Windsurf slalom fins explained (Part 1): All you need to know ~ Flex, lift, rake, twist, sizes, etc. 

It's a great pleasure! I'm so glad that I can be helpful! 🤙🤙 In part 2 of this series (coming next week) I will expand on all the different models and designs within the Gasoil range and how to choose the fin that is suitable for your needs...so hopefully this will help a lot!

Thank you so much for your awesome feedback!! I’m glad you enjoyed my fin video series🤙

I didn't see any explanation of anything.....I have been sailing since 1986..... most important is a fin that matches the sail board and wind speed relative to the rider weight ..... then you get into side to side thickness and twist/flex ....aspect ratio..... narrow tip wide tip.... these are wings vertical in the water.... have you ever seen a football fin..... my first board was hifly ...and had an elliptical planform fin made from polyester resins with no glass or any fillers stiffeners ..... most important is the right fin for sail and rider weight relative to the wind.... my homemade fins from plywood covered on glass then later in carbon work just as good as the most expensive fins I have bought....a fin that flexes will give in gusts giving smoother thrust .... ...and then you get into how far back in the chord is the high point what is the naca airfoil shape .... you could go a more diamond shape looking from above or fat and forward.... looking at the foil shape is probably one of the most important things .... a rounded leading edge gives good low speed power and less likely to stall or slip ........I designed built and flew my first airplane ay the age of 13.... ther problem in this sport is that virtually none of the manufacturers do water tunnel testing and have actual numbers that can tell what their fins actual performance is....

Thanks for the awesome feedback! 🤟

Thanks so much!! 😊 I'm very glad you are enjoying my videos🤙

Awesome! 🤙 I'm so happy that I can be helpful with my videos... Yes, the fin is the most complex, but definitely most important part of the setup.. It makes such a big difference on the water when one starts implementing all these aspects. Let me know if you have any more questions along the way... Part two coming soon!🤙😊

Awesome Bob! 🤙😊 Thanks so much for your nice message... I absolutely love getting such great feedback and so glad that I can be helpful. Enjoy your Gasoil Fins!! In part two, coming next week, I will be explaining all the diffirent models to make it easier to pick between them🤙🤙

It's a great pleasure, thank you for your nice comment! 🤙 I'm so glad that I can help!! 😊

Ah, so nice to hear that! 😊 Thank you so much for your awesome feedback... I'm so happy that I can help with my videos!🤙

It’s a great pleasure, glad I can help!🤙

Thank you so much for your awesome feedback!🤙🤙 I'm so happy that I can help.. There is really a big need for more info out there on windsurf gear and technique, I'm stoked if I can help fill the gap. Being a lightweight, you will definitely be able to relate to my content. I'm at around 58-60kg.. Check out this video I made recently: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0KBAN9D7VAg.html It's all about how I fine-tune my gear and also covering exactly the size Sails, Boards, Fins I use in different wind strengths.... I'm sure it will be very helpful for you. I will make a new one once I have my Mach4 Sails in December, but that video is a great summary of how I combine my sizes and tune my setup so that I get best performance and enjoyment out of the gear. Let me know if you have any more questions, I often do Q & A videos where I group together and tackle some questions that I get through the year. 🤙😊

@@KarovanTonder Awesome. Thanks for your reply! Subscribed.

Thank you! Yes, lift refers to vertical lift, so when the fin flexes, it lifts the board out of the water and you glide over the chop (like foiling, but not as high, just slightly). Let me know if you have got any more questions, I'll be happy to help🤙

@@KarovanTonder Thanks for explaining. Interesting! I think since you cant really ever see what your fin does, hardly anybody in the amateur space has an idea whats happening down there and even less what should happen (both from an equipment and from a riding perspective). The only time I ever think about the fin is the millisecond before a spin out ;)

😄🤙Yes for sure! I'm so glad I can clear out some of the important aspects for you. Give yourself some time, go out and try to rail the board once on high speed.. You will start to feel and notice when the board gets slight lift and acceleration will be a very pleasant "soft" gliding feeling with less stickiness to the water... The next video is all about spinouts, sailing chop etc, so hope to cover all the questions for you🤙 I will also make a 3rd video after part 2, where I will cover all the questions that came up during the videos. So feel free to let me know on anything you would like me to expand on. 😎 🤙

@@KarovanTonder Got it. I will definitely try that rail tip next time on the water. I am hooked now! Thanks so much!

Hi Mateusz, thanks so much for your nice feedback and your thoughts! With regards to the raked weed fin, it's all about the leverage you get out of the fin that helps to provide lift. With a vertical fin, your leverage in the water is much greater than with a raked weed fin, therfore you get much more vertical lift. More leverage over the fin means more flex, which translates into more lift. This is also why wave gear and free ride Fins have a greater rake at the tip, to help prevent lift during wave sailing or very apocalyptic conditions, where staying flat on the water for maximum control is the main goal. Due to the extreme horizontal rake on a weed fin, one would have less leverage over this fin as opposed to the same length vertical fin. Therefore, less lift. A fin that is softer and have more flex gives more lift than a stiff fin, because as the fin flexes, it pushes the board up virtical out of the water, especially when railing the board. Whereas a very stiff fin does not have this much flexing action and the board cannot get lifted upwards easily due to the lack of that force. In my video Part two of widening your wind range, I explain lift in much more detail, so check out that video too. 👌👌 I'll put the link below for you. Let me know if you have any further questions, would be more than happy to help! Enjoy the water action!!

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5dIMRjEogW4.html here the video I referred to above... Hope this also helps! 🤙😊

Ah such a nice comment!! 😊 I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos.. Thanks so much! 🤙🤙

Karo van Tonder check your Instagram mail box please

Thanks will do.. 🤙🤙

Just read your DM, Wow!! A very very big thank you!!... That is amazing of you, I'm so glad that you would like more people to see my content! 😊🎉🙌

@@KarovanTonder it would be a pleasure to share some waves with you in South Africa again. If you are in Germany feel free to visit me and my family in Hamburg.