After having such a good time in the OBX with the Miller-Poor duo I felt we had to make it happen over again but in another location. Wyatt was already on for a San Carlos week in October so we decided to join in by adding a super WAVE fin testing week on top of the wave camp.  Makani will make prototypes for sidshore wave riding fins and we will also had some special new wave weed fins for our collection 2013.

Come and join us and KEVIN TREJO our super host at SOLOSPORTS adventure is giving the MAKANI group a super special rate of $2500 including, food, gear, drinks.. did I say drinks !! And even flight from SAN DIEGO !!! 

Email us for details at sales@makanifins.com and act fast places are filling in fast !!! 

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Thanks to all the participants of the OBX weeks and all those who helped us make this amazing trip possible !

We have to give a special thanks to ANDY MCKINNEY from WIND NC who helped us so much with the in-store clinics and by giving us a hand planning the trip and activities. Also BRIAN KLAUSER from OCEAN AIR for hosting the challenge.. even if the wind did not show up ! Susan also for hosting the xx edition of the super Windfest at Frisco woods. We had a super fun time and everyone was stocked with the clinics and having PRO riders around !

And of course the crew present at the MAKANI house in Avon, Jon Sassone, Wyatt Miller, Tyson Poor, Pete Deckay, Louis Genest and the super energetic Sam Bittner !  Ohhh my god almost forgot super positive MIKE BURNS !!! thanks again for the super video 

Congradulation to MICH from Rhode Island for winning the TABOU pocket wave 2010 

Next year should be even better so book your last week of APRIL 2013 now !!!

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Hey guys,  So we’ve been going all out the past couple days testing the prototypes.  They’re both working really nice.  Jon and I both like the narrower based fin better.  It’s got more than enough grip in a straight line and still slides really nice.  It’s a dramatic improvement over the Naia for freestyle.  The one with the wider base was a little too sticky in the tricks.  The narrower fin was the first weed fin I’ve tried that I can keep planing through a double flaka on.   I also hit my first double spock today with that fin.   So we’re totally stoked with that narrower fin and I would say that’s the one I’d like to see in production.  Now I’m wondering what a fin with the narrower top section combined with the bottom section of the wider fin would be like.    So the tide was super low today, more so than normal because of the water being blown out of the sound from the 50-60 mph winds yesterday.  Anyway, I hit a rock at full speed with the fin I like the best.  The bottom inch or so of the fin is shot, so i’m gonna try taking a little off the bottom and back and see what happens.  Really though, you guys came up with a great design and I’m totally stoked to be using that fin.  Now I won’t mind having to switch to a weed fin!!!  I brought along the video camera to make a demo clip for you guys, but it’s hard to find people willing to film for a while when it’s below freezing.  I did get someone to take a few shots though.  Thanks again for everything,  Mike

WindFest pre -Schedule 2012

FRIDAY                                    APRIL 27             

MEET, GREET & REGISTER POOLSIDE  12 PM

LESSONS BY SAILWORKS/ROGER JACKSON  1 PM

CPT BILLY STARK KITE & WAKE BOARD DEMOS  TBA

PIG PICK/BB QUE DINNER  7 PM

BON-FIRE & GAMES  7PM

SATURDAY                                    APRIL 28             

LESSONS BY SAILWORKS/ROGER JACKSON  12PM

JIBE CLINIC with WYATT MILLER & TYSON POOR   1 PM

CPT BILLY STARK KITE & WAKE BOARD DEMOS      TBA

RACING & FREESTYLE COMPETITIONS    TBA

BON-FIRE  7  PM

RAFFLE/PRIZES FOR CONTESTS   TBA

NEW ENGLAND WS JOURNAL BOARD TOSS    8PM

SUNDAY                                    APRIL 29      

TBA

OBX Challenge

We are now working on a super event for next spring in OBX ! A long distance race and a freestyle JAM

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SCHEDULE (subject to change)

April 21

- 11 am skippers meeting at Ocean Air

-1 pm Long Distance race 3

- 4 pm Freestyle Jam Final

- 6 pm Super PARTY at Ocean Air – tickets will be available at ocean air (price tbd)

Freestylers already in the event are :

Tyson Poor, Wyatt Miller, Mike Burns,Chris Elridge, Jon Chachi Sassone, Andy McKinney, Loopee ... and more

Pro windsurf LA VENTANA will raffle 3 gift certificates

value of $150 each

Tshirts will be available for $25 each

makani fins tshirt OBX 2012

Hey guys,

Thanks again for everything,

weed fins

If the saying go big or go home works for sails well for fins the saying should be go small or go home !!! We get questions from all over the world from windsurfers who are unsure of the fin size they should use with a given board & sail size combination and 99% of users tend to go for a bigger fin to secure themselves from not making the terrible … SPIN OUT ;-((

Board companies now put very large fins on their boards so that in mag reviews when windsurfer read EARLY PLANNING its a sure seller.  We get used to those big fins and when its time to put a smaller one we fill unbalanced. Well the point in windsurfing is not only in planning early and by the way big fins do not mean always that you will plane earlier but it is also going fast and having fun with a lively board. Freestyle guys plane up VERY early with fins probably less then 1/2 the size of most fins out there. Technique is crucial !

Try going with a smaller fin on your boards and you will discover that with a smaller fin your boards will feel completely different and if you start spinning out work on your technique by changing your stance and your tunning. Knowing how to ride smaller fins will enhance your sailing and your fun on the water. Just ask a friend or a more experienced sailor a different fin and ride it with an open minded attitude for a few hours and experiment you wont regret it !

We just finished our designs of our quad fins set up for 2012. We worked with many different testers throughout the year with 4 different models.  We gathered all the feedback we got from users worldwide we have been able to make some very original designs. We will have a regular design for waves that will work in all conditions from on to side shore. We will also release the first set of weed quad fins with especially designed center fins and also thrusters to go along.

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Original designs needs original names -  THE WALU – derived from Hawaiian language and also a unique logo. The logo you can see below is by Philip from projet d’encre. Phil made us a unique fish design completely different from the first one he made with the KOI fin. A smoother look that fits with the smooth ride and precise carving the fin is designed for.

Now Claude from custom couture our legendary graphic artist who makes all the posters and apparel fro MAKANI will finish up with all the final touches …

Making fins might looks easy but its a long and precise work. We are not only make making fins that performs really well but also fine ones that look great to show everyone that for MAKANI attention to details is everything !

windsurfing quad fins