Tell-Tail ~ Why I shape fins as I do.

General Discussion
1

In the short period I have made custom fins many surfers have asked why my fins have such complex foils. I never feel I have explained things very well by addressing these questions directly. I could attempt the struggle of several pages here to discribe the nuances that direct me to do things as I do but rather than attempt this text I’ll let the link and poem below be my tell-tail.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/salgado/image/0,15021,1478348,00.html

I too wish to be amoung the giants and thus –

Causing a Storm

A blushing cheek, a dancer’s pose;

Insufficient are such prizes.

A flowing gown, a breast exposed,

more fetching than such fine devices,

more comely and often mistook –

a single gentle lover’s look.

That flicker in the force of nature

the Spaniards call relámpago

silhouettes a mountain’s stature,

the sea, it’s vapor, sets aglow

base and bright anticipation –

sacred moments of creation,

love’s gesture lingering, sublime,

an interlude outside of time.

Share the stoke, Rich

2

…yep, your fins , for me are more related to boards than the current fins…

-i experiment on fins also…not at your level…but i dont use in my personal shapes the criteria that the bigger companies use…

3

please, show me some fins

Quote:

4

Here’s one Halcyon made for me. Hope you don’t mind, Rich. Mike

5

Hey Mike,

Nice shot mate!

Hey Sways,

If you have a photo something I made for you and want to plug it into this thread go for it. It’s always great to see the what I make in the board they were made for. I wish it’d happen more often.

Right now I have a set of Red-X X2 templates I made for T.O. with my torsioned foil out of epoxy/carbon/fiberlass and a set of “No Nonsense” 4.75 inch thrusters out of the same stuff with the same foil. I’ll post both sets as soon as I get pictures of them.

Share the stoke, Rich

6

Thanks for sharing your inspiration, the poem’s words and website pictures are both incredible. And your mentals were what inspired me to seek the depth of knowing that guides you to such flowing shapes. True functional works of art!

“Thanks for ALL the fish, but we really must be going!” - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. You’re gonna love this movie, Rich… All the performers in the opening sequence are sporting your “mentals.”

Please don’t give up on the quad, Those are what I want, but could you make the rear fin a power one? Instead of four pivots? Something “snappy.” It’s not that water isn’t smart, but when you’re made out of the same few elements and mostly empty space it’s hard to remember if it was two fins in a row or just one. Hey, haven’t I seen you before? Which is the leader and which is the trailer? Get outta here, why I oughta…

Mostly water is just happy to get out of the way, after muttering, “Here comes the great displacer.”

7

Hey Daddio,

Guess my son and I will have to go take in the flick.

I always feels good to know that I gave some one a push in a good direction.

I’m a long way from giving up on Trace #3. I the lead fins of the Sharky set-up that were on the board in the first pictures work great as part of the thruster set-up on my BK so I’m just use them there. The trailers I gave to Peter Mel to take to Cabo with him. Who knows if he’ll ride them. Attached are a couple of photos of the new twinzer set up. I haven’t had a chance to ride it yet set up this way. One thing sure – It’ll be fast and loose. I just don’t want to be sliding down those eight foot faces sideways cause the rail fins didn’t grab in the wave face. I rather suspect it’ll end up being one of the first ever C6 Quads. But who know the twinzer set up may be just the ticket.

Thanx for the kind words mate.

Mahalo, Rich

8

Hey Rich, I have been riding that large fin you donated to Ambrose’s travel board. I must say I am very impressed with the fin. It is really fast and does not drag alot. It also makes that big heavy 7 4 turn pretty easily and quickly. The pictures of the combination in action are still being processed. I am gonna be comign to Santa Cruz to work this summer so soon we can talk shop. Darren

9

Hey Rich

Have you ever tried your style with a fish twin set-up?