Single fin surfing for me has always been really fun, a different kind of fun. I totally get why some crew swear by them only. Really makes me absorb the whole experience, keeps you honest and when I get it right it is one of the best feelings.

One thing I noticed and I was hoping to get some opinions on is how to surf single fins in bumpy short waves, I have struggled with them unless the wave is clean or long.

I surfed a raw, pushy low period junky swell on the weekend and struggled, by the time I bounced around down the face and tried to steer it around o the sweet spot it was too late, I just felt like I was getting bounced all over the place getting bucked off. Granted my ability will have something to do with this ha ha

Im currently running an 8" Fluid Foil Soulflex on an 8fter that is based on a McT 8 ball with the fin in the middle of the fin box.

I have a 9ft quad Classic Malibu that I surfed for a long time before the 8fter came along, in the above mentioned types of swell found it to be super stable and fast through sections. Is this a case of fin set ups for different swells or is there something in the type of fin and style/ability?

Some pretty clued up blokes on here so I am keen to hear what the collective minds of the Longboarding forum think

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Souwester said..

Some pretty clued up blokes on here

Bit early in the week to get on the sauce aye?

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Souwester said..
Single fin surfing for me has always been really fun, a different kind of fun. I totally get why some crew swear by them only. Really makes me absorb the whole experience, keeps you honest and when I get it right it is one of the best feelings.

One thing I noticed and I was hoping to get some opinions on is how to surf single fins in bumpy short waves, I have struggled with them unless the wave is clean or long.

Agree 150% with the different feel. Good way to keep thing interesting.

I ride long boards as singles nearly 100% of the time (usually a log) so can't really give an opinion but as for shorter boards, I ride a 6'3 pin tail single with 7 inch cutaway fin in it and it goes great in punchy down the line waves.

BUT... Short bumpy waves aren't fun at all. Just feels that the board has no chance to flow at all and seems impossible to draw nice lines, which to me is what single fin surfing is all about. Nice clean lines and flowing rail surfing.

I have come to the conclusion unless it is offshore 4 foot barrels then the single is best left on the beach.

TK.

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Teacake said..

I have come to the conclusion unless it is offshore 4 foot barrels then the single is best left on the beach.

+1 or a really nice long point break. I am yet to ride one of these new age single fins yet though. Overdue a visit to see Chrispy and steal one of his for a few days. That day is coming. Tux has a few in his quiver as does The Drip.

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Ted the Kiwi said..

+1 or a really nice long point break.

+1

I have similar preferences to McGuane. I prefer a more upright fin, and, to be honest, really don't like fins like the soul flex. I run this fin in a 7' single fin, and 8' and 9'6" 2+1. I also use the Soar or fcs dolphin sometimes. When I run the 8' as a single I move the fin back about an inch, but have found I don't like larger fins. 7 1/4 to 7 3/4 seems the magic number for me. My fins would have markedly more surface area, and, I'm guessing, more drive and release than the soul flex. Perhaps a bigger "engine" would help.

Or it could just be the boards are completely different.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I am always keen to try different set ups, that's the only way to really click with it, getting out there and being prepared to give it a crack. I have a 7" FCS dolphin that I use in the 2 + 1 set up of the board. Will give that a go next. Between 7 and 8 may be another option I can try as well, love the options!

To me a longer wave makes sense on a single fin, I have the time to set it up and connect the dots with the time that a single fin gives me, the short, sharp and bumpy waves were not conducive to this, not for me anyway

On a separate note I also learnt that picking the right wave and being patient in a bigger swell than normally used to is absolute gold, too many times I was chasing the big sets only to get flogged or miss them and then get stuck on the inside. The guys in the know picked off the good size cleaner sets and got some smoking waves. They were waiting for the best size for the reef not wanting the biggest set to break in a way that the reef cant handle.

Always learning..

An 8" dolphin fin would be optimal in lieu of no sidebites as a general rule of thumb for singles is an inch per foot of board. Tail width has to be taken into account since for example running a short single on a wide tail can mean there may be not enough fin in the water when the board is leaning over in a turn.
Your soul flex fin is best off used in smaller, clean waves where you can load up the fin and let it flex and unload through turns. It doesn't have a long base for drive like the dolphin and its rake means it will draw out turns.
The more upright dolphin with its stiffer foil will allow the board to react faster and more predictably in disorganised waves.
Most crew I know that are running the soul flex fins in boards with 15-16" tails are going a couple of inches longer than their board length fyi.
Measure the width of the tail 1' up from the tip of your tail.
They'll get more drive from the extra length.
Once you've in larger waves there's a limit to the fins wave range and you'll know you've found it as the board will want to buck you off.
This is a really nice fin made by Alkali.
http://www.alkalifins.com/fin-range/classic-single.html
Phil used to make the fcs singles like your soul flex fyi.

More upright
Less flex
1 inch of fin per foot of board or there abouts
Not much good in short bumpy waves IMO better of on something else

Spot on CF! Some gold advice there! Thanks mate.