Fins or No Fins

[mala1967]

Got my kids boards they are just starting out. Just wondering if I should put the middle fin in the boards or not

[isuckatwakin]

yes. itll help them stand up easier.

[Wakebrad]

If they are just starting yes, use those fins. Once they get to the point where they can jump the wake pretty consistently you can think about taking them off to help them with their edging technique.

[cheesewizz]

agreeing brad on this one or else they will get frustrated always sliding out, you could also get smaller fins and gradually introduce them as they progress

[Chocoholic]

As they progress and get better, especially once they want to start switching, swap them out for smaller fins or then take them off.

[Enygma]

I actually say no to the center fin. with a tall center fin on front and back of the board it makes getting up very frustrating. My opinion is to put a tall fin on the back of their board and nothing on the front.


My mom and cousin were about ready to just give up. It took them like 4 weekends to do it and they only finally got up when I removed the 2 inch fins and replaced them with .7 inch fins.

[mala1967]

Both boards have two molded fins already and a big center fin. I will try with the center fin on first and then go from there. Thanks for all the input.

[dalderman]

I'd leave the center fin out. Try to learn to ride without it right away to force proper edging technique

[Chocoholic]

Oh - if it's a big centre fin, I'd say either swap it for a small one of ditch it completely. Huge centre fins can more of a hinderance.

[Enygma]

The problem with big centers fins(anything over about an inch) is when the rider is trying to get up, They're forced to turn the board otherwise the larger fins will just catch the water and it just gets frustrating. A smaller but longer fin will be just fine as well as help with keeping the board straight.

[Wakebrad]

Fins help beginners. Period. Taking fins out is more advanced. Don't listen to these wankers.

[Enygma]

A SMALL fin will help beginners. But a LARGE fin will only hinder them. Large fins make it a pain in the ass to get up because with a large fin the board cant slide sideways at all and ALL tutorials showing how to get up say to wait for the board to plane on the water before standing and twisting. this is IMPOSSIBLE with large fins on the board as you'll simply face plant if you leave the board sideways.


Make think about stuff like this before calling me a wanker, douche.

[Wakebrad]

Enygma, so you have an example set of 2 people and now you think you can apply this to every person everywhere? Over the last 11 years I've taught more people how to get up on a wakeboard than I can count.

Maybe if you don't know how to drive while teaching people how to get up, AKA cranking the throttle where the person is jerked out of the water, you can't keep the board sideways. If you gradually accelerate the fins slide right over the water. It also keeps pace exactly with the timing you need to rotate. It is unnatural for most people to turn sideways. Having larger fins helps initiate the turn and keep the board facing sideways.

Now if your beginners are getting out of the water and faceplanting before they can turn the board sideways you may consider removing or getting smaller fins. But by default they should be there, because they help considerably when turning and keeping the board sideways. I would suggest slowing down your acceleration if this is the problem though.

The board I learned on and rode for the first 4 years had 2.5" fins so don't go yelling "impossible."

[Enygma]

Its not impossible. I learned on a board with rather large fins as well. And I had also suggested that maybe they put only a big fin on the back of the board in order to help the rider once they got up. I'm not argueing whether or not the fins help newbs when they are standing. There's no question there. But while learning to get up the large fins are more of a hinderance. I've taught many people to get up and they all preferred my finless board when learned to get up.

Just gotta edit here. The way "The book" teaches people to get up is impossible to do with large fins on the board. "The Book" says to keep your board parallel to the boat until you're planing on the water nicely, then stand and turn perpendicular to the boat after that. So do MANY of the online tutorials. With a 2" fin on the board it's impossible to keep the board parallel with the boat AND basically do a boardslide on the flat water. The fins will catch, resulting in a faceplant. This is what I meant was impossible. If you have large fins on the board then you're forced to turn perpendicular to the boat at the same time the board starts to plane on the water and this 1 movement can make it more difficult for pretty much anybody not familiar with any kind of board sport.

[Chocoholic]

Wakebrad, you really don't have to resort to foul language! That's just rude!

I've known plenty of people learn from scratch using boards with no fins, as I also know people who learned with fins, some people find it easier either way, everybody is different.

BIG fins can make it difficult, but there's no reason they can't be changed for slightly smaller ones.

And Enygma - of course it's NOT impossible!

Reel your neck in, there's no need for insults!

[Wakebrad]

The wanker comment was meant as a joke. For the most part this is an American based website and "wanker" is seen as a somewhat funny/goofy British insult.

God, you try to help some people out with their wackboarding and this is what you get..

[Kevin Taylor]

wanker is foul language?? seriously?? dude... come on... smile about life bro..

[mala1967]

I ended up taking the middle fin out they both got right up and are really carving nice. thanks for all the input

[Chocoholic]

[Chocoholic]

[Chocoholic]

[Enygma]

thanks for backing me up a bit chocoholic:) And mala1967, very glad to hear everyone got up. It might be worth it still to consider a small fin for newer riders. But if they're carving alright who knows.

[chawk610]

I thought yall liked English... not British...