FUTURES RIDE NUMBER DESCRIBES THE FEELING OF A FIN:
This feeling is represented on a scale from Speed Generating to Speed Control (shown above). The closer you get to 10, the more springy, fluid & responsive your board will feel to help generate speed. The closer you get to 1, the more solid, engaged & predictable your board will feel to help control speed. Fins with a Ride Number around 5 feel balanced & do not add any premium feelings to your board - they let your board’s original character shine. To use Ride Number just pick a feeling in your weight range, and give it a try. When you understand the different feels, you can get the most performance & enjoyment out of your equipment.
FEEL |
= FLEX |
+ RAKE |
+ FOIL |
The combined effect that Flex, Rake and Foil have on the speed generating vs speed controlling fins. |
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| FLEX OPTIONS |
Flexible fins will feel springy through turns and generate speed better, while stiffer fins will feel solid through turns and control speed better. This factor has the most weighting in determining Ride Number.
Soft
Soft Flex fins are most beneficial in smaller waves or for light-footed surfers. The increased flex results in extra speed generated, as the surfer can load up and spring off the fin more. Great for when the combination of waves and surfer lack push. They are responsive, allowing your board to feel springy and fluid between turns.
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Medium
Medium Flex fins provide a great all-around option for most surfers. They feel lively and flexy enough when the waves are smaller and will hold when pushed in larger conditions.
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Stable
Stiff Flex fins are most beneficial in powerful surf or for heavy-footed surfers. The increased stability results in better speed control, when either the waves or the surfer is pushing hard. They are predictable, allowing your board to feel solid and engaged through turns.
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| RAKE OPTIONS |
Upright fins feel pivoty, allowing for tighter turns, while raked fins feel stable, providing hold through carves. The effect of rate on feeling is a significant factor on determining the Ride Number.
Upright
Upright fins perform best when surfing vertically in the pocket, in beach break style waves with short walls.With less of the total area of the fin behind the trailing edge, often due to minimal overhang,these fins want to pivot, allowing for a tighter turning arc.
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Blended
Blended fins have elements of both hold and pivot in them. When compared to the Upright rake, there is additional fin area behind the trailing edge, often due to a thicker tip, but there isn’t as much overhang as Laid back fins. They perform well in the pocket and on the face, allowing for a nice blend of both styles.
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Laid Back
Laid Back fins perform best when surfing on the wave face, in point break style waves with longer walls. With more total area of the fin behind the trailing edge, often due to more overhang, these fins want to hold, allowing for a longer turning arc great for burying your rail with authority.
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| FOIL OPTIONS |
V and V2 foils feel responsive and fluid through turns, while flat foils feel engaged and predictable through turns. The effects of Foil on the overall feeling are subtle but noticeable, therefore Foil has the least amount of weighting on the Ride Number.
V Foil
The V Foil is designed to maximize lift with a minimal amount of drag. The combination of a deep inside concave from base to tip, a high apex moved further back, and a rounded leading edge allow this fin to find speed in all parts of the wave. It’s more accepting to water flow from all angles of attack, and making the fin feel very fluid rail to rail.
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V |
V2 Foil
The V2 Foil is a V. Foil and Flat Foil blend. It takes the best speed generating attributes of the V. (at the base) and transitions into a flat foil in the tip for control through critical turns. V. foils feel fluid and drivey, and generate more speed through turns. Try the V2 foil if you are transitioning from flat-sided fins, because the benefits of the vector foil base will be noticeable but the change for your muscle memory will not be too drastic.
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Flat Foil
Flat-foiled fins derive from the days of glass-on fins, and will feel familiar due to your muscle memory if you are used to standard fins or glass-ons. They’re the most available foil in the Futures line and a very reliable option for all conditions. You will find that they work especially well when making late drops or stalling for the barrel are your primary concern because of their controlled and stable feel.
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