FCS fin systems have been working in collaboration with the world’s most established surfers and shapers (Stretch Riddle, Tom Carroll and Simon Anderson) to refine and produce an incredibly diverse and dynamic quad/quattro fin system. Offering the most comprehensive range of fins on the market, FCS works with shapers to create fin combinations that complement their new boards.

The FCS system uses small plugs anchored to the deck and base for strength – a system that remains strong without interfering with the flex pattern of your board. This becomes particularly important in a quad or five plug set-up where four or five larger boxes could seriously impede your board’s flex properties.

“You can drop into a wave with greater security and slam the bottom turn with no risk of spin outs. You can run higher on a wall and deeper in the pocket than with a thruster,” says Bruce McKee.

Expert board shaper and inventor of the thruster, Simon Anderson, maintains that the thruster is still the supreme all round set up, but also reckons a four fin board in small waves is in a league of its own.

Stretch Riddle has worked with FCS to develop a five fin set to be released later this year that offers the option of using the board as a thruster or a quad. Stretch’s cambered foils were developed using a NACA foil in combination with theories taken from sailboard sails. With years of fin experience he foiled the first prototypes himself.

“Don’t think of it as a four fin… It is really a thruster with the trailing fin split and moved out on the rail. This eliminates the stalling that the center fin produces,” says Stretch.

FCS currently has a range of around 50 popular fins. With each fin set there are side and center fins, making 4950 possible combinations of quad fin sets. Available in 18 pre packaged quad sets using Glass Flex material, and Quad H-2 sets available for manufacturers. The Stretch, Simon Anderson and Tom Carroll quad fin sets will be available within the year.

Manufacturers also have the option to order any quad combination they desire. For a great resource on fin placements and fin combinations see Bruce McKee’s website: www.mckeesurf.com/brucemckee/quattro.htm.

For further information contact: www.surffcs.com

“For Me, the four fin configuration has opened a giant Pandora’s box! I now see the quad as a simple evolutionary step forward in the search for less drag and more hold through rail turns. Especially fast hard rail turns. At this stage the price comes in decreased pivot… as our beloved single fin does so happily in the pocket but naturally loses her way over on those hard rail applications… The journey is far from over – the many forms this can take in fin size and placement is overwhelming.” – Tom Carroll.