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What are twin fins good for?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 08, 2026

Blake Peters: Twin fins have great speed and flow and its a different style of surfing in general; a little more graceful and less aggressive. Twins are great if you are surfing somewhere that has a point break or a wave that lets you run and gives you some open face.

What are twin fin surfboards for?

Ideal Twin Fin Surfboard Conditions

Twin fins are perfect for big, hamburger waves that break slowly and weakly, but note that they will feel a little hard to control in steep, powerful waves. By lacking a middle fin, you face the chance of the surfboard slipping out in the most critical sections of the barrel/pocket.

Is a twin fin hard to surf?

Your twin has around 10-15% more volume than your allround shortboard (you can surf it with the same amount of volume, but why would you?). That should make it very easy for you to paddle and catch waves. As it has very little rocker, you need to get used to that in your take off first.

Are twin fins good for intermediate surfers?

Combined with some XL Mark Richards fins, this board became the best board I have ever ridden. I'm now a firm believer that a twin fin is a must for every surfer. And to me, there is nothing better for an intermediate level surfer. Most of us are not surfing steep, barreling waves every day.

How does a twin fin feel?

In general, a twin fin will feel extremely loose and free. The parallel fin placement and the larger size of the fins (compared to standard tri-fin setups) will allow for style-oriented high performance, rail to rail surfing with extreme manoeuvrability in both small and big, mushy waves alike.

24 related questions found

What is the best twin fin?

For those looking for heaps of drive, speed and those classic, drawn out turns, the Keel Fin Twin is a great option. Great for smaller wave surfing and perfect for traditional twin fin fishes the keel is a great introduction to twin fins and will set the board apart from the rest of your quiver.

What size twin fin should I get?

So if you're looking to get a fish surfboard the best rule of thumb is 2-6 inches shorter than your shortboard. Now if you're getting a fish as your first "shorter" board than go a little meatier. This is accomplished in either a thicker surfboard or longer board.

Are fish surfboards good for small waves?

The other great thing about a fish surfboard is that they perform really well in smaller waves. This is pretty important when you are just starting out. You don't want a board that will only work in 6 foot plus waves!

Where do you put twin fins on a surfboard?

You want the fins slightly behind your rear foot for a twin set. Somewhere around 7" - 7.5" up from the tail is a good place to put the trailing edge of the twin fins. For keels you want them back another inch since they have longer bases so 6" - 6'5" up from the tail.

Can you surf a fish in big waves?

It is possible to surf your normal board in fat waves. BUT it's a lot of work! This wave would be so much fun on a Fish. To get more planning area, you can surf a bigger board, a Mini-Mal or Longboard for example.

What makes a surfboard a fish?

The fish in today's terms could have 2, 3, or 4 fins. What makes a fish surfboard so fun and unique is that it combines a few highly beneficial elements. It combines compact volume in a short template, wide tail width, and stability of a squash tail and the rail control of a pintail.

Should I get a twin fin?

Blake Peters: Twin fins have great speed and flow and its a different style of surfing in general; a little more graceful and less aggressive. Twins are great if you are surfing somewhere that has a point break or a wave that lets you run and gives you some open face.

What is a twin pin surfboard?

“The Twin Pin is a sexy, versatile twin-finned pintail collaboration between Britt Merrick and one of the world's most stylish surfers, Mikey February. The two wanted to create a board that had all the fun twin feels but enough hold and projection to free you from ever wishing for a third fin or trailer.

Can you learn to surf on a fish?

For the beginner surfer transitioning from a foamie to a hard board, the fish is an excellent option. The fish provide beginner surfer attributes such as great for all ages, ease of use and stability in the water, and versatile for small to medium sized waves.

How do I choose a single fin?

How to size single fins? It is best to size your single / longboard fin relative to your board size. A generally accepted rule of thumb is to use the same size fin (in inches) as the length of your board (In feet) so for a 9ft board you would use a 9ft single fin.

What is fin Rake?

The sweep, or rake, is how far the front edge of a fin arcs backwards. Rake or sweep angle is a measurement that determines how far back the fin curves in relation to its base. Fins with a small rake (large offset) help propel the board, are very stable and predictable but are not ideal for making sharp fast turns.

Can you duck dive a fish surfboard?

The duck dive is usually done with shortboards, hybrid boards or small “fish” type surfboards. It's usually better to turtle roll when trying to pass the break with a bigger surfboard.

What is an egg surfboard?

An egg surfboard is a type of funboard: a mix between a long board and a short board. Eggs get their name from their rounded, egg shaped nose and their short, almost stubby size. While it is not quite as round as an actual egg, its ovular shape gives it a distinct look.

Should I ride a fish surfboard?

Fish surfboards are ideal for slower, smaller waves, or mushy conditions. These boards are really versatile and can be used in all kinds of small to medium-sized waves. They are stable and have more volume than a regular shortboard. Some skilled surfers even ride their fish boards in hollow, overhead conditions.

Is surfing a fish hard?

Catching a wave on a fish surfboard isn't much different than catching one on a long or shortboard. The only real difference you should notice is that it might be a little harder to paddle into the wave than it was on the longboard.