I have noticed in some recent discussions and the debate between FCS, Futures, Loxbox, RedX, Swivel & others and am curious to find out which fin system is redefining the sport and why so many top Pro’s are riding fixed fins? Is it because fin systems are flawed or is it just a mind-set? Is it a move forward for the industry or should the industry be looking at alternative fin system technologies that are available but as yet unknown? I look forward to any comments in this regards
As far as the top pros going back to glass-ons, well, they never really left. It may be a combination of less than great results using said systems, but more likely the fact that they don’t want to think about it to much. Like which fin, and where do I put it. They don’t keep boards very long. Maybe a couple months, or a little longer for the rare magic one. I think it’s important to not lump pros together with the average guy that buys a board off the rack. Pros don’t buy boards, whereas everyone else pays(3 to 500$).That being said, we feel like having adjustable/ejectable fins is the cutting edge. You’ll get minimum 3 different boards just by adjusting your rear fin. You also have a very good chance that when contacting something like the reef with your fins while on a trip, that you won’t be faced with a blown out plug/box. Traveling is still the main reason for using systems. No hype, just solid surfing products.
Read about it here- www.lokboxfins.com
A good old single fin box still suits
The industry needs at least another five years of complacency before moving to the better (IMHO), adjustable systems 
Best,
HerbB
In reality… adjustable systems- why? I would say that 75 percent of surfers out there have no clue what moving their single fin forward or backward in a bahne box even does. They usually just leave it where the manufacture put it, or recommended where it should go. Maybe, they might actually take the fin out of the box and replace it with another fin, for no particular reason, but that they got it for free from a friend or won it in a raffle. And now you think there is going to be any benefit for the common consumer with fully adjustable fin systems? You have to be kidding, they would be so scared of something like that, they’d try to not even look at it wrong. Let me tell you, I actually have a couple sets of the fin setup that allows you to adjust the fin tow… (got them from a rep that was passing through) and while I agree that they are really neat, convenient for learning about fin tow, and how it affects a particular board… I can’t really see any benefit for the average consumer. They just want to grab their board and go surf… not screw around with their fins for that precious hour before they have to go back to work. -Carl
I can see this system catching on in the average consumer world but it will take time. There was a similar concern in the snowboarding world that people would not move the adjustments on their bindings, but simply leave it where the shop put it for them. It took some time but the majority of “average ability” snowboarders play with the adjustments and placement of their bindings. The will play with the angle till they find what works for them and will move there bindings forward or back depending on the conditions. It will just take some time and education for the surf community to come around to the benefits of being able to change fin position. Like it’s been said before the average consumer who can only afford one board or a small quiver will eventualy look at changing their fins rather than buying a new board. It’s just going to take a little education. I think this education needs to start at the shop level. Heck a lot more education in all areas needs to be stressed at this level.
Basic fin adjustments can be conveyed fairly comprehensibly to the average person in a couple of sentences. With the present mainstream platforms, there’s just not a huge need or incentive for them to understand them.
Whether it’s a surfboard, Porsche, or new grill for your backyard - it’s human nature to want options available that you may not ever use…
Surfers can never resist talking about fins, that’s why there is so much discussion about it. Any attempts to redefine the sport’ via fin systems or anything else will always be doomed to failure. Too many surfers like to do their own thing for definition to be possible. Many surfers, for example, do not even use fins. Roy
"Like it’s been said before the average consumer who can only afford one board or a small quiver will eventualy look at changing their fins rather than buying a new board. It’s just going to take a little education. I think this education needs to start at the shop level. Heck a lot more education in all areas needs to be stressed at this level. "
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I completely disagree that the average surfer won’t and doesn’t want to benefit from adjusting their fins. I have the proof right here in front of me with about 75% of our current customers using our system because of the adjustability factor. The other 25% because of a yearning for a system that doesn’t fail regularly. The shops will begin to educate and already are, simply because they want to sell replacement fins. They are cheap for them to stock, and take up way less retail space than the boards themselves. Plus shop guys have all these fins around to play with, which they do, and are mind blown at how much just swapping templates can change their board. Our team guys are all educated on what it does, and they use it. Move the center fin back(J-bay), move it up (chiba japan). It’s really that simple. Options are never a bad thing, whether you use them or not.
