Fins or finless?

[Crash]

Watching 45th masters on TiVo and noticed Harf and Parks didn't have fins on their boards...should we remove the fins? Is that my problem?

[Mag_Red]

Yeah.I'm sure that's your problem Go ahead and remove em

[Cary K.]

Really depends on the board, and your riding level. If you have any type of molded fins on the board, I would suggest trying it finless. Removing the fins will obviously loosen up the board quite a bit, easier to do surface spins etc... I try to get newbies to ride finless because it promotes proper edging. You have to be on edge, and not rely on your fin. Will it make you ride like PArks & Harf, I doubt it

I was riding the 03 Hyperlite Premiere (Danny Harfs board) and I took the center fins off. I loved it. It had molded fins, so it still tracked, but you do have to learn proper edge taking them off. I remember the first time I did, it felt super fast, and I could not land a thing. So I put them back on like a woos, but then took them off again later, and have never looked back.

I am now riding the 05 Parks 140, simply because I really did the abrupt rocker on it, and the way it feels coming off of the wake. It did not come with center fins, but I did go to smaller fins on the 4 corners.

I think one of the biggest benefits of no center fin, or smaller fins is the the landings are a lot more forgiving for me. I have come down on a few tricks some kind of nasty, and if I would have had the stock fins, or larger fins on, I would have eaten it. They have for sure allowed me to pull out of some sloppy landings, and I am sure it has prevented some injury to the knees. Of course you may fall on your butt and face a bit more in the begining, but hang tough, and you will reap the benefits soon.

[Double Overhead]

Ive been meaning to try that 05 Parks board out. I think the fin setup is a happy medium. Parks generates so much speed so his boards must track well - I feel thats why he goes for more than just the molded. I also want to see how I like the 3 stage rocker. I think the biggest downside to not having the center fin option is for rougher water. Between the 3 stage and the small fins, thats gotta be rough in the chop right?

[6ballsisall]

Forgive my ignorance but why would having fins be a bad thing at all? Wouldn't you want them to cut hard towards the wake?