Fins or no Fins?

[karlt5503]

Wanted to see if some of the experienced wakeboarders could give me some advice. I just bought my first wakeboard and have not gotten to take it out yet. I bought a Body Glove phase 4 139cm. It came with several fins I can also instal. Ive read a little about what the fins do, helping with stability and so forth. Im just wondering if i should use them? Im hoping to pick it up pretty quickly, as I do most other things. Just didnt want to spend a lot of time putting the fins on, taking them off, trying to figure what works better plus learning to use the board on top of it.

Thanks for any help or advice.

 

[blacksvt]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

If you are a beginner rider......I would use them. Boards are all different, but 1 in the front and one in the back well help increase your stability.

 

[karlt5503]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

Yes, I am a beginner rider. The board came with about 6 fins, two large and four smaller. The board has holes to place the fins in the middle or outside. So there is 3 sets of holes on the front, and 3 sets on the rear.

 

[Hogger]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

The smaller fins go on the outside, and the big fins go in the middle. As you progress, you might want to try removing the big middle fins.

 

[smitty1258]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

Middle Fins-IMO keep them off and take a stab without them, see how you feel. I started with, and about a week after I started, I took them off, and it felt so much better. If I woulda started without them, I could have saved myself from drinking as much as I did.

Are the 2 outside fins small and rounded?

 

[karlt5503]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

Yes, all the fins are some what rounded off. Two of them are about 2 inchs tall. The other 4 are about 1 inch. (6 total) Im not sure if I should try them in the middle or one on each side.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

I would at least put the smaller outter fins on. Most advanced boards have smallish fins molded into the board. The outter fins will give you "bite" as you carve back and forth.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

I ride ceter finless. My board has molded in fins near the edges that slowly pop up from the rocker line. The center fins bolt in... I have ridden my board both ways and much prefer it without the center fins.

All though it is looser, it help. Its easier to break the board free for surface tricks (180's) and its more forgiving off a landing (if you land a bit to sideways, it won't cause you to catch the leading edge in the water and faceplant). Plus, since it is looser it forces you to use better edging techniques to control the board.

Since you are brand new, I suggest you get and instructional DVD. The Book and Dentention 2012 are both good ones to use.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

I did better starting without fins because of all the years I logged on a kneeboard that had no fins, as well as some limited trick skiing. I find I really like to be able the way I am oriented a lot when riding, and can do this much easier with no fins, with no loss of trouble tracking.

 

[karlt5503]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. I didn't want to spend the first time out swapping the fins out all day plus trying to learn how to wakeboard. I'll give it a try with the samller fins on the outside at both ends, then with no fins at all. With the small and large fins and outside and middle holes I would have been swapping them out all day!

Hopefully the weather will finally be good so I can take it out for the first time.

 

[cube21]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

my 2 cents. Im brand new to wakeboarding.
I tried a few times with a friends hyperlite that had center fins. I had a hard time controlling myself and manuvering where I wanted to go. The board I bought doesnt have any fins (except the molded ones) and I like it ALOT better. The fins keep you in a straight line and were hard for me to learn because i could only go in one direction.

I think you made the right choice starting with the outer fins. After a few times out I could take them off and see if you like it better. I know I like it without any. have fun.

 

[salty87]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

it's all a matter of preference. very much like training wheels. they can be helpful in the beginning but ultimately you need to go it alone. actually, you can always keep the fins in but you better learn to control those edges. face plants happen quicker than you can say the words.

 

[jason4027]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

I have a similar question. The wife and I are just learning to board and each got Obrien Boards. Mine is a Valhalla 143 with the Removable center fin which I am using still. My wifes is a Demented, it has the moulded in fins/ribs on the outsides but also has spots to add more fins on the outside(2 sets of holes on the front and back. It didn't come with the fins. We are wondering what the difference would be since it does not have any center holes for adding the fins.

 

[andrewbabich]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

I'd put the fins on. My hyperlight has 6 small fins and I love it. Its makes it track real well, yet its still easy to spin 180's with a little lean.

Fins in my opinion will help you get up as it will keep the board straight.

 

[momostallion]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

i think i have the same board as you.
i just put the side fins on and left the center fins off.

i had a lot harder time with my friends board which had center fins and no side fins at all. (last years model).

 

[fourwinnsnate]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

The middle fins are for beginners that dont have the feel for the board and how to go in a straight line, carve, etc etc. If you have never gone before i would leave all the fins on once u start to crave more spins...tricks inside the wake or start carving outside the wake and jumping u will like it better without the middle fins...more forgiving for that part of things but like other people have said on here the front edge of your board can go under the water so fast u wont even know what happened. I would never take the outer fins off most high end boards have these moulded into the board and without them it would kinda be like snowboarding on a crazy carpet..if you have snowboarded before

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

In my experience:

Small or removed fins = less faceplants

Larger and multiple fins = more faceplants

I have 2 boards, one with pretty large 1.5" or maybe 2" fins at each end, one with very short 3/4" fins at each end. I have found that I crash MUCH less frequently on the board with smaller fins, and it is much easier to 'save' it when you're on the edge of crashing. On the board with big fins, if I make the slightest mistake, I faceplant NOW...because there is simply no time to react and make the save. It is pretty much impossible to do anything on that one with the board even the slightest bit sideways. It absolutely MUST be pointed in the direction of travel or you're going down.

It is a bit more "slippery" with the small fins, leading to the more occasional "butt scoot" type of fall-down when the board slips out foward from underneath me, but those crashes are much more pleasant than faceplants! I find the smaller fins to be a benefit for doing just about EVERYTHING except for simply riding in a straight line.

I would encourage anyone with interchangable and/or removable fins to try different configurations. You'll find a dramatic difference, and you'll find a setup you like.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

In my experience:

Small or removed fins = less faceplants

Larger and multiple fins = more faceplants

I agree with craze1cars after reading this thread when it first came out I took my middle fins off and WOW what a diff. It make it a lot easier to land wake2wake jumps if you were a little out of the groove. It makes it so you can ride the board sideways and turn 180's very easy. A lot more fun without the large middle fins. ALOT LESS FACE PLANTS and more w2w jumps with 180's in the air. Fun Fun Fun just hope it does not rain this weekend again.

 

[JPBMW325]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

no fins man way better

 

[ryland43]

Re: Fins or no Fins?

no fins is the way to go. i took them off my wakeboard and wakeskate and like it way better