legends (56+)
Womens Shortboard all ages
Womens 35+
Womens Longboard
Specialty Events
Professional Division
The Gunshow
WAY OF THE OCEAN is a definitive look at wave riding in the current state of our worlds oceans. Follow the worlds best surfers around the globe exploring all the natural wonders of our mother ocean. The salt water gives life and energy on a daily basis and the time to restore and preserve our oceans is now.
Check out the trailer for this new surf film that is set to release early 2011
It’s 1969. Okay. Ill–tempered Yater Pocket–Rockets streak straight lines across the USA. 2008: Another year for me and you. Hanging from collectors’ walls, the Pocket Rocket has nothing to do, but its fin–our beloved Yater Classic–is in mass–production. Its upright design, coupled with minimal flex, makes it a layman–friendly, all–purpose gem. Uh oh my. And uh…uh boo hoo.
Rational experiments require constants. Hobie Surfboards boasts a dizzying array of longboard, hybrid, and shortboard models, each one unique in form and function. To draw conclusions about a specialized board, one must begin with a dependable fin that will thrust any board in any conditions. Here is Hobie’s much-needed constant that fills the need to flex.
The Oxnard plain is one of most fertile places on Earth, but historically, despite an extremely hollow harvest season, the surfers taste a bit sour. Still, sometime in the 1970’s the offshore winds blew the pesticides and pot smoke in a direction just right for innovation, and the Campbell brothers created the Bonzer fin setup: a stubby little center fin accompanied by two or four “runners.” Ignore all imitations.
As North Pacific storms begin churn, we are starting to see some NW swell begin to appear along our beaches, it’s about time!. Fall began about a week ago but it now feels like summer with record highs over 110 degrees in the Southern California region.
Looks like we will see some west swell in the 2-4 ft range for the next few days with light winds. Looking forward to a good surf season here in Santa Barbara and trying to keep an optimistic mindset against the predicted lack of swell for this La Nina season. Hopefully the ocean will keep moving and we will be pleasantly surprised.
At True Ames, we have a huge selection of fins for all of your boards, short or long.
Much like a ruthless dictator, the Noserider is an imposing, powerful figure whose title is its purpose. The template’s wide base and large area grant a rider steadfast authority on the tip and its substantial rake administers turning capabilities to single fin longboards of all ideologies.
Lake Tahoe, CA (August, 24th 2010) In windy, cold and over-cast conditions, paddlers at the 2010 Ta-Hoe Nalu SUP event still took to the water. As the weather service predicted, a summer storm brewed on the lake resulting in consistent 25 MPH wind gusts. The event coordinators decided that the Elite SUP race would be run in a similar fashion to the world renowned Battle of the Paddle event. Athletes participating in the elite event were required to paddle .5 miles straight upwind, turn 180 degrees on the Quiksilver buoy, and surf their way back to the beach for a 100 yard beach run. This course was completed four times. As one of the premiere paddling events at Lake Tahoe, Vertra’s Paddlesports Team performed top notch!
Vertra’s own Danny Ching paddled to an impressive and comfortable 1st place finish in the men’s elite SUP race taking home 2500$. In his normal fashion Ching got out to an early lead, and built the gap on the rest of the field on each turn. “I just went out hard, and tried to hold on,” commented Ching. Danny is considered by his peers as being one of the sports best and is second to none in paddling in all types of weather conditions. This weekends 25 MPH wind gusts proved to be no different as he powered his way up wind, and used his surfing knowledge from years of paddling the OC1 to build a sizable lead on the rest of the competitors.
The young sixteen-year-old Matt Becker battled his way in the top of the pack throughout the entire race. “It was tough to push it up wind,” commented Becker. Matt who just returned back to the States after a SUP surf expedition in Colombia found the best parks of the race surfing the .5 mile downwind leg of the race. “It was a great event today, a good starting point as I prepare for the Hennessey’s International Race and Battle of the Paddle in a few months.”
We will be showing this and our full line of fins at the Sacred Craft Show this weekend booth#613
HONOLULU – (Sunday, June 13, 2010) — Stand-up paddling (SUP) came full circle back to its home of Waikiki, Hawaii, this weekend, surpassing every conceivable expectation with the ultimate combination of sport and lifestyle. Over 600 paddlers from around the world gathered for the inaugural Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawaii, presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, and thousands turned out to watch. When all was said and done, everyone had a story to tell.
The turquoise waters of Waikiki, and surreal backdrop of Diamond Head, were reminders of a time long ago, when the upright figure of Duke Kahanamoku riding a board first captured imaginations.
But it was Californian Danny Ching (Redondo Beach), 27, who captivated the crowd this time around, making a clean sweep of the 5-mile Elite Battle and the 10-mile Downwinder.
