| Surfboards tend to come in several different | | | | balance , which gives short boarders the least |
| shapes and sizes. When you walk into a surf | | | | amount of balance but the most maneuverability. |
| store, you will likely see boards ranging from 5 to | | | | The tri-fin system is the most common, as it |
| 12 feet long. In addition, you will find a wide | | | | provides good balance and reasonable control. This |
| assortment of fins for the surfboard?one, two, | | | | system is the best way to start your |
| three, four, or even five of them in some cases. | | | | short-boarding career and therefore is |
| The fin is an essential component to your board. | | | | recommended for beginning surfers. The quad fin |
| Without it, you won’t be able to catch or turn | | | | provides a range of motion, allowing for calculated |
| on a wave as easily. Each fin serves a different | | | | turns and exact maneuvers. Finally, the rare |
| function. Long boards must have at least one fin | | | | five-fin system is just a way of adding another |
| placed directly in the middle of the tail of the | | | | versatile element to your board’s |
| board ; short boards should have at least two fins | | | | performance levels. Although rare, five-fin setups |
| evenly placed at the tail. | | | | tend to provide surfers with the loosest |
| | | | | maneuvers. |
| Long boards are fastened with either one or | | | | |
| three fins. One fin allows you a bit more | | | | There are some really progressive experimental |
| maneuverability but less stability on the wave. If | | | | fins out there too. Some fins can be as long as 16 |
| your intention is to become a crafty long boarder | | | | inches or have round funnels on them. When |
| who can perform tricks, go with one fin. Or, if | | | | you’re at the store trying to understand why |
| you would rather have fun and feel steady on | | | | there are so many different kinds of fins, just |
| your board, then three fins would be more | | | | remember that the standard fin system for both |
| suitable for you. Three fins give you more stability | | | | long and short boards is three. The one in the |
| and less maneuverability. Most long boards have a | | | | center is a thicker and longer than the two on the |
| front to back slide, which allows you to move | | | | side. If you don’t like that system, then, by all |
| your center fin forward or backward. The farther | | | | means, experiment with the many combinations |
| back your fin is, the looser your turn will be. At | | | | of fins until you find one that fits your style and |
| surfboard stores that sell a wide variety of | | | | maneuvering preferences. |
| center fins, you will find fins of many colors, | | | | |
| shapes, and sizes. However, beginning surfers can | | | | Most fins can be screwed in and adjusted to the |
| go with a durable plastic fin before they concern | | | | rider’s liking, using just a screwdriver or allen |
| themselves with the huge assortment of fins out | | | | wrench. The common tri-fin system for short |
| on the market. When you are at the point in your | | | | boarders is made by a company called FCS, or Fin |
| career when you can purchase a new fin, | | | | Control System. FCS makes fin setups that are |
| consider buying a fin that will give you a decent | | | | easy to remove and replace, which is great for |
| amount of control. Follow this general rule: The | | | | experimentation or travel. In some cases, |
| bigger the fin is the more drag there will be, but | | | | surfboards will come with fins that are glassed on, |
| your turn will also be more accurate and take less | | | | which means you will not be able to move or |
| effort. | | | | remove them. Those fins are there to stay! |
| | | | | Glassed-on fins provide the best stability, but little |
| Short boards tend to have two, three, or four | | | | versatility. Buy a board with glassed-on fins only |
| fins , but they can also have five fins. The dual-fin | | | | if you know the fin system suits you. |
| system provides a side-to-side center of | | | | |