fins & 180s

orleans210 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

heyy i'm new to wakeboarding and i was wondering--if i want to go to switchstance and then back to regular do i keep the fin on or does that make it harder to ride when i'm switchstance? thanks!

hockeyplaya1821 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 48

This is what I've learned from my experience and from what I've read on this forum. Having the fins IN will indeed make it more difficult to switch to a goofy stance while riding, but if you do switch you will have more control riding. Having the fins OUT will make it easier to switch, but more difficult to control once riding that way.

Kind of a 50-50 deal eh?

That's my $.02

orleans210 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

totally 50-50!

LFevo138 · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 147 City: Grand Rapids

its really not very hard to switch to goofy with your fins in and if your just beginning riding goofy which it sounds like you are, i would keep them in

HHI Dave · Posted: Jul 31, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

I took my fins off on my last outing and I'm going to KEEP them off. I can still edge just fine with my board ('06 CWB Flame) but now I'm starting to really nail some surface stuff. Those GIGANTIC fins were definitely holding me back. After taking the fins off, I was able to 180 to switch with no problem (I ride goofy normally)

Today, for the first time, I rode multiple 180's to switch and back repeatedly. What a great feeling! F*** those fins!! Laughing

orleans210 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

thanks guys! i think i'll try it both ways and see which feels better.

HHI Dave · Posted: Aug 02, 2006 3:21 am Post subject:

orleans210, make sure to let us know how it goes. Cool

WakeFrog1970 · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 143 City: Richmond

if its too loose for you without fins...you could replace them with smaller ones...

but i ride finless and agree with HHI Dave.....F*** those fins!! Laughing

LFevo138 · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 147 City: Grand Rapids

ive recovered outta some crazy almost falls with fins, thats something theyre good for

KduB11 · Criminal Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 56

yeah i know how it is LFevo

but for orleans its really up to you on what feels best when you ride

jpminter · Posted: Aug 02, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

LFevo138, yeah but fins can also cause falls. And I've recovered outta some crazy falls because I was riding finless too.

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 02, 2006 7:34 am Post subject:

lol JP = Chamillionare on a Wakeboard

wakeboarderML · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 30 City: Keswick

if your just starting keep the fins on, switching is fairly easy with them on anyway.. just dont switch too fast or you'll catch an edge

orleans210 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

i cant get back onto the water until sunday Sad

so i'll have to wait to see which feels better. i think i'll keep the fins in until i get more comfortable riding. the waters rough where i am so i have to get better at controlling the board before trying new stuff like riding goofy

ozwest · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 112

You could also try a lower profile/shorter fin. I swapped out the big arse 1.5 fins that came with my LF Nemesis 131 for a set of 1.0 RFC fins I bought from wakeside.com and it made a HUGE difference. I probably wouldn't have tried this had it not been for the really nice group of people I rode with several weeks back. Their suggestion was to swap them out with 0.9's but I couldn't find any available in town or online so I purchased the 1.0's instead...worth every penny.

burntorange77 · Soul Rider Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 321 City: Kingwood

I have recently removed the fins from my State and not only am I now able to do some surface tricks, but I really am developing a better edge technique. I say take them off.

orleans210 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 11

i tried it without the fins and i think i'll keep them on for now.
thanks for all your advice!

heroldmike · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 68 City: toronto

i would leave your fins on for sure. to switch just lean more forward to get in the middle of the board doing that will get ur back fins out of the water and then roatate, and then when u are roatating your front fins will eventualy catch the water and help u edge back into switch

Logeman2001 · Newbie Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 3

I have never tried with my fins out, but i can still pull off getting to my switch stance pretty easily. From what i read though i need to try my fins out and just see how it feels.

nick@night · Posted: Aug 10, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject:

I would learn it with the fins in since you are just beginning and don't have as much board balance.

the key to doing this trick is to lean against the boat to BRING YOUR FINS OUT OF THE WATER, then complete the rotation, you might want to slow down the boat a bit, so that if you do fall it won'd hurt as much.