We fully enjoy educating people because it’s really really cool when someone comes back and says " man I was almost completely over that board but you “lit it up”. That’s the payoff for us! Happy surfing!!!
Howzit Carl, sounds like you’re referring to the Edge fin system that Clyde and John Rogers make. I’m very familiar with it and it is a proven fact that their system can make a dog board into a magic board with just a slight adjustment of the fins. Bill Hamilton was telling me how good the system worked for him in Tahiti by changing the toe for different breaks. Aloha, Kokua
Kokua, what’s up with the rogers boys? I know John and sue went back to florida, but how about clyde. And the system? Do you know how to reach Clyde? Thanks Jim
Quote:
As far as the top pros going back to glass-ons, well, they never really left. It may be a combination of less than great results using said systems, but more likely the fact that they don’t want to think about it to much. Like which fin, and where do I put it. They don’t keep boards very long. Maybe a couple months, or a little longer for the rare magic one. I think it’s important to not lump pros together with the average guy that buys a board off the rack. Pros don’t buy boards, whereas everyone else pays(3 to 500$).That being said, we feel like having adjustable/ejectable fins is the cutting edge. You’ll get minimum 3 different boards just by adjusting your rear fin. You also have a very good chance that when contacting something like the reef with your fins while on a trip, that you won’t be faced with a blown out plug/box. Traveling is still the main reason for using systems. No hype, just solid surfing products.
Read about it here- www.lokboxfins.com
This is a bit frustrating to me the level of ignorance in the surf industry. Ive talked to weekend warrior golfers and they can tell you all about their equipment but ask a pro surfer about equipment and they have no clue…and dont care.
Funny you should mention it. I ask my team riders all the time about their goals as a pro surfer. They usually reply “to win contests and make money”. I then say so wouldn’t you want an edge over your competition?
It would be completely laughable at the least if say an indy car driver was told that they had a new feature that would allow him to stiffen or soften the supension on his car, depending on (ever-changing) track conditions (kind of like surfing in the ocean), just by pushing a button on the steering wheel…and the driver went -“no thanks, I don’t want to have to think about it.”
Wonder how long he’d have that job…
Howzit Lokbox, Clyde is alive and doing well here in Hanalei, saw him the other day. I have his ph. # but I don’t give peoples numbers out with out their permission, which I hope you can understand. But you can contact him through the Edge website I’m sure he’ll get back to you. John and Sue moved back to Fl. so they could buy a home and john coulld promote their system. Aloha, Kokua
The difference between an Indy car driver and a Pro surfer is that you can measure the performance of an Indy car driver. A pro surfer is in a game where performance evaluation is subjective, and therefore deviation from the norm is fraught with danger for them. Look what happened to Cheyne Horan’s ratings when he took up the ‘Lazor Zap’ and ‘Star Fin’. Personally I thought that Cheyne’s surfing on the zap was amazing. How can one judge the difference between surfing styles? It is difficult, and the present situation is a one style monoculture which breeds herd behaviour amongst pro surfers.
“herd behaviour”. Hilarious!
Kokua, thanks man, appreciate it! Yeah no worries, clyde would say it’s ok i’m sure, but i’ll just catch him having his morning java at pine trees this winter. Just wanted to make sure he was still around town. Send me your contact info at lokbox@sbcglobal.net and i’ll look ya up for a surf at the bay. Be there right after xmas. Laters
Too many choices, too much hype about which of the systems is the “best”. The “forest” of surfing is getting lost in the “trees” of choice.
I made my choice of fin system quite some time ago. Are they the best? Not anymore, I suspect, in a global sense, with the advent of both multi-adjustable systems and custom fins. But they remain the best choice for me given that all my boards are so equipped AND all of my fin quiver is usable…so I won’t be starting over because there ain’t nothing broken that I’m aware of. Is it time for standardization of the mounting system?
I consider that “herd behavior” doesn’t quite capture what’s going on-I’d suggest “behavior of the herds” as more appropriate. There’s too many would-be shepherds.
Did you mean “self proclaimed shepherds” ?
Then there are the Wolves!