Your windsurfing performance depends upon two main factors – your skill and the type of equipment you use. Due to great technological advancements, it has been possible to design innovative windsurfing equipments that have led to a radical difference in windsurfing performance. The windsurfing fins are crucial in maneuvering the surf board and you can select fins that suit the conditions and your requirements.

Types of Windsurfing Fins

The size and pattern of windsurfing fins differ according to the surf boards. Usually beginner windsurfing boards have larger fins while more advanced surf boards have fins of smaller size. Also, as you graduate to racing, you can choose from fin varieties like slalom fins, course slalom fins, wave riding fins, freestyle fins and racing fins. Often many windsurfers carry more than one windsurfing fin in their kit and immediately replace one fin with another to adjust the performance according to the changing wind conditions.

Windsurfing Systems

The system incorporated in a fin determines the type of fin and its purpose. Normally there are four types of systems used in designing windsurfing fins.

1. Tuttle Box: A tuttle box fin system comprises of aligned sides and a fin base which measures 1.60cms. The tuttle box fins fit snugly on the sides and its front and rear angles determine the depth of the fin. One of the variations of the tuttle box system is the Deep Tuttle system. In the deep tuttle system, only the depth of the fin base increases with the remaining specifications (front and rear angles and width) being constant. The deep tuttle fin base usually measures about 7cms in depth, about 2cms deeper than the normal fin depth in a standard tuttle box system.

Tuttle box systems are usually used for wide race board fins. Tuttle box fin systems are considered the strongest fin systems. The deep tuttle fin system is used for racing surf boards. The standard tuttle system fins are used in slalom windsurf boards.

2. Power Box: Unlike the tuttle box fins with aligned sides, the power box system fins consist of tapering sides as well as at the front and rear ends.

3. Trim Box: The fin box system fins also consist of straight sides along with plastic spacers. The spacers may be placed either in front or at the back of the fin. These spacers enable free movement of the fin in the fin box.

4. A Box: A-box fins system is used in wave and jump boards. This is because these fins are thinner and designed to support extreme movements. The A-box fin system is sleek at the point where the fin is mounted.

Fin Replacement

Not all kinds of fins replace each other. You can replace deep tuttle fins with standard fins with longer fin screws. However, deep tuttle fins cannot replace the standard tuttle fins. However, it is possible that replacing the standard tuttle fins with deep tuttle fins can cause the tuttle box or the board to disintegrate.

These are a few technical aspects of windsurfing fins, which can help you in choosing the right type of windsurfing fin for your surf board.

Your windsurfing performance depends upon two main factors – your skill and the type of equipment you use Due to great technological advancements, it has been possible to design innovative windsurfing equipments that have led to a radical difference in windsurfing performance

About The Author

Marc Fredmen is an expert windsurfer and provides guidance on different forms and techniques of windsurfing on basic windsurfing.