Longboard House Squirrel Cutaway Fin 8″, 9″

Read this unsolicited article on the Longboard House Squirrel Cutaway fin by C4 Waterman team rider, Chip Bock.
 
From Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine.
 
“I have been surfing for most of my life. Like all of us, the search is not just for the magical perfect wave, but also for that magical perfect ride, that perfect equipment set up that makes every session better than the last, the set up that will lead you to nirvana whether you are in Hawaii, Figi, California or Lake Michigan; from 2 ft wave heighs to double overhead Surfings circle of the soul is complete when, and if, you find that magic set up. It brings confidence and pure pleasure knowing that you have exactly what you are going to need when you paddle out; regardless of whether the conditions change.
 
I have found my equipment Holy Grail, and Nate at SUPSURFMAG convinced me to share it with my stand up paddle brothers and sisters. It is called the Squirrel” Cutaway fin. It was created by the Longboard House and was designed by their own local, Mike Mann.
 
I have been surfing this fin on my nose riders, high performance long boards and everything in between for the past 10 years. It has proven itself in 2ft to 12ft, beach and point breaks, reefs and sandbars. It works equally well in a 2+1 set up as it does as a single fin. It is available from in 1 inch increments from 7 10 inches in a variety of colors.
 
Here is what a SC will do for your stand up paddle surfboard, or any other surfboard:
* It will knock 3ft off of the performance handling length of the board (a 106 will handle like a 76)
* Deliver snap and explosive speed off of your turns (be prepared to feel your SUP accelerate like a rocket)
* Head to the nose at ANY time and feel the tail stay put (even allowing you to pump and glide down the line from the nose)
* Turn, set a line and accelerate at a moments notice on the biggest waves (even when you may be late)
* Add glide and turning freedom you could only dream about.
 
The shape may look strange and certainly does not look like a competitive tool, but that all changes when you make your first drop, step out on the nose or lay your first cutback. The SC has won countless contests throughout the world and the podium is no stranger to those that have uncovered this gem.
 
Why does this funny fin work you say? This fin works purely by its design. The very narrow base (where the fin meets the board) allows water to release when you want the board to change direction quickly (and I mean lighting quick; can you say 360s). This same low drag at the fin interface to the board is what makes it so fast down the line (ever noticed the dimensional keel ratio of modern sailboats built for speed; small where it meets the hull for speed and quick tacking, large at the bottom for stability and drive). The large ball shape at the bottom of the fin is where the stability, drive and holding power comes from on heavy bottom turns at speed and when you are hanging ten over the nose. The narrow neck with the large ball shape at the end also allows the fin to flex and snap you out of your turns with tremendous acceleration; but with your complete control. Think of a dolphins tail when they whip it and how the snap of that large rear fin thrusts them forward at incredible speed.
 
The SC has it all and the best part is that it is in ONE fin. For most boards it works best run all the way forward in the fin box and in most cases you will never need to move it. The only minor adjustment to this is based on the relationship of the side bite fins to the center fin box on a 2+1 set up. You may not simply be able to just run the fin all the way forward, you may have to line it up in relation to the side fins. See the photo of my 2+1 set up in my C4 Waterman 106 vs. the box placement of the 2+1 set up on one of my McTavish longboard as an example. Sizing: Everyone has their preference, but the Squirrel Cutaway can actually be run smaller than expected without losing performance. I run an 8 in my 10'6 C4 Waterman SUP 2+1 set up; a 9 in my 9'8 single fin Nuuhiwa; an 8 in my McTavish 9' high performance boards 2+1 set ups and 9″ or 10 in my 12' single fin Laird stand up paddle surfboard. I will be experimenting soon with a 9″ and 10 in my 14' C4 Waterman Vortice race stand up paddleboard for down winders with the next swell, but I have not had the right conditions yet. So, the secret is out” …. Chip Bock
 
What more can I say ? Thanks for the feed back Chip !