Singeboard fin selection: Yater Classic vs Greenough 4a

[friedmza]

Hello all!

I was given a lightning bolt 6'8 singlefin. I'm looking to pick up a fin. I've been doing some research and have come across the Yater Classic and the Greenough 4a. What would you guys reccommend? I'm a beginner-intermediate surfer. I'm looking for something all around awesome for different conditions. Other fin recommendations are appreciated as well!

-Zack

[dtc]

. I'm looking for something all around awesome for different conditions.

Arent we all!

I haven't used either but a lot of people rate the Greenough. Its not ideal in a wide tail board but yours probably is a fairly narrow tail so should be ok. What length fin are you looking for - the traditional '1 inch per foot of board' would suggest 7inches, but if you are heavy or its a very narrow tail, maybe even 7.5 or 8inches.

At the end of the day both fins are solid starting points - you may find with a bit of tweaking and experimenting and lots of fin purchasing that there are better fins around; but you cant know that until you surf your board on your waves. And you may only be talking a 10% or 15% difference, which at your level you probably wont notice all that much anyway. So I wouldn't worry too much which you get - all that happens is you buy a fin and think 'its too stiff' or 'needs more drive' or 'want to turn more sharply' or whatever (hopefully 'its awesome'), and from there you tweak. Getting too worked up about fins can be very expensive!

other fins - well, Roy Stewart (http://roystuartfins.com/) has some out there designs (Jaffa may pop in for comment. I bought a thruster set but broke one on my first surf and so cant really report).

[waikikikichan]

Greenough 4A all the way ! I love that fin if I ride a single fin. BUT it's not for beginners ( or beginner-intermediates ) as you need to know how to "wait" for the fin to load up and release. If you're coming off a thruster, there be a new learning curve you gotta go thru. Also a 6'8" Lightning Bolt Single fin with a 70's wide point forward beak nose template is not for beginners ( or beginner-intermediates ) either. If you are searching for Soul, then try it. It'll help you appreciate modern shapes and construction technology.

As for another fin, look up just Brewer or Dick Brewer fin. Question, when the last time you played Tennis with a wooden racket ?

[jaffa1949]

I love the loaded up and release of a greenough but it is a more advanced skill.
Have a read of the the Fin primer to get an understanding of how fins work and the features you might like at this stage.
Consider too what you want to do with your surfing some fins will engage for that.
I would suggest you have a look at the Futures Fins RA ( Robert August) fin or their cutaway both at 7.5" that would be good starting point.
Another way to go is attend a swap meet where fins are swap or can be bought.
Depending on where you live there are other options and types.
A good thing to consider too what sort of wave you are going to be riding in the main.

get a set of different fins , you don't play golf with one club!
Having said that I will now say the opposite, get one favourite fin and learn all its characteristics and they effect your surfing , it will give you a lot of insight as to how they work!
A TIP. When you are up and riding and nothing is critical have a look back at what your tails is doing , push some small turns, observe and understand what is happening back there.
Watch other boards and what the rails and fins do a the surfing happens.
emulate successful things rid yourself of unsuccessfu things.
Mainly just enjoy

[friedmza]

Great, thanks guys!