Wakeboarding and Wakeskating?

Question

I have wakeboarding for awhile now but i have never used fins on my board. Do pros use fins on there boards or do they go without them. And if they use fins how can they do surface 180's.

Answer 1

It depends on the rider. Some pros don't use fins and some do.

About the surface 180s with fins on; it isn't hard after you do it a few times. Pull the rope towards your stomach and then your board will start to slowly do a 180. When this starts to happen, then use your hips and feet to spin faster while still pulling on the rope.

I use fins and am able to cut really fast and do a surface 180.

Answer 2

some pros use fins and some do not, it is just there personal preferance.....as for the surface 180s i don think the fins affect it, because i use fins and i can do one

Answer 3

With fins, it depends on the rider, the board, and the style/type of riding you're going for.

Over the last few years, boards that have built in "channels" and such have lessened the need for fins.  How you ride will dictate if you like these boards or not.  Personally, I like to carve at the wake as if I'm on a slalom ski, leaning hard and moving fast.  I MUST have fins, and I use giant 3"ers on both ends to keep my board in the water when I carve that hard. Some take a much more gradual and subtle approach to the wake and don't mind the looser feel of the fin-less boards.  

I also appreciate the fins when I come down a little off axis, as they help me to keep the board underneath me when I'm not quite on top of it as I hit the water.

Surface tricks vs big air, grinds and such vs...... big air.  depends what you're going for.  Of course, the pros out there catch amazing air with or without fins, so who knows:-)