Whether you’re the ‘Homo Surficus Brutalis’ type who thinks the fin is a makeshift peg to be hammered into the sand to secure your gear, or whether, as a ‘fin whisperer’, you can conjure up a padded fin case even in waist-deep water. One thing’s for sure: an extra fin is worth having for everyone. We were able to test the standard 44 G10 fin against a handful of tuning fins on two JP Supersport 122s with identical 7.0 sails. Lake Neusiedl had a good forecast at short notice – and then actually delivered two days of almost non-stop action: for a 7.0, there was always plenty of pressure and we were often close to the limit. All runs were between 50 and 56 km/h with the camberless freerace engine – that points to really solid freerace conditions. That’s exactly how we’d imagined it for the test. After all, we already knew from the board test that the standard fins fit well on almost all freerace boards when used with a 7.5 sail and at normal power levels. However, we wanted to find out whether the wind range could be noticeably extended to higher wind speeds.
Standard fin: Often performs just as well right up to moderate wind speeds
The standard fins are sized to suit larger sails on almost all boards. If you take the the latest surf test of the Freeraceboards As a guide, you’ll mainly find fins between 42 and 44 centimetres in length. Some boards naturally fly more freely, whilst others glide more smoothly: the selected fins always provided the optimum lift for the 7.7 sail. However, with a 7.0 sail, there should be even more to be gained – that was the assumption during the board test. That’s exactly what we tried out: with the standard fin, everything went well in this test too, as long as the 7.0 sails were operating in the low to medium wind range. When properly powered up and in choppy water from around 45 km/h, the trim – which had been very balanced and stable up to that point – began to lurch increasingly. As speed increases, the board then needs to be controlled with firm pressure from the feet. Particularly in choppy water and in side-to waves, the rolling motion and the slight dancing of the bow demand a great deal of attention. That leaves little nerve left for that final top-speed kick-down.
Full control even at full throttle at 7.0
We were impressed by just how much difference a fin that’s four centimetres shorter can make. The characteristics differ significantly, and depending on the type of board – whether it tends to fly freely or glide more smoothly and stably – there are favourites. In extreme cases, such as with the MS-Fins X7 for 310 euros, you suddenly end up with a free-flying board that barely touches the water’s surface yet remains extremely stable around all axes. Here, you’re left wondering what you could possibly improve with targeted foot pressure. This is what maximum confidence feels like – and it’s this confidence that makes maximum speed possible in the first place. The Select Super-fast also ensures absolute stability on the board; it’s extremely fast, particularly on downwind runs, and perfect for very nimble freerace and slalom boards. The particularly thin Maui Ulta Fin impressed in testing with its speed and control, offering a very balanced combination of low drag and yet some lift. The affordable Gun fin also offers superb control, whilst Patrik’s fin is virtually identical in character to the standard JP fin, providing a great addition for higher speeds and even better control. So no matter which option you go for, in this fin roulette there are only winners.
The aftermarket fins put to the test
GunSails SLALOM 40 (1)
- Available sizes 26–48 cm*
- Prices 79–129 euros, trial size 109 euros
- Weight 643 grams
- gunsails.de
The GunSails fin proves that even the most affordable tuning fin performs really well and is a useful addition to your surf bag. Compared to the larger stock fin, the robust G10 fin keeps the board very stable along its longitudinal axis whilst still allowing sufficient freedom of movement. Going full throttle and flagging the sail – no problem. The (slightly) higher drag compared to the two carbon competitors and also to the Maui Ultra Fin requires a bit more power, and you don’t quite reach that final bit of top speed. However, compared to the standard 44 fin, speed improves measurably from the medium wind range onwards. And the new riding experience – particularly the perceived safety in strong gusts – is at least a class above, significantly expanding the range of conditions and enhancing the riding enjoyment in strong winds.
