Twin fins are known for their ability to generate speed and provide a loose, skatey feel on the wave. Whether you’re transitioning from thruster setups or exploring a retro-inspired board, riding twin fins can open up a new world of style, speed, and flow in your surfing. Here are some essential tips for mastering twin fins and getting the most out of your sessions.

Embrace the Speed

One of the standout features of twin fins is their ability to generate and maintain speed, especially in smaller, weaker waves. Without the drag of a centre fin, twin fin setups allow for a faster ride, making it easier to stay in the pocket and keep your momentum through flatter sections of the wave.

Tips for Generating Speed:

• Stay High on the Wave: To maximise speed, focus on staying high on the wave face. By keeping your board closer to the lip, you’ll take advantage of gravity and maintain momentum as you glide down the line.
• Pump Efficiently: With twin fins, you can generate speed through quick, subtle pumping. Keep your body low and your weight centred over the board as you pump, using your back foot to drive the board and build speed.
• Trim and Glide: Unlike thrusters that rely on sharp, aggressive turns, twin fins are designed for more fluid, lateral movement. Focus on trimming and gliding through the wave, using the board’s natural speed to connect sections and keep your ride smooth.

Mastering the art of speed on a twin fin is about learning to trust the board’s ability to flow through the wave without constantly needing to pump or adjust your stance.

Focus on Smooth, Flowing Turns

Twin fins are best suited for flowing, rail-to-rail surfing. The lack of a centre fin provides less resistance in the water, allowing for smooth transitions and wider, more drawn-out turns. This opens up the opportunity to focus on stylish carves and graceful lines rather than tight, vertical snaps.

Tips for Better Turns:

• Commit to Your Rail: Twin fins excel when you use your rails to turn, so lean into your turns with confidence. Focus on engaging the rail early and holding it throughout the turn to create smooth, arcing manoeuvres.
• Use Your Hips and Shoulders: Twin fin surfing relies heavily on body movement, so make sure to lead your turns with your hips and shoulders. By opening your shoulders and rotating your torso, you can initiate fluid turns without overthinking your foot placement.
• Draw Out Your Lines: Unlike thrusters, which allow for sharp, vertical surfing, twin fins are all about drawing out your lines. Take advantage of this by planning wider, more open turns, especially on the face of the wave. This will help you maintain speed and flow through each manoeuvre.

Twin fins thrive in waves where carving and gilding take precedence over aggressive manoeuvres. The key is to embrace a looser, more flowing style of surfing that matches the board’s design.

Find the Right Waves

While twin fins can handle a variety of conditions, they perform best in small to medium-sized waves with clean, open faces. These types of waves allow you to take full advantage of the twin fin’s speed and flow, helping you maintain momentum and connect sections more easily.

Ideal Wave Conditions:

• Small to Medium Waves: Twin fins shine in smaller surf (2-4 feet), where the lack of a centre fin allows you to generate more speed on less powerful waves. The glide you get from twin fins makes these conditions feel more playful and fun.
• Point Breaks and Soft Beach Breaks: Look for waves with long, open faces. Point breaks and softer beach breaks offer the space you need to draw out your turns and showcase the smooth, flowing style that twin fins are known for.
• Avoid Hollow Waves: While twin fins can handle a range of conditions, they are generally not ideal for steep, hollow waves. The loose feel of the twin fin setup may cause you to lose control in tight, critical sections.

When selecting waves for twin fin surfing, look for spots where you can maximise speed and carve smooth lines down the face, rather than waves that demand sharp turns and vertical manoeuvres.

Adjust Your Stance and Weight Distribution

Riding twin fins requires some adjustments in your stance and weight distribution compared to thruster setups. Because twin fins have a looser, more skatey feel, how you position your body and distribute your weight can significantly impact your control and performance.

Tips for Proper Stance and Balance:

• Wider Stance: A slightly wider stance can help you maintain stability and control while riding twin fins, especially when transitioning through turns or pumping for speed.
• Shift Weight Forward: When generating speed or trimming along the wave, focus on keeping more weight on your front foot. This helps to maintain speed and flow, especially through flatter sections of the wave.
• Shift Weight Back for Turns: For tighter, more powerful turns, shift your weight to your back foot to engage the fins and drive the board through the turn. The key is finding a balance between front-foot speed and back-foot control.

By adjusting your stance and weight distribution, you’ll be able to make the most of the twin fin’s unique characteristics, such as speed generation and smooth, flowing turns.

Practice Patience and Flow

Unlike thrusters, where you might aggressively attack each section of the wave, twin fins require a more patient, relaxed approach. Twin fin surfing is about finding your flow, staying in rhythm with the wave, and enjoying the ride.

Tips for Improving Flow:

• Anticipate the Wave: Twin fins allow you to cover a lot of ground quickly, so anticipate the sections of the wave ahead of time. By planning your turns and positioning early, you can maintain a more graceful, connected ride.
• Be Fluid with Movements: Stay light on your feet and keep your movements fluid. Avoid jerky or aggressive turns, as these can disrupt the smooth flow that twin fins are designed to enhance. Let the board do the work and focus on effortless transitions.
• Style Over Aggression: Twin fins are about style, grace, and flow. Rather than attacking every section, focus on drawing long, stylish lines and enjoying the speed you can generate. Twin fins reward surfers who prioritise smooth surfing over aggressive manoeuvres.

Patience and flow are key to getting the best performance out of your twin fins. Once you find your rhythm, you’ll discover a new level of enjoyment in your surfing experience.

Experiment with Different Twin Fin Setups

There are several variations of twin fin designs, from larger, upright fins that offer more drive to smaller, keel-style fins that provide a looser, more playful feel. Experimenting with different fin shapes and sizes can help you find the right setup for your surfing style and the conditions you’re in.

Types of Twin Fins:

• Keel Fins: These are larger, more elongated fins that offer stability and down-the-line speed. Keel fins are great for retro-style boards like fish shapes, allowing for smooth, fast rides in small waves.
• Upright Fins: Upright twin fins are shorter and more vertical, providing quicker turns and more responsiveness. These fins are ideal for high-performance shortboards or more progressive surfing styles.

Experimenting with different twin fin templates will allow you to find the right balance between speed, flow, and manoeuvrability based on the waves and your style of surfing.

Riding twin fins is all about embracing speed, fluidity, and style. By adjusting your stance, focusing on smooth turns, and choosing the right waves, you can maximise the potential of twin fins and bring a whole new level of enjoyment to your surf sessions. Whether you're cruising down the line or carving up open faces, twin fins offer a unique and rewarding surfing experience that blends retro charm with modern performance.