Team rider fin tuning 2018.
Before the Pozo event we asked all our team rides how they set up their wave-boards, we hope you find the tuning insights useful!
Note: All of the rears shown are now available to buy in the shops/online. The fronts we’ve been doing a lot of R&D work recently so some of the fronts shown will actually be SharkII’s with 30/70 or ‘Ezzy foils’ and various toe angles, which are moulded plastic, but aren’t available until we decide which to put into production.
Huge thanks to all our riders for their input!
Martin ten Hoeve:
“The whole line of new G4 Simmerstyle quantum got shorter tail. This gives the board really nice free feel but automatically more grip from the fins because they are closer to the tail. So this year I went back from the scorcher to the Flex fins and went on each board size smaller of back fin size to make the board less grippy so I can play more around when to have grip or not grip, I still kept the Shark2 fins what gives me nice drive but also some extra lift.”
Simmerstyle Quantum 115, 17cm Flex and 10cm SharkII.
Simmerstyle Quantum 105, 16cm Flex and 9cm SharkII.
Simmerstyle Quantum 95, 16cm Flex and 8cm SharkII.
Leon Jamaer:
“I am 180cm tall, weigh 85kg and mostly sail boards between 80 and 90 liters. I have only used Quad-setups for the last 4-5 years but recently started using Thruster-setups as well. At the moment I feel like I would use Quads in most conditions, especially in waves from 1 to 3 meters. When it gets bigger I might use more and more Thruster as they seem easier to ride and more forgiving on turns in big sections. For some reason (possibly because of a weaker technique) I really enjoy using Thruster-setups in starboard-tack conditions like Hookipa. I have a tighter, more vertical bottom turn and a more controlled and forgiving top turn. In most port tack conditions I prefer Quads, though, as they have lots of drive and a more ‘new school’ feeling off the top.”
My go-to Quad setup that I use 90% of the time looks as follows:
Rear: Leon stiff 15cm
Front: SharkII 9cm
In small waves below waist-hight I move the rear fins 2mm forward. In bigger waves above head-high I move the rear fins 2-4mm backwards.
My other Quad setups
For really small days and smaller boards (Pozo 30cm waves):
Rear: Leon stiff 15cm
Front: SharkII 8cm
For down-the-line waves (if I want more grip to finish turns off in offshore winds):
Rear: Leon stiff 15cm
Front: 9-10cm Ezzy or other asymmetric fins with more rake and angle
For big and slightly choppy waves:
Rear: Scorcher 15cm
Front: SharkII 9cm
My go-to Thruster setup (still need to experiment more, especially with front fins) looks as follows:
Rear: Scorcher 18cm
Front: SharkII 9cm
For smaller, more onshore days:
Rear: Leon stiff 18cm
Front: SharkII 9cm
Jean-Mat De Ridder:
“On my grip 76 I’ve got 5 boxes. I use 2 shark 10 and a flex 15 as center fin. I choose this set up because it’s looser than the quad setup and more playfull in small surf. It’s fast enough to jump but the rather small center fin is not the best for quick planning. When it gets bigger I use 2º ezzy 10, 1º instead of the sharks. It has more grip, carves easier, but it’s harder to release the tail for takas for example. The short center fin (I think 15 is quite short ?) still allows quick rail to rail transition.
My Grip 68 is a quad. Ezzy 1° 8 plus flex 13 is the most versatile setup for me : low drag for speed and good projection out of turns.
Overall I’m a big fan of the flex model. It’s a very reliable fin, especially when the waves are choppy it holds well and you have plenty of speed out of the turns.”
“You can also follow this link :
On this video those are the setup I use. The drone shots are with the grip 76 and the ground shots with the 68.”
Victor Moncloa:
“In the quad I have straight fin boxes. I use all Ezzy Asymmetric 2º. In small waves 10+12. In medium/big waves 12+13. In this way I feel there is nothing holding back the board and it feels very loose.
In the thruster I have the fin boxes with 1º. I use ezzy with 2 º and in the back 14 and 15 cm. Sideshore flex, sideon Scorcher.”
Annamaria Zollet:
“For my 71ltr I’m using a quad set up with all Ezzy asymmetric 2° angle (board has straight boxes), 10 in the front and 13 in the back. I really like the loose feeling of the board with this combination and I feel it helps me take the board quickly where I want.”
