Fast slalom board fins for 7.5m sail?

I am definitely in need of a faster fin for the 7.5m sail for Burrum, as that is out of my range of experience and my quiver.

72 KG/177cm sailor.

I am assuming weed in not a factor up there.

I am also assuming flattish water, so control in chop is not a factor. Recommendations of models and sizes that have proved fast for you beam and broad reaching on a 100L to 110L slalom board?

Thanks.

No weed to worry about there... for my 7.8 I'd usually run my C3 Viper 38, but because it's not as choppy I'd run C3 Venom 34 or 36

Lets hope the barge is still going to be there... most of us throw a few fins, boards and sails on it... besides the flat water having the "caddy" is awesome

If you're looking for fast G10 fins get either a C3 or Tectonics. Last couple of years my friends and I've been spending a lot of time getting the max speeds out of our 68 wide and 7.8 setup. We've used C3 Venom's and Sting II's and Tectonics Talon and T43 in 38 and 40 cm lengths. Both the Sting II and the T43 came out as the fastest fins. With these fins we regulary do 35,5+ AVG with 37+ 2 sec. Fastest sessions are around 37kn AVG with 39+ kn 2 sec with both fins.

Lately we switched to Z-fins SF S. These reach the same speeds as the T43 and Sting II but do it in lesser wind and with greater ease. Fastest session with the Z-fins so far is 38,4 kn AVG with a 39,7 kn 2 sec.

So if you're looking for the most bang for your bucks get a T43 or a Sting II. If you got money to spend get a Z-fins SF!

Boards used:
PD Slalom 110, 115 and 115 V2
JP Slalom VII 68, Slalom X 68
Fanatic Falcon 111

Sails used:
Loft Racing Blade 7.8 '12/'13/'14/'15
NP RS Racing Evo 4/5/6/7

Both my friends and I are in the 95-100 kg range and we're all above 190 cm tall. I must say it does require a lot of leg pressure on the fin to get these high speeds. The trick is to build up as much pressure half wind as you can fysically handle.

Try to put as much pressure on your back leg and tilt the board slightly to the starboard side. At the same time start loading up the sail close to overpowered (trim with quite some backhand!). You should now have quite some tension on your body only thing left is wait for a gust. When the gust hits it should give you the feeling you're about to be catapulted over the nose of the board. At this point enter the slingshot and slightly open up the sail to keep as much pressure as possible. As long as you have pressure in your sail you can broaden your course. The moment you start loosing pressure on your back hand slightly decrease the angle you're sailing to the wind to keep the power.

Here are some GP3S sessions with the speeds we've reached:

www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=forum&forum=2&val=41291 (no. 1, 2 and 4)

www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=forum&forum=2&val=86514 (no. 1, 2 and 3)

www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=198062&uid=480

www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=159944&uid=435

If you checkout both Michel Meijers, Sander van Huizen and my session logs you'll find multiple 35+ kn sessions with big board/sail combo's.

Ps. you don't need to be a heavy/ tall guy to reach these speeds ;) Our buddy Richard wo is nearly 20 cm shorter and 20 kg lighter regullary pushes his PD 115 and Loft Blade 7.8 to 34+ kn!
www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=192286&uid=1683

Daffy have you got a KA 23 symmy? If you're going off the breeze it will stick enough. I've used a 7.1 with that fin and so long as you go broad and powered up it's blisteringly fast. 41knots on my 91 lt slalom at Sandy once.

If Burrum is tighter to the wind then something around 30cm is about right for your weight and board size. A Tribal carbon SL2 or C3 Viper would do well. I have both. The C3 is stickier and faster when moderately loaded but the SL2 outperforms the C3 when loaded up. Just slipperier and a better foil all round.

The course @ Burrum is mostly tight. Powerful fins work best. Doesn't need to be an expensive fin. The select S1 slam works a treat. 33-35 cm

Hi Andrew

you probably already have a good idea of what fin to get, so hope you don't mind me chipping in with a few last minute comments.

100-110 litres, Im guessing 60-65cm wide?? And i think you have an is87 already, so the 7.5m would be just for light winds only. (Also guessing).

If it is for light winds, I'd stuck with bigger fins around 35 to 38cm. G10 are great in the rough, but carbon (for me) feels much more lively in light winds.

I don't think you will be disappointed any the fins listed below and all potentially very fast.

G10 fast fins:
tectonic talon and T43 (same as talon but thinner)
C3 Venom and Sting11
Black project type R. Type RS and Type S.
select S1 G10.

Carbon:
Select V-max and Rhino Slam
F-hot
Z-fins

ive tried most if those fins (except the Z fins and BP fins) all good, but I do prefer my F-hours. I Have full set of F-hot slalom fins so maybe I'm just very used to them! I also have a few of Boogies old carbon Z and D fins from 28cm to 35cm, I didn't pay much for them, but they are still great fins. 37k peak on an 8.6m and 35cm fin. I wish boogie was still making the old Z fin, very very fast.

just my 2 cents worth

Brad you are right, I use Select S1 and Select V/MAX all the time at Burrum and found then to work great and select Hot Rods for my speed boards.

Daffy,

I have a bit of a lead back foot and hence used to use a bigger fin than others for the same sail size. I have recently been working with some success on my technique to gain speed first before trying to point upwind and as a consequence am using smaller fins. Currently I use a BP R 35 with my KARace 7.1 and BP R 37.5 with my KARace 7.9.

You're lighter and have much better technique, the 34 C3 Venom should work well with your 7.5. I'm going to try the next size down again for each sail (32.5/7.1 and 35/7.9) with the BPs to see if they work in flat water.