Hi All,

I started using a SB recently. Getting the hang of it a bit now.
I find that on the tacks the board is very nervous. Not sure how to explain but it seems it just doesn't want to go in a straight line with ease. It sort of tick tacks and wobbles under foot.
Someone suggested I swap the fins to groms (XS basically) I weigh 75kg and the board came with L size fins in a 3 fin set up.
I was wondering if anyone has some experience in this field. After all it may just bee poor technique.

thanks
Rene

Hi Rene,
What are the dimensions of the board you are riding and maybe a bit of a run down on how you are tacking.

In my experience the larger fins will make the board hold a straighter line and you need more effort/technique to push it through the tack. I recently got a set of XS fins for my g/f board (2012 5'6" Cabrinha Skillet) and was intrigued that they (the XS fins) are actually larger than the custom Cabrinha fins.

Cheers,
Tim

Hi Tim, The board is 5'4 x 18. pretty regular size I would say.
Tacking is something I still have to practise. Gybing takes a bit more work than I thought it would.
A lot has to do with foot placement and technique.
The guy that advised wasn't happy with the board until he changed the fins. That doesn't mean it is a universal truth so I am just trying to get more opinions on it.

If your xs fins are bigger than the standard fins means that you can get away with small fins. I guess the size guide for normal surfing doesn't apply to kiting because of the higher speed?? Speed is lift and to much lift causes instability??? (that was the reasoning behind getting small fins)....

In the following order;

Front foot not far enough forward,too much toe on the fins,fins not stiff enough (regardless of size),fins fractured at the base,too much cant on the fins.

Fins with too much release make surfboards wobble/not track well when used in kiting. Try a set of plastics and u'll see u cant tack upwind as well either.

Check out this link too
www.tactics.com/info/guide-to-surfboard-fins

hmm. intersting. I havent swapped the fins on the skillet over yet, but will be interesting to see how it goes. I've been riding a 5'4" x 21 1/2 quad with standard FCS M5/G1000 rears and find that comfortable. (same board/setup that i paddle surf). I used to ride a 6'3" thruster and found it paddle surfed well with M7s (larger fins) and kited better with the M5s (i'm 85kgs). I liked the smaller M5s for kiting because it made the board feel looser. Was too locked in on the larger M7s, but enjoyed them paddle surfing because they drew out my turns and gave me a bit more to drive off.

Horses for courses i guess. I learn't to tack on a raceboard, so different game altogether. Takes time. I found tacks you can really slow it all down, bring the kite up slow and use it to support your weight and then flick the board around underneath you. Gybing was the opposite. Speed is your friend, if you keep the board planning through it, it is much more stable then coming off the plane and sinking down.

Beg, burrow or steal some smaller fins and see how it goes. Fins are one of those things, doesn't hurt to have a spare set in the bag anyway as it may save a session when one gets damaged, lost or stolen by someone else trying to figure out which setup works best

Select to expand quote

TimAus said...
I found tacks you can really slow it all down, bring the kite up slow...

and que topic of small kites and surfboards

if u cant do it on a 9m on ur daily stick,its prob not 15kts