TMC

The Thompson Modern Classic (TMC) takes a traditional upright-twin and combines it with cutting-edge fluid dynamics.

Most fins that use modern foils just focus on generating more lift, but you don't get extra lift without creating more drag. This design takes the opposite approach, we've focused on ensuring they feel fast, by reducing drag and unwanted lift when you're moving through flat sections or down-the-line. 

We do this by twisting the base of the fins inwards to align them better to what surfing is only just now learning about the water-flow under our boards. The gradual twist we are using is inspired by the European windsurf community and fin-designers like Bouke Becker and Hans Robeers. 

Next, we added a high lift, low drag glider-style foil at the base. The foil on these fins was designed using extensive two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) testing. We started with the traditional flat-sided foil found on standard fins at this size and reworked those characteristics into a lower drag design with a big influence from MIT Professor and aerodynamics legend Mark Drela.

The foil features a thicker more rounded leading edge for a little more hold and drive through turns - or lift at high angles of attack to use the technical language.

The bottom half of these fins are set at a hyper-drivey five degrees of cant, while the top is at 7.5 degrees.  This is a trick for generating more lift in the last part of your turns which we started experimenting with after getting the go-ahead from Futures' founder Vince Longo.

Where our take is a little different is we've combined it with a modern version of the concave taper George Greenough and Bob McTavish have been using on their fins since they first started studying Tuna-tails in the 60s. The result is a smoother and more subtle change in cant that allows the tips of these fins to deliver flex and twang through turns.

The TMC will only work in boards where the boxes are set at 3/16" (2.4 degrees) or above. This is because they have 2.3 degrees of toe-in twist. If you have a board with a lower toe-in setting - where the fins are set straighter - the tips will be running too straight along your board - or worse - pointing outwards and slowing you down. Ask your shaper what your fins were set at if you're not sure, or reach out and we'll help you work it out.

These fins are precision CNC routed out of G10 which has twice the fibreglass to resin ratio of standard polyester or epoxy panel. The resin is then cured at high temperatures instead of using catalyst, making it harder and more durable. The extra stiffness also lets the relatively thin tips stay engaged through high pressure turns.

The TMC can be ridden with a trailer but they're big enough to stand up to most conditions alone.

Specifications

Height: 5.4"

Base: 5.03"

Area: 20.7"

Cant: 5 degrees at the base, 7.5 at the tips

Toe-in-twist: 2.3 degrees