Surf fins are a key piece of equipment for surfers. They attach to the rear of a surfboard and provide drive and stability while riding waves. Most modern surf fins have sharp trailing edges and pointed tips. This leads many surfers to wonder – can I get cut by my surf fins? Here is a quick overview:
Yes, surf fins can and do cut surfers somewhat regularly. The fins are fairly rigid and made of hard materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, or hard plastics. The trailing edges and tips are often left sharp to improve performance. This leaves exposed edges that can cause lacerations when collided with a surfer’s body. Most cuts occur on the legs or feet when a surfer gets up/falls off their board. Minor cuts commonly occur but more serious lacerations are possible as well. Surfers should take care to avoid contact with fins wherever possible.
How do surf fins cut surfers?
There are a few ways surfers typically get cut by fins:
– Catching a fin with your leg or foot when getting up/falling off the board
– Jumping off board and landing directly on top of fins
– Fins on another surfboard colliding with you in the lineup
– Dragging a hand or arm across fins while paddling or wave riding
– Fins on the beach getting stepped on by bare feet
– Loose fins in a board bag stabbing a hand reaching inside
The vast majority of fin cuts happen on the legs or feet when a surfer’s body comes into direct contact with the trailing edge or tips of the fins during takeoffs or wipeouts. This often occurs when the rider’s foot slips off the pad and slides backwards as they pop up, dragging their heel or ankle across the fins. Similarly, cut feet can happen when bailing a wave and your feet hit the fins on the way off the board.
Other cuts tend to happen less frequently but are still possible – like landing directly on your own fins during an air attempt, getting hit by another surfer’s fins in a collision, dragging a hand across the fins while paddling or turning, or stepping on a fin laying loose on the beach or in a board bag.
How serious can fin cuts be?
Most fin cuts are relatively minor. Small nicks, scrapes, and lacerations that bleed some but can be effectively treated with basic first aid. However, more serious cuts can happen as well:
– Large lacerations – Long gashes many inches in length. These occur when a fin slices along a large section of skin and require advanced treatment.
– Arterial bleeding – If a fin slices a critical artery, it can result in dangerous bleeding that is difficult to control.
– Infection – Bacteria on fins can enter deep cuts and cause local infection or even sepsis without proper care.
– Tendon/nerve damage – Deep lacerations that sever important structures like tendons or nerves under the skin. This may require surgery.
– Amputation – In the most extreme cases, a fin strike could potentially amputate a small digit if conditions were just right. But this is exceptionally rare.
Though major fin injuries aren’t common, their potential should be respected and proper precautions taken. Even a medium laceration in a vulnerable area that won’t stop bleeding can be serious if not treated.
What factors make cuts more likely?
Some conditions make getting cut by fins more likely:
– Sharp fin edges – Fins kept razor sharp cut easier. Many surfers prefer sharper fins but this increases laceration risk.
– Damaged/cracked fins – Old fins with cracks/damage develop sharp burrs and edges that can badly tear skin.
– High performance fins – Smaller, more rigid fins used on high performance boards can cut worse due to less flex and blade vibration.
– Overlapping fins – Some fin configurations overlap each other and create more exposed blade edges close together, upping risk.
– Jumping towards shore – Landing airs facing towards shore puts feet/legs at high risk of contacting fins during splashdown.
– Messy shorebreak – Crashing and washing around in shorebreak wave turbulence makes hitting fins more likely.
– Poor fin installation – Fins that stick out excessively from rail or don’t sit flush to board can protrude more and hit body easier.
– Freediving fins – Doing freediving or spearfishing dives with blades on puts unprotected hands and feet at high risk when diving.
– Tight leg rope – Leg rope wrapped too tight to leg allows less mobility of feet and can cause more rail collisions.
Can fin cuts be prevented?
Yes, there are things surfers can do to significantly reduce their risk of getting cut by fins:
– File down sharp fin edges and points – Blunting dangerous edges and tips drastically reduces laceration potential.
– Use flexible fins – More flexible materials like softer composites and rubbers flex on impact to prevent slicing.
– Install fins carefully – Ensuring fins are properly installed flush with board rail eliminates protrusions.
– Avoid damaged fins – Inspect fins regularly and replace any with cracks, chunks missing, bent blades, etc.
– Keep rockers out of sand – Fins retained their sharp shape longer when kept from grinding in the sand during beaching.
– Wear booties – Neoprene booties protect feet and ankles during contact with fins in most cases.
– Take care getting up/falling – Be mindful of fin position when popping up and bailing to avoid contact.
– Retract fins for freediving – Only deploy fins during active kicking portions of dives and keep retracted at other times.
– Use fin guards – Plastic fin guards can be deployed when doing activities with high fin contact risk like jumping or shorebreak.
– Consider safety fins – Less performance oriented fins optimized for safety are available from some brands.
What should I do if cut by a surf fin?
If you do happen to get cut by your surfboard fins, here are some tips on dealing with it:
1. Get out of the water and clean the wound immediately with clean fresh water, ideally dilute saline solution, to help avoid infection. Even seawater can cause problems in deep cuts.
2. Carefully assess the wound severity. Look for deep penetration, heavy bleeding, long lacerations, arterial bleeding, or any other signs a major laceration has occurred.
3. For minor cuts, apply pressure to stop bleeding, cleanse again, and bandage. Antibiotic ointment can help prevent infection. Seek medical care ifworrisome symptoms develop.
4. For more serious lacerations, immediately seek advanced medical attention – urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room, depending on severity. Deep cuts often require sutures and diligent infection control under doctor supervision.
5. Keep the wound area elevated as much as possible to reduce swelling and throbbing pain. But don’t block any problematic bleeding.
6. Take over-the-counter medications like NSAID pain relievers and avoid using the affected area excessively in the days following. Keep the cut clean and watch for signs of infection like redness, heat, worsening pain, fever or pus discharge. Seek care promptly if these arise.
7. Comply with all doctor recommendations diligently in the recovery period. Take prescribed antibiotics fully and allow adequate healing before surfing again. Serious cuts may require weeks of rest.
How can I choose safer surf fins?
If you want to proactively reduce fin cut risk, consider choosing surf fins optimized for safety:
– Prefer flexible rubber or soft composites over harder materials – they flex on impact instead of cutting.
– Select fin options with blunted trailing edges from some major manufacturers like Futures Fins.
– Use glass-on fins instead of harder bolt-on fins – they release easier when impacted.
– Choose larger fin sizes – they tend to use less rigid blade materials and construction.
– Buy fins advertised for beginners – these often prioritize safety and durability over pure performance.
– Look for twin fin options – fewer total blades reduces areas of exposure.
– Consider fin wings or other alternative trailing edge shapes with less sharp edges.
– Prioritize quality construction from reputable brands – Avoid cheap fins with potential manufacturing defects.
– Inspect fins regularly for damage and replace older fins that develop cracks, Chips or deformities that increase cutting risk.
Conclusion
Surfboard fins can and do cut surfers fairly often. Most cuts are minor nicks and lacerations but more serious cases are possible as well. The rigid materials and sharp edges leave exposed potential cutting surfaces. Staying mindful of fin position and taking care when contacting the board can prevent many cuts. Consider blunting sharp edges or using more flexible fins to greatly reduce laceration potential. If cut, properly clean and care for the wound to prevent complications like infection. While not an inevitability, fin cuts are a hazard every surfer should recognize and take reasonable steps to avoid. Paying some extra attention makes accidentally “fin-ishing” yourself much less likely.