Above: Elite Race Excitement
Photo: Pat Huber/Rainbow Sandals
In Saturday’s Elite race, Ching was embroiled in a 5-mile battle royale with dark horse Australian paddler Travis Grant (Gold Coast). Punctuated by 19 buoy turns and two 75-yard beach sprints, their race ended in a sprint for the shoreline that left them separated by just 13 seconds after close to an hour and a half of dueling. He then overcame Sunday morning’s fatigue to go on and win the 10-mile distance race.
“I didn’t expect that at all,” said Ching. “I was hoping to win one of the days but luckily it panned out for me. I definitely felt fatigued (in the distance race). But once I got out into the surf I was able to build a bit of a gap. I was figuring that would hold them off at the end because if you raced (the Elite race) you were going to have a hard time making the final push the last two miles.
“Sparky’s Rainbow Sandal races are the best,” said Ching. “He puts up the biggest prize purse, the best competitors and the biggest event. Everything about it is amazing.”
Ching crossed the Elite race line in one hour, 22 minutes and 42 seconds to take win $5,000. He completed the 10-mile downwind race in 1 hour and 26 minutes for an added $1,100.
Here is a video of Brandon Manguso surfing on True Ames Grom Model in Summer surf in Oceanside and Carlsbad.
Close base-to-height ratio and moderate rake. An all time favorite. Bred from the coblestone reefs in the Trestles zone. Great for groms and smaller boards.
WAVE CLOUD SAND is a short film comprised of moving pictures. Photographed throughout the east coast of Australia, the film’s aim was to show the intricacy and beauty of the simple things that surround us. Focusing on the empty canvas WAVE CLOUD SAND shows that action is a relative term.wayoftheocean.com/blog
Now Available: An even lighter fin for your futures compatible setup. The base of the fin has holes to lighten the weight yet still retain strength in all conditions.
Our latest fin template is the Channel Islands Small fin for Futures and FCS compatible fin systems. All of the features of the standard size CI classic point break fins: high rake with full volume (area). This template targets boards in the 5’6”-6’2” range. Surfers in the 110-160 lbs. class will benefit most. Best in waves with some down-the-line power. Most notable is the smaller back fin loosening up the tail of your board. Controlled slides and quick turns are effortless.
side fins: HEIGHT: 4.50” / 114 mm BASE: 4.45” / 113 mm
back fin: HEIGHT: 4.35” / 111 mm BASE: 4.30” / 110 mm
Whether you prefer FCS or Futures Compatible fins, we have a selection of both for you at True Ames Fins. Our Resin Transfer Method allows us to construct a composite fin that is 25% lighter than a normal fiberglass fin yet retains the same positive flex and amazing drive. We carry a variety of colors and fin designs for twin fins, thrusters, quad and bonzer setups.
Using the FCS or Futures Compatible fins for travel is ideal. The are also great for trying out different setups on different boards. Sometimes you just don’t realize how much the fin can change the way a board rides. Go ahead try a new set of True Ames Fins and feel the difference!
On a 5 day trip down south in the dusty desert, the surf was plentiful and inspirational. Here are a few pics from along the drive and the makeshift camp set up. Glad I had extra fins to choose from and plenty of time to try them out.
On the Drive South: The road was a long one and after plenty of near misses with on coming semi-trucks, I was glad to finally set up camp in front of some good looking surf. With dust and desert conditions you begin to feel dried out quickly when out of the water, It’s a good thing the swell kept going and I could stay hydrated in some refreshing long tubing waves that eventually walled up and raced along the inside section.
Day 1: My fins selection on this day was the YU- Fcs
compatible setup. These fins are awesome. The side fins provide nice drive and the trail fin works as a stabilizer. I was able to stay loose on the wave’s critical sections but keep a good driving bottom turn going when I needed to generate speed. Once you get used to this setup you can begin to experiment and get the fins free when you want and hold a solid bottom turn when you need the drive.
Day 3:
When the swell maxed out and sets were pumping I decided to try a bit bigger board and change out to the Channel Islands fins setup, which I felt were much more stable and also maintained their speed through all of the sections. The CI fins were a good choice for these waves and with the swell pumping a perfect combination for fun sessions.
Here’s a glimpse of what one day in production looks like during the making of WAY OF THE OCEAN – Australia.
While on location for the making of the movie WAY OF THE OCEAN, the circulate motion pictures crew were fortunate to see plenty of swell and some insane surfing going on in the “land down under.” Look for the film to release Holiday 2010.
Next week we will highlight on the best Summer surf fins for your shortboard, longboard, and fish.