Finn Mellon:
88ltr Quatro Pryamid:
“At the moment I am using an 18 Scorcher with a pair of 10cm SharkII .
The past few months I have actually been using a 17 Scorcher in the 88ltr board, the reason I changed this was because I found in very light wind, solid waves I found the slightly bigger fin offered more drive and grip.
Before the Scorcher fin was released I would use a Stubby Center fin, This was usually used one Size larger than what I use with my Scorcher.
The reason I have moved over to the Scorcher is I find it to be looser and offers more pivot than the Stubby would offer.”
78ltr Quatro Pryamid:
“16 Scorcher 10cm Ezzy’s.
The fins in this board are more or less the same story as my larger board. The 16 Scorcher is my go too in this board when it’s windy.”
Alexandre Grand-guillot:
Grip 68:
“I use Quad with Scorchers, two big 14 and two small 8.
This is my favorite board because it best fits my gabari. I do not often move aileron position on this one. The flexibility and maneuverability of the new Scorchers is perfect and can adapt to all types of conditions.”
Grip 76:
“I use it in trifin (16 in large and two small 9), always with the fins Scorchers and when the wind is very strong as on spots like Pozo for example, I use it in Quad (two 14 and two 9) , it allows me to have more control on the board and during my curves.”
Thomas Traversa:
“My favorite set up is the Scorcher 15cm in the back and the shark2 9cm in the front.
I like to use different sizes for the back fin, but it is always the scorcher: 14 cm when the wind is strong and the waves small, like Canary Islands in summer. If the wind is up and down, and the waves not super small I will use the 15 cm, and this is the fin I use most of the time. When the waves get big I go for the 16 cm to have a bit more drive and to handle the chop better.
When it comes to front fins, I use the 9 cm Shark2 when the wind is over 25 knots and the waves are small. If the wind is light and the waves small I use the shark2 10 cm. And when I get to sail good waves with power I like to use the Shark2 (proto) 70/30 asymmetrical 2 degrees, to get a nice grip and a real surfy feel under my board.”
Pablo Ramírez Bolaños:
“Here I show you the pics on the only board I am using atm… I might get the other 2 boards at the end of this week!
I am using the Scorcher 17cms and 10cms Ezzys degree 2 front fins on my 73litres Patrik QT for side on shore conditions (like Pozo). For down-the-line side off I would change it to a Quad setup putting a pair of 15cms Scorchers in the back and moving the 10cms Ezzys front fins a little bit forward to get more grip on the turns.”
Nic Hibdige:
“For freestyle my go to fin is the 19cm ZBD, this gives me a good balance of hold and release for new school freestyle. In the more choppy wavy conditions I have been riding the 20cm template for the extra control.
I run my pocket wave from Tabou with 10cm ezzy sides on 2 degrees with a 18cm scorcher in the back.”
Omar Sánchez García:
“I’m using Scorcher on the back 15cm and in front 10cm 1º ezzy fins in onshore conditions and side conditions, they are faster and have grip, good for me to make good botton turn and make the move.
In all my boards i use the same sizes.”
Ivan Newmark:
“The 73L Severne Nuevo I use 16cm Leon super stiff rears. These fins provide a lot of grip and drive off the bottom for those late overpowered lip climbs. When you do blow your tail out you still don’t lose the board and spin out. This is especially helpful in Cape Town and spots where waves are unpredictable. The super stiff Leon’s also gives you maximum speed for jumping.
In my 83L Jp Radical Truster Quad I use Leon super stiff 14 rears and the new SharkII thrusters 10cm. This is the best combination I’ve found for any quad board round 80L. The new sharkII’s provide the perfect amount of drive and speed as thrusters and provides the best control and turning circles in choppy wave conditions.. these fins also provides loads of fun with giving you confidence in your turns and accelerating you into your next turn.”
