Randy Rarick Black Tip Fin

You may have seen a few out in your local lineup or on the roof racks at the parking lot post-surf. In either case, you’re aware of the Randy Rarick Black Tip fin and are curious to learn more. You may even be wondering where to buy one for your longboard. You’ve come to the right place. Below is a summary of the Black Tip fin from the innovator himself, along with a list of Oahu surf shops to order yours from.

Randy Rarick on the Black Tip Fin

“I always had a preference for fins with a lot of tip-flex to them, a lot like what George Greenough was riding. Greenough really changed surfing back in the 1960s, and he was an important figure in the longboard to shortboard transition era.

The idea with tip flex in the fin is to get a lot of projection out of a turn, and I wanted to figure out how to apply that concept to my North Shore quiver, including my two-plus-ones that I rode in sort of mid-range conditions, in addition to my tankers for nose-riding.

I connected to Futures Fins to see if together we could turn my vision into a reality. It was two-year process of development, but I am very happy with the end result - the Black Tip fin.

When looking at the fin, you can see where the carbon fiber was integrated into the top and bottom (the all black area) which moves the flex in the tip further down the thin (the translucent area) compared to traditional fiberglass fins which are really foiled out, and end up breaking down on the tip. The latter is not a concern for the Black Tip due to the carbon fiber design.

Futures and I first introduced a 7.5 inch fin, which is perfect for small single fins and two-plus-one setups. Soon after, we released an 8.5 inch fin, followed by a 9-inch fin, and rounded out the lineup with a 10-inch version for all of the logs out there. The 10-inch fin has been a best seller, especially on the North Shore in the summer and on the South Shore where at breaks such as Queens and Canoes (et cetera) longboarders are out in full force.

There really are no other fins offering this kind of tip flex, and the feedback has been tremendous. I love it when someone tells me that the biggest thing they notice is that when they go into a turn, the can feel the fin sort of loading up, followed by a springing sensation (the projection). This is what occurs with the patented tip-flex. It gives riders more snap out of their turns and loosens their boards up. For a two-plus-one it’s fantastic because it allows a rider to go shorter with their fin, meanwhile, when transitioning to a bigger board, a rider can jump up to the 8.5 inch fin. And as mentioned, the 9-inch and 10-inch options are idyllic for more traditional longboards and logs, loosening up the latter like no other fin on the market can do. The 10-inch is also ideal for nose-riders who may feel the sudden urge to ramp up performance with a sharp turn or climb up the lip for a floater, without getting stuck. With the Black Tip fin, I guarantee that you will surf better.” (Paraphrased from the Hawaiian South Shore YouTube video below)

Where to Buy the RANDY RARICK Black Tip Fin

At the moment, online orders and in-store purchases can be made via (online) or at (in person) one of the following local surf shops on Oahu:

Hawaiian South Shore

320 Ward Ave #112, Honolulu, HI

(808) 597-9055 (call to inquire)

Moku Surf Shop

2446 Koa Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 926-6658 (call to inquire)

Surfboard Factory Hawaii

2045 Lauwiliwili St Bldg 5 Ste 501, Kapolei, HI 96707

(808) 543-2145 (call to inquire)

Surf n Sea Haleiwa

62-595 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

(808) 637-7873 (call to inquire)