Addikt said...

I have never tried riding a twin tip without the fins on, but the other day I was messing around in and doing like "rail slides" on the top of waves breaking as I was heading into the shore break, and felt the fins grabbing a bit and got to thinking that it would be better to have not fins to slide more but how does this affect going up wind ?

Can still go upwind with no worries. I just found when i was overpowered it was harder to keep an edge without fins. Good fun without, just pick your moments to go finless.
You can also try fitting your board with small fins, once the fins are outa the wter you'll be skatey.

Hi Addikt
I ride without fins all the time now. What I noticed when I first took them off were, the board felt a lot more skaty, but after about 10 minutes I changed my stance slightly and it then felt solid. The board felt faster as less drag. I could get more pop, but for boosting I think the fins helped hold it in a bit longer so could not get quite as much hight with sent jumps. I also noticed I had to land more accurately with my weight rite over the board.
Taking the fins off made no difference to upwind ability or light wind performance, In fact I think it forces you engage more of the rail. Upwind ability is about using the rail, fins only help with tracking and a lighter back foot will help here. I recon fins make a board easier to sail but almost detune it a bit if that makes sense.
So go for it take them off, but give it a couple of sessions to get used to it will feel different.

Addict isn't a skim board the result of fins being removed for more fun in light winds.
Positive reviews on skim boards for light wind / small surf conditions.

These Nobile boards have fins that simply click in and out, i take em on and off mid session , put em in my pocket.

bareback fo sho