Wild Things – Surfboard fins for the Summer

With summer fast approaching, it’s just about time to dust the cobwebs off the mini mals and longboards which have been sitting in the shed over the colder months. The thruster fins that have tided you over during the winter swells won’t do you a whole lot of good in the softer summer surf, and if you’re looking for new fins for your longer boards then you could do a lot worse than Wild Things. Here’s everything you need to know about the fins produced by this small, Aussie-based company, as well as what else they offer.

Who Are Wild Things?

It’s a tale as old as time – the local surf business that started up in the back of a warehouse, before gradually going on to bigger and better things. Wild Things was no different. Their warehouse was, in their own words, derelict, and in the back streets of Sydney. They’ve since relocated to Byron Bay, where they produce their fins as well as a range of other surfing products they sell, including boards, wetsuits and other accessories.    

Since moving to Byron Bay they’ve also branched out into a number of other areas, most notably sharing studios with a wide range of creatives. They’ve got designers and artists working there, while they also showcase art, photography and music, among other things. On top of that, they host parties! Recently, they had much-loved Californian surf rockers Allah Las playing there, so if you’re in the area keep an ear to the ground for these events.

Wild Things Fins

Wild Things have a pretty straightforward action plan for their extensive range of fins – ‘to build functional fins at an affordable price using premium materials’. The fins they offer have been developed and refined over many years, and in their selection it’s relatively easy to find something suitable for you and your board, both because of the breadth of their range and the versatility of each individual fin.

Each and every one of their fins is offered in volan, which is a type of finish which makes these fins better than the standard E-glass or moulded fins. With this finish, there is a higher ratio of fiberglass to resin, which means that the fins flex from top to bottom, rather than just at the tip, and this in turn can help to improve your drive in the water.

Wild Things have fins of all shapes and sizes suitable for all conditions, but a lot of them are much more suited to longer boards. Their ‘Log Fin’ is one example, described as a ‘truly versatile fin designed to deliver stability when noseriding without compromising drive through turns’. For deep, drawn out turns you’ve got the 10.5” ‘High Aspect’, while the ‘Speed Fin’ is ideal for those who want a little bit of everything. The ‘Seventies Single’ is more suited for mid-sized boards for those looking for manoeuvrability in smaller conditions, while the KYE is great for generating drive and power in boards between 6’6” and 8’0”.

At Southern Man, we stock KF1 and KF2 sidebites. The first of these is the larger of Kye Fitzgerald’s side bites concept, coming in at around 4.56” and best paired with a single fin of around 6.25”. This one is great for small to medium waves and ideal either for those looking to surf single fins for the first time, or to create a bit of a looser feel to their traditional fin setup.

The KF2, in contrast, is a lot smaller at 2.88”, and is better suited to longer single fins – somewhere in the 7-8” range. This one is recommended to be used in boards from 6’6” to 8’0”, and will help to maintain a bit of extra stability in critical sections while not detracting from the benefits of a single fin setup. 

Other Wild Things Products

As mentioned, though their fins are something they’ve focused a lot on developing, there are various other surf-related products you can buy through Wild Things. Their surfboards are the most significant of these; they’ve got a unique range of alternative boards, with up to 60 of them in stock at any one time. Long, short, mid-sized – they’ve got it, and there are plenty of non-traditional shapes in here too. 

On top of that, they do wetsuits for all seasons, from full winter suits through to summer springers and jackets. You can also grab your surf accessories from Wild Things, with deck grips, leashes and board bags all a part of their selection of products.

Wild Things is a smaller Aussie brand that many surfers may not have heard of, but they are certainly worth checking out. Their fins in particular can be a great addition to your summer quiver, so if you’re in the market for a new skeg or two, take a look at what Wild Things have to offer.