Slider fins? helpful or don't bother, newbie on 2nd board

[sea dawg]

Does anyone have an opinion on slider fins and if there worth keeping on? they seem a little grippy on rails and not sure if useful when trying other tricks at the cable park (so small just do without?). I have a new setup (LF flx) with a feature less bottom (other than single concave). Only used it once and the fins were on. The board feels loose, but nice ride overall. If i take them off, will it limit me on kickers and progressing to raleys and such? Will the board not have the control it needs for me to progress other than the rail slides?

[WhackedRampage]

I personally like riding without the fins. At first, it will feel very strange (feel like you slide around on the water), but it doesn't take long to get used to. Also, it's a lot harder to catch an edge, so less face plants lol.

If you have good edge control, it won't stop you from progressing. I can get just as good of a progressive edge as I could with the fins, as I'm used to riding without them.

I guess it's a personal preference though, as some people like fins while others do not.

[sea dawg]

cool thanks WR... like the sound of not catching an edge as easy. That alone is worth giving it a shot....

[GnarShredd]

I'm basically going to reiterate what WhackedRampage said. It really comes down to personal preference.


If you have the right technique and good edging basics, taking the fins off will not hold you back at all. Air tricks and such might be a little more difficult at first, but in the end you'll learn to do them correctly and with a stronger edge (usually meaning going bigger!).

Over the weekend I actually rode at the cable WITH fins for the first time in over a year and they kept getting in my way on almost everything.

[Waketheyeast]

I have been rocking the CDI wakeskate fins on my Watson. They are flat on the bottom which works on sliders but they are not too big. Biggest selling point to me is that they are aluminum.

[colefooter]

I have rode the FLX on cable several time, a extremely fun board to ride.

Though I would argue that with that board, if by raley you meant like an air raley off of the water (air trick, not kicker) then you may want some fins on. I typically ride a LF Witness at the cable (which has some pretty big molded fins) and I can assure you, no matter what level of a rider you are with air tricks, fins help. I was able to land a air raleys, roll to reverts, and a couple other air tricks on the finless setup, but it was way harder to really load the line.

I have friends who absolutely shred kickers and rails with it though without fins. But when it comes to air tricks, you might want to put them on. But IMO a flex board just isn't as good for air tricks in general.

[sea dawg]

wow, thanks all for input....definately much appreciated!