The new K4 Fins didn’t immediately rock our world.

We have to admit, at first glance Steve Thorp’s new K4 Fins didn’t immediately rock our world. Aimed squarely at the multi-fin market, they just looked like a budget alternative to a pair of G10 foils. OK - and potentially a much cheaper option for filling up a quad. Fair enough, we thought… Look a little closer, and the plastic / fiberglass composite material isn’t just a price thing. Having spent decades chasing ever-stiffer fin materials for optimum performance, expensive G10 might actually turn out to be too stiff for a quad. Surfers only ever use them for straightlining big waves. But for grip through the bottom turn and snap off the top? Plastic composite every time. But surely it must mean compromising performance for price? We all know plastic fins are way too soft to work properly, right? The stiffer the better – that’s why we pay top dollar for G10 nowadays. However, we’re talking multi-fins here, which are much shorter lengths – hence a softer fin will have less chance to bend. And actually, if multi-fin surfboard wisdom is to be believed, it turns out that a bit of flex could be our friend after all… K4 fins are a unique innovation in windsurfing. Simply put they are different. Something we can all relate to is that 'of course, why wasn't it like that before' feeling. K4 answers that question and in doing so has opened up another page in windsurfing's progression book. K4 fins are all about phat twins, tri's and quads. The new technology isn't appropriate for the longer single fins. The K4 multi-fin shapes, design, and innovation has come from water time. There is no better way to develop a product then trying it out with some good old fashioned, decent, water time. Coupling this with science and know how has culminated to something ground breaking. We talk about the fins being 'ground breaking'. What are we on about? The truth is as always in the pudding but.... In short.... When powering around the fins flex from the tip down. When Jumping and general sailing you feel the fins under the foot complimenting your movements. When heading up-wind you feel the fins flex and work with the power your putting through them. When landing they again flex and work with you, rather then against you! Waveriding is where the fins really excel. In your bottom turn the flex of the fins allow you to drive them hard and fast. As you're going through the bottom turn and your speed starts to drop off the fins give you something back. All that 'stored' enerygy from the flex is given back to you when you need it most. In doing so you don't get stuck through your turn. You can power all the way through to the lip and smack it at full velocity.  We think Graham Ezzy hits the nail on the head: "The flex allows me to go more vertical and hit later lips. Instead of getting stuck in the curl,  I can push on top of it and get more projection. Super cool." So, the million-dollar question (or rather, the 65,00 euro per pair question…) do they actually work for windsurfers? Well, Andy King, James Cox, Oisin Van Gelderen and Rich Potter are already riding them and early indications seem very positive indeed. The fins apparently hold grip better through the top turn, with negligible difference in straight line performance. We have a pair of twins on their way to Boardseeker HQ, so stay tuned for a full test as soon as we’ve got to know them better… Graham Ezzy on K4 fins!   Check Graham in action on the K4 fins below… http://vimeo.com/19289219 Name: Graham Ezzy Favourite spot: Hookipa, Hawaii Regular spot: Hookipa, Hawaii Weight: 180 lbs (77Kg) Board & Sizes used: Wave 83L quad fin Sails used: Ezzy 5.0, 4.7, 4.5, 4.2 Fins used: 9 in the front, 14 in the back. Tips on fin set up: For the quads, smaller fins in the front What do K4fins bring to the table for you?  Slashy vertical turns! WEB link: www.surf-matic.com Τα Κ4 Fins τώρα διαθέσιμα στην ελληνική αγορά από την  www.WindRider.gr Χtreme Watersports Χperts & Center από το 1978