Why one fin?

[Nooga678]

How come most wakeskate (or maybe all) designs only have a single center fin and most wakeboards are going (or have gone) to two fins? Does it have to do with the differnt style of tricks you do on a wakeskate?

I'm only asking because I am building a wakeskate. Yeah, I know I could have bought one for the same price, but I wanted to build one. I was going to put two small fins on similiar to my wakeboard, but was looking at pictures of wakeskates, and they all seem to have one center fin. If it matters, I suck on a wakeskate and can't really do much. Also, the first one is a trial run that I am making out of cheap would to dial in the process. Maybe I will put two fins on and see how I like it.

Any thoughts, advice, help???

Thanks

[Wakebrad]

Most wakeskaters don't use any fins. Fins make it more difficult to spin tricks.

[Nooga678]

Ahhh. Thanks for the info. And here I was going to permanently attach some. I guess I should break down and buy some so that I can remove them should I ever be able to do something other than ollie, flatspin, and face plant.

Of course this is just a prototype, so maybe I will stick with the orginal plan and then buy some screw on's for the final product.

Thanks.

[HHI Dave]

Actually, most wakeskates I've seen have two center fins, one on each end of the board.

I noticed that Aaron Reed rides with only one center fin on one end of the skate. Not sure why.

[Nooga678]

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I was refering to them having one center fin on each end where wakeboard tend to have two on each end.

Riding with just one fin on one end seems wierd unless it helps with some tricks but inhibits others.

[electricsnow]

I cannot say this is the exact reason because I have not designed a board, nor have I messed with that sort of fin configuration, but I think two outer fins would catch easier when it comes to the style of tricks you're most frequently trying to do. in wakeskating, there's a lot of scooping, like with tricks that are going to have a shuvit (this is not to say you don't pop it). depending on the direction the board is spinning, one of the corners is going to be the last to leave the water, and if you have a fin there, it's going to be easier to catch and screw up whatever you're doing. Anyway, that's how I've always thought of it...some board on ebay or some such place had a four fin configuration (two outer fins on each end)...i wasn't really that impressed. It just seemed like something that was grabbed from wakeboarding without really thinking about it.

I think years ago, it was a lot more common for a rider to run finless--grubb and byerly both used to ride without fins on their wooden hypes (and the boards before them) but later went to the really shallow, yet slightly longer style of fin. This is going to provide a small amount of tracking without getting in the way and making the board feel too grippy.

Riders like aaron run one fin because of the forgiveness you get when doing switch tricks, and also some rail tricks where the fin might otherwise catch.

[LeHabanero]

Nooga678, :smash::smash: to making your own.

If you are making your own fins you are in for some "fun". Even with my earlier skates (omit the very first) they kept edge just fine without fins. If you want a looser feel, round your rails, while if you want a grippier edge, keep the rails flat or sharp.


Homemade skates seem to be a trial and error thing (atleast for me), or if you are trying to do a 3 stage rocker without a press, just error .


Good luck, and have fun with it.

[nickl011]

electricsnow, Sorry to seem pushy but have you sent my fins yet? I sorta wanted to use em in the next week or two.

[Nooga678]

LeHabanero,

I already created a jig that puts a 3 stage rocker on the board. Whether are not the rocker I created is any good, I dunno? I would call is a subtle 3 stage. I will post some pics up sometime. It is all glued up, now I just need to cut the shape out, sand the concave pieces smooth, and finish it off.