Surfing Waves

hi…could please anyone give me advice choosing my longboard fin? I’m 173 cm tall and my weight is 65 kg. board dimensions are 8’10, 22.4’, 65.6 l, round-pin tail, classic shape. style: slow an smooth, walking on board (trying not to fall , noserides!

I recently tried a friends “koalition 7.5 tropical leaves” and loved it. but investigating I learned that a board like mine would need the 8.5 version (looks that it has not too much more area being shaped a little different…am I right?).

So, which one should I choose, I’m afraid the board would get stiffer with a longer fin but honestly i’m learning that “fin-comprehension” is a science lots more difficult that I thought.

thanks for helping!!

aceitunas wrote:hi…could please anyone give me advice choosing my longboard fin? I’m 173 cm tall and my weight is 65 kg. board dimensions are 8’10, 22.4’, 65.6 l, round-pin tail, classic shape. style: slow an smooth, walking on board (trying not to fall , noserides!

I recently tried a friends “koalition 7.5 tropical leaves” and loved it. but investigating I learned that a board like mine would need the 8.5 version (looks that it has not too much more area being shaped a little different…am I right?).

So, which one should I choose, I’m afraid the board would get stiffer with a longer fin but honestly i’m learning that “fin-comprehension” is a science lots more difficult that I thought.

thanks for helping!!

If you loved it use it, read Uncle Jaffa’s Fin Primer, get a general idea about fins, a rule of thumb 1“of fin per foot of board, but rules are meant to be broken, move your fin up towards the nose in the fin box= looser, back towards the tail turning becomes tighter.
Seriously tuning fins to your surfing is a great way to learn, but first off get a basic fin, get basic skills and play from that point on

aceitunas wrote:I recently tried a friends “koalition 7.5 tropical leaves” and loved it.

Funny, on Koalition website, on every fin they sell the description ends with " This fins allows you to be comfortable in your turns and keep control. " ( even though they all are totally different shapes, tips, rakes, etc.

What did you "love" about the 7.5" fin ? How it let you stay on the tip to noseride ? If it works for you and felt great, then stick with it. I use a 8'0" 4-A Greenough on my 9'2" lognboard in Waikiki, cause it works for the conditions there.

I recently had a similar dilemma. Was choosing between a couple of greenough fins and couldn’t decide model or size. Then found a guy was selling both on fleabay for the same price as a new one. Meant I could try both and sell the one I discarded!!

I chose a 4a btw. Really long base so could push it forward in the fin box for easier turning without losing drive. 9” on a 9,6” board.

I was going to recommend a 4a style as a good place to start, middle-to-front of the fin box for maximum steering... because if you're new enough to need fin advice you're probably on a longboard for wave catching but want to get a general feel for surfing, rather than wanting to dive straight in to a specific old-school pivot-fin style of surfing....
I second Jaffa's recommendation of his fin primer because even before one's good enough to tell the difference in the subtle changes,
geeking out on the gear is half the fun