Proteck Performance Surfboard Fins

There are several ways to freshen up a new board. Stripping the wax, throwing on a new traction pad, and changing the fins around can help,but only the fin set up really changes the ride. It's fun to pop out the third fin and go "twinning" for the day, but if you like the firm feeling of a thruster, you really need to change the fin size or type to really change or improve a surfboard's ride. One interesting surfboard fin option comes straight from Pearl City, Hawaii. Surf accessory company Surfco claims its Proteck Flexible Performance Fins can really change a board's ride. Let's see.

What are Proteck Performance Fins?

Proteck fins are surfboard fins with flexible leading and trailing edges. They have a standard solid core, but the flexible edges are supposed to create a "rudder action" that mimics the movement of dolphins and sharks by providing a tighter and more fluid turn as the water pressure bends the edges. Also, the flexible edges offer the bonus of safety in reducing fin cuts.

It all sounds great, but do they work?

The Review

I popped out my standard FCS fins (Proteck fins will fit FCS, Future, O'Fish'l, Lokbox, Red X and longboard center boxes) and popped in the new Surfteck fins. I was skeptical that the subtle fin edge modification would make much of a difference in the performance of my 6'3" swallowtail. However, I did feel some difference in the projection of my turns. Actually, my wide swallow tri-fin is notorious for spinning out on hard turns (which is fun in small waves), but I found that the Proteck Flexible Performance Fins offered some traction and propulsion. Don't get me wrong, the surfboard performance level didn't drastically change, but the fins added some fresh energy right where where I needed it.

The actual flexing is not evident in the ride. Rather there is subtle tightening and feeling of added precision in my board's turning radius.

I tried the FCS 4.5" Shortboard Performance Fins for a full session, but in order to make the test valid, it was important to re-introduce the control group (my standard 5" FCS solid core fins). Again, I can state honestly that there is a difference between the Proteck fins and the Standard FCS fins.

These fins won't take you from Barney to Burrow, but they will definitely freshen up the performance of your old board if you are tired of the same old ride.