Steffi Wahl:
78l/70l Board:
“My favorite setup on both boards with 63kg of body weight is
Quad Setup Northsea/Balticsea : K4 Leon Dynamic Flex 14 & Shark 8
If the waves are really weak and there is not so much response I like to use it as Thruster:
Thruster Setup Balticsea, when the waves are really weak: K4 Stubby 15 & Shark 8
In bigger waves, like on Sardinia with down the line conditions, but with not so much power I like to use:
K4 Leon Dynamic Flex 14 & Ezzy 10 (3º)
A little bit bigger sidefins for more drive (from Shark 8 to Izzy 10)… it makes a huge difference just to change these.”
Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers:
“In my Radical Quad 83 I’m using 15 Flexi Leon’s and 8cm SharkII’s. This is because it’s gotta be pretty windy to use my 83 so I prefer to have more grip hence the 15cm flexi Leon’s. The SharkII’s feel nice and quick and whippy!
In my Radical Quad 88 I’m using 15cm stiffy Leon’s so I can have a looser feel and throw the tail around a bit more. I use 10 Sharks for more lift so the board feels quicker on the wave in lighter winds.
In my Slate 87 I’m using the Scorcher 18 and 2 degree Ezzy 10s or sometimes 8’s depending on conditions. The Scorcher keeps the board under control in the windy choppy conditions we get on the south coast. It also works well if the waves are a bit bigger and more down the line because you get a really nice grippy top turn as it flexes but then you can make it slide under control without loosing the back end so you can really finish the turn off.”
Adam Lewis:
“Normally I use thruster even in the grip, but here in Pozo for example where its really windy and you’re just looking for control I use a quad. As I quad set up in the 82 I use 15 and 9 or as a tri I would use 10 and 18… I also use the Stubby 82 a lot, probably it’s the most used board in my quiver I seem to run 17 and 10 a lot in this board and I love it!”
And for the super windy Pozo days you just had?! (Ed)
“I actually just used the same in 3.0 weather… 9 and 15
I guess you could go smaller but I almost want more stablity when it’s that windy…
Not like your doing proper turns anyway
“
Adam is using Scorchers and SharkII fronts, plus Shark/Ezzy protos (Ed)
Graham Ezzy:
Graham is generally using 17/18 Scorcher rears for Pozo, with 10cm SharkII fronts (some standard and some proto 30/70 foil). He’ll switch them out for Flex and Ezzy fins at more riding biased spots where the wave provides the drive.
Moritz Mauch:
Left to right:
Quad – Ezzy 14cm 2º, Ezzy 8cm 3º.
Pent – Scorcher 16cm, Stubby 10cm, Stubby 8cm.
Quad – 14 Scorcher, 9 SharkII.
Alex Mussolini:
“My fin set up has been for the last 4-5 years only as thruster. I mostly windsurf in side to side-onshore conditions, but if I ever get to sail side-on or side-offshore I still stick to a thruster setup because it’s the best feeling I get from my board. For the front fin set up I always use SharkII for my 70ltr, -I use 9cms for my 75 ltr, I usually use 10cms and for my 78ltr I use 11cms. For the back fin my favorite fin is the Scorcher -for 70ltr I use 14cms, for my 75 I use 15cms, and for 78 I use 16cms.”
Ed:
I’ve been sailing the production RRD Cult 82 this year. At first I sailed it as a tri as I’ve always favoured that set up in the past and it suits for testing 10cm fronts (Gernerally 18 Scorcher rear as the Flex feels a little soft in the rockered RRD).
We had a windy X-onshore British competition earlier in the year and for that I thought I’d give a 16cm Scorcher twin set up a go, but found the nose drifted too much and it didn’t want to track upwind as well as it might have. Wanting to get back out on the water quickly I decided to just chuck some Ezzy 8cm 2º fronts in and stumbled across bit of a magic set up – it worked super well despite being a lot of area. I’ve since dropped the rears down to 15 Leon ‘super stiff’ and that’s what I’ve been sticking with lately.
The Cult does seem to sail exceptionally well as a quad; the extra fin on the rail giving it a more precise and drivey feeling in the turns and more hold off the top (without affecting top speed). I do have a preference for ‘loose and grippy’ rides and the board has quite heavy ‘V’ throughout so this may be contributing to the quad performance. Perhaps the double rear fins help the water flow straight out the back of the board. I’ve also taken John Skyes advice and placed the fins and rear strap at the back positions, which definitely seems to work best making the board fast, lively and easy to go 12 ‘o’ clock.
