Everything you need to know:

Windsurfing fins

Here is a comprehensive guide to choosing the right fin. 

Unfortunately, the potential of a suitable fin is often underestimated by many windsurfers. Yet the fin fulfills a fundamental function, as surfing is not possible without it. Choosing the right fin has a significant influence on the windsurf board's behavior when planing, acceleration and the top speed that can be achieved. It also determines how much control you have over your board at the limit. A suitable fin is often more important than riding a new board or sail - so don't underestimate this point. To help you find the perfect fin, here is some basic information you should know when buying your windsurfing fin:

Function of the fin

The job of the windsurfing fin is to keep the board on course. When the board pushes through the water, the fin acts as a substitute for a rudder. By combining this with rig steering, i.e. shifting the sail's center of pressure to the bow or stern, the lateral pressure point is changed. This causes a different flow to the fin under water, which in turn leads to a change in the board's direction of travel. However, the fin not only acts as a "rudder replacement", but also lifts the surfer out of the water thanks to its bend. This in turn determines how fast and freely you fly over the water when windsurfing. 

Fin system

It is important to consider the mounting system of your surfboard when choosing a fin, as there are differences here and not every fin fits into every fin box. 

Here are the five most common fin box systems: Powerbox, Tuttle Box, Deep Tuttle Box, Slotbox

Construction

Fins are manufactured in different construction methods, and this affects the quality, performance and price. You often hear terms such as G-10, GRP, Carbon and many more. For beginners, fins made from G-10 plastic are often sufficient, but for advanced windsurfers and intermediates, it is worth switching to Carbon fins. The performance differences are so significant that you can achieve huge improvements with relatively little investment. 

Fin shape

Three decisive factors play a role here: the fin outline, the surface area and the profile. The fin outline indicates the purpose for which the fin was designed. As a general rule of thumb, the more the fin is bent backwards, the better the maneuverability. A fin with less rake, on the other hand, provides more lift and performance. In addition to the fin outline, the surface area also plays an important role. As the size of the board/sail increases, the fin should also become larger in order to prevent so-called "spin-outs". At the same time, however, a smaller fin should be chosen in stronger winds to make the ride smoother. The profile: In this aspect, surf fins are similar to the wings of an airplane. An overall thicker profile means that the fin generates more power - so you can glide earlier and ride in less wind. Conversely, thinner fins are faster and suitable for stronger winds. 

What types of fins are there?

Slalom fins are narrow and stiff fins with a thin profile, resulting in low water resistance. They accelerate quickly and offer high speed potential. The slim profile ensures maximum control at top speed and provides the necessary smoothness. In addition, these fins are often more flexible, which generates more lift. There are numerous variations and many of them are also ideal for intermediates. 

Race fins have little rake and a continuous profile from the box to the top of the fin. They are generally thicker than slalom fins. The thicker profile improves the airflow, increases the negative pressure on the upwind side and enables earlier planing and better upwind running. The fin length can be up to 70 cm and is required for formula boards and sail sizes up to 12.5 m².

Freeride: This fin has a relatively steep rake, but there is a bend at the top. It should accelerate quickly and still offer good maneuverability. This means that the freeride fin is a compromise between slalom and wave fins. Freeride fins are particularly suitable for beginners and intermediates for whom riding comfort is more important than pure performance. 

Wave: A wave fin must be particularly maneuver-oriented - with a strong bend and usually relatively short. Wave fins also have a lot of flex in the lowest part, which enables aggressive turns and better control in powerful waves. Multifin boards with two (twinser), three (thruster) or even four fins (quad) are widespread in the wave sector.

Freestyle: The freestyle fin is suitable for flat water tricks and light waves up to 0.5 meters. It is short but still wide and has plenty of surface area. Freestyle fins have a wide top for fast planing and offer good grip for jumps and turns. The very shallow draft enables the characteristic turning ability.

Seagrass / weed fins are used when surfing spots with seagrass, as is often the case in standing areas around the Baltic Sea. These fins have a strong rake to prevent seaweed from getting caught. The surface area is slightly larger to compensate for the angle of inclination. When choosing the right fin, you should focus more on the surface area than on the length of the standard fin - otherwise you will choose fins that are clearly too large. 

General information for windsurfers

Many other factors play a decisive role in finding the perfect fin for you. These include body weight and individual surfing behavior, such as steering the board with the front or back foot.

Not sure which windsurfing fin is right for you?

No problem! Send us a short e-mail to willkommen@windlounge.de and one of our experts will get back to you with a recommendation.