Do fins really matter that much? Longboard Surfing FIN TEST

Quite an exciting video today because I'll be comparing the CJ Nelson Noserider 10.0 fin to the Captain Fin co. Alex Knost Sunshine model. I never thought that a longboard surfing fin can make any difference to performance, but I was way off! Enjoy!

Board: Bing Continental
Location: New Jersey

[chrisalex]

Your videos are great and I found them by accident. I come from Germany and we live not so far away from the North Sea.
I surf a CJ Nelson Neo Classic 10.0 myself and the Fins from CJ are amazing.
I would say; now you have the perfect setup for all conditions. I‘m looking forward every week for a new video, great job and many thanks for the spirit😁🤙

[naimeran]

Awesome video mate. I'm surfing already 10 years on a regular short board and latley Iv'e decided that I want to move to a Longboard. Your videos give me alot of inspiration to make this shift happen. BTW, I really like your editing skills, your videos make me feel much more calm and relaxed.
Peace and Love from Israel (yeah we got some waves in here and not only conflicts)

[kenjiwebb]

The fin(s) is 50% of how a finned surfboard relates to the wave and rider. CJ is one of my very most favorite surfers both to watch and to share the water with. His nose rider fin is based on the classic Donald Takayama Nose Rider. CJ added a little bit of rake and beefed up the area. The Alex fin is based the old Greenough Stage IV. It is a flex fin compared to stiffness of the broader fin. It will let the board flow with the twists in wave face and project a nice carving bottom turn, while its long base keeps any direction change gradual enough to allow walking and nose riding. There was a period of time when I would go to Rincon with a twin fin, a semi gun, and a longboard in the truck. I'd start with the little board in the morning, take a break and fuel and go to the next bigger board and so on. There was a milk crate in the truck full of fins so I could tune my boards to the conditions and my moods. I had a lot of fun. If you are into high performance nose riding fins, you owe it to yourself to try Guy Takayama's Orca, which bears kinship to Greenough's windsurfing fin designs. Guy's Manta is really good too, but the Orca hits the sweet spot with me.
You can go to the beach with one board and three fin set ups and have three distinctly different rides to choose from.

[russellblack]

I have that CJ Nelson fin, my first session with it was amazing! Best purchase ever! I can't nose ride yet but your videos are a great learning tool, hopefully I can get there soon!

[noseridesnosedivessurfvlog]

I agree, fins make a massive difference. Personally I too am preferring a 10’ hatchet fin, though mine is similar to your normal FCS click-in. And no I don’t find it harder to turn either, just different as you said. Great Vlog Bro🤙😎

[JiahaoLin]

Nice narratives and footage combo. Good efforts

[chrispewkreme]

Awesome videos!!

Cool to see the difference between the fins. For a break with such a short ride like that, you may like foiling.

[davispride]

so helpful! That noserider fin looks sweet - you had some sick slides with that. I've been thinking of a new fin for my 9'2'' log, might check it out! thanks!

[anthonymichaeltriola]

Thanks for this one! Kind of inspired to try that Knost fin. Today though I moved mine up in the box, as you did a few Vlogs ago. I concur, at least with a larger pivot fin, that it seems to not sacrifice very much stability and maybe loosened things up a bit too! It felt good. Awesome vlog as always!

[tylermorris]

I have that same exact alex knost fin, and love it, but i did also enjoy the 10 inch hatchet i had

[briandiller]

GREAT video. As someone who does performance turns I've always liked the 2+1 (with True Ames cutaway fin) because you can turn well on the rail like a shortboard. But I may buy that CJ nelson for small days I want to try nose riding.

[ichorousmedia]

closeout floaters are the best because all that buoyancy makes them pretty easy to make, plus the fun of throwing all that board up there and the acceleration afterward

[NotAnAngryLesbian]

I surf Florida and my squirrel cutaway fin is my fav. I dont use side bites. My friends tell me its too loose for their taste but I love it.

[SkullKingSkate]

Interesting, I'm new to longboarding after short boarding for years and bought that Alex Knost fin with my first longboard. I was surprised at how easily the board turns but have been struggling with cross stepping so might be time to try a bigger fin.

[ShaneOConnorRec]

good choice of two fins to try out. I personally ride the 10.75" CJ california pivot as my primary pivot fin.

I am noticing much improvement on your overall flow and confidence walking the board. It may have been wave choice/ time of day/ or just happenstance, but it looked like the Knost fin was working better for you. the 4A style template may have allowed for more maneuvering to get in the pocket for tighter noserides. Take it with a grain of salt.

I ride both styles in a variety of surf conditions. It helps to change it up, and get a new perspective. That is how we grow as surfers

[Thestripper]

Please do a test with the Greenough stage 6. It's the coolest looking fin out there. But is it also good? Some swear by it...

[markumbers]

Very timely. After 40 years I recently bought my first nose rider and it wobbles about when on the nose because the rails are so soft. Some of the better nose riders use hatchet fins so I will definitely get one this week. Thanks for this, all of my other longboards have hard rails near the tail and are set up for performance.

[williamjoyner]

🤦🏾it was cold at ocean city last Sunday and I wasn’t ready for it 🥲 time to throw this wet suit on 😭 nice video as always ✨

[bobby__biggs]

I've got a CJ noserider fin, best fin I've used in my log. Used to be a 4A guy, but the nose riding capabilities of the CJ fin is next level. Just wait till you get it on a lined up point break!

[stiffjalopy]

I hope CJ is giving you a kickback, ‘cause you’re seriously moving some product! Been toying with the idea of a pivot fin for my 9’6”, and this vid made me think why not? Just clicked buy.