Maui Ultra Fins SL 40 (2)
- Available sizes 26–52 cm*
- Prices 139–209 euros, trial size 179 euros
- Weight 494 grams
- mauiultrafins.shop
The Ferrari-red board, made from polished GRP, sits in the hand like a dagger, with its thin profile, sharp trailing edge and slender outline. The head sits firmly yet snugly in the box. When pitted against the standard fin, the board doesn’t ‘catch on the fin’ quite so quickly when planing. But once there’s pressure in the sail, even in moderate winds there’s no holding it back, and the 40 MUF whips round the big JP Sabre at will – accompanied by a light soundtrack. The combination of low drag and yet sufficient lift ensures a glide that is, on the one hand, very stable but also free-flowing, and which feels superbly balanced on all courses: free enough for deep downwind runs and with sufficient stability for upwind sailing. The fin offers significantly better control, speed and riding enjoyment.
Select M88 SUPERFAST 40 (3)
- Available sizes 29–46 cm**
- Prices 299–329 euros, test size 319 euros
- Weight 394 grams
- select-hydrofoils.com
With the Superfast, Select is bringing 394 grams of the finest high-speed carbon to the fray. The thin fin is, of course, not as robust as the comparatively solid-looking G-10 bolts, but it is wonderfully light and has a particularly elegant finish. The fin really lives up to its ‘Superfast’ name, particularly on deep downwind runs with a decent breeze in the system. The board doesn’t roll or pitch, and the fin withstands maximum pressure flawlessly whilst feeling very light underfoot. By comparison, the Superfast generates slightly less lift. This means the JP board runs slightly flatter, which costs a little performance on upwind runs, and in wind holes the board needs to be edged a little more actively. However, this characteristic suits boards that naturally glide more freely and nimbly (freerace and slalom race) – as opposed to the rather well-behaved JP – perfectly.
Patrik P-RACE 40 (4)
- Available sizes 28–42 cm**,
- Prices 189 euros (all sizes)
- Weight 584 grams,
- patrikinternational.com
Patrik’s G-10 fin is just as robust as the standard fin and is therefore ideal for surfers who don’t constantly carry the fin cover around with them, but occasionally leave the board resting on the fin. As well as its construction, the fin’s characteristics are also similar to those of the standard fin, only on a smaller scale. With the P-Race, the board rolls less, pitches up less in gusts, definitely allows for better top speed and, as an added bonus, offers good lift in the lower wind range and for upwind manoeuvres. However, the G-10 fin does not quite match the outstanding smoothness and superb controllability in the stronger wind range found with the other four fins. Nevertheless, for a moderate price, you’ll definitely gain in speed and noticeably improve smoothness and controllability.
MS-Fins X7 40 (5)
- Available sizes 32–46 cm**
- Price 310 euros
- Weight 351 grams
- ms.fins.munich@freenet.de
The handcrafted carbon fin fits perfectly into the box and boasts an immaculate matt finish. It doesn’t have an excessively slender outline, but is quite thin and features a seriously sharp trailing edge. And the MS leads the field in every respect. Minimal drag from take-off right through to top speed; the board’s glide feels smoother than Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk. The standard fin can still keep up when taking off and accelerating, but from moderate wind speeds onwards, the MS fin pulls away decisively. Even in the strongest gusts of what was a truly challenging test day, the board remains extremely stable, in perfect glide, without rolling or pitching. Here you can feel even more clearly than with the other, equally good fins, what a carbon race fin brings out of a board.
* Depending on length: Powerbox, Tuttle and/or Deep Tuttle ** Depending on length: Tuttle and/or Deep Tuttle
The tuning fins compared to the standard fin
| Gliding | Speed in moderate winds | Top speed | Control | |
| Maui Ultra Fins | 0 | + | ++ | ++ |
| GunSails | 0 | + | + | ++ |
| MS Fins | + | ++ | ++ | +++ |
| Select | 0 | + | ++ | +++ |
| Patrik | + | + | + | + |
