Going on a Surf Trip? Don’t Forget Your Fins…

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…

How To Surf Better – Get New Fins – Get Hexcore

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.

Fins for Longboards, Shortboards, Stand Up Paddle Boards

Ever wonder how your boards would work if you tried some different fins?you’d be surprised at how you can customize your craft with the right fins.

True Ames offers a variety of surfboard fins ranging from shortboards to longboards, and Stand Up Paddle ( SUP fins )

We offer a full selection of system fins: FCS compatible and Futures Compatible

NEW AIRBASE FOR FUTURES COMPATIBLE FINS

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

System Fins Are In!

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!

trueames.com

Channel Islands Surf Fins by: True Ames

Get in the flow with a new set of Channels Islands fins by: True Ames-

Get your favorite shortboard dialed in with a set of high performance CI fins.  These fins are great for powerful surf and bigger riders.  A very close base to height ratio and great flex designed for point surf and waves with some juice.

Our Channel Island Fins are available in

Solid Glass, Hexcore, and Bamboo

FCS Compatible, Futures Compatible, and of course, Glass Ons.

How To Choose The Best Surf Fins for Your Board.

There is a lot to know about choosing the best fins for your surfboard. Here are a few tips and important factors in picking out the right fin for your style. Remember that the best surf fins are going to be in the right proportion to you and your board.

Construction

All fins are not created equal! We take advantage of a vast amount of fin manufacturing experience to create fins that work in many different applications. Designs are executed using the required materials and foils to create the highest performance fins available today.

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. Our bigger solid color fins are foiled from 7/16” solid 6oz. glass sheet stock. 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. For example a 9’6” single fin board needs at least a 9.5” fin and if nose riding is most important to you than you will find bigger fins give more forward control.

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. For example an 8’ egg style board that is on the wide side should use about an 8.5” to 9.0” fin. A narrow tail single fin board that is 7’6” can use a fin in the 7” to 8” range.