Surfing’s GOAT debuts something he’s obsessed over since his competition days: ultralight, universally compatible surfboard fins.
As far as modern surfing is concerned, there’s hardly a more energetic, iconic figure than 11-time world champ Kelly Slater.
Since his entry on the world stage more than 30 years ago, Slater played the part of the fierce athlete, actor — yes, we do mean “Baywatch” — environmental and mental health advocate, reality showrunner, the creative genius behind the wave machine, and, naturally, surfboard designer.
Although still mostly known for the records he set on the water, Slater began shaping his own surfboard fins decades ago. So it should come as little surprise that the sunbaked legend has spun up a specialty surfboard fin company.
“Most people who know me know how into fin design I am,” he posted to Instagram on Dec. 16. “So I’m excited to announce the launch of our new brand ‘Endorfins.’ ”
Endorfins Surfboard Fins
What might set Endorfins fins apart? Eco-friendliness, ultralight composition, universal compatibility, and setup options.
First, each fin uses the greenest technology and materials currently available. Reportedly, Endorfins are made of a recycled PET core that maximizes air cavities and absorbs zero water. The brand builds around this core with carbon fiber cloth, or “twill.” These carbon fiber inlays add strength and flex that enable them to be built with a core “comprised of 90% pure air,” claims the brand.
This is also why Endorfins fins are light enough to float and use a screw-in, hard-to-lose design. “We believe as surfers we have a responsibility to make fins as eco-friendly as possible and ensure we keep our ocean floor free from lost and broken fins,” Slater states on the website.
Designing the fins to float makes them easier to retrieve and, therefore, less liable to litter. The ultralight feature is also convenient to the surfer should one come undone or get dropped during installation. As Slater says, “Screw your fins, not your ocean.”
But the fins’ compatibility is perhaps their most competitive aspect. Endorfins will fit FSCII and Future boxes. Each set comes with a pair of adaptive screws that fit FSCII snap-in fin boxes.
At the time of writing, Endorfins come in quad, thruster, and twin/hybrid setups.
Kelly Slater’s Passion Project
Endorfins is 2 years in the making. But those familiar with Kelly Slater as a creator know that a fin-focused company has been a long time coming. In fact, rethinking the surfboard fin was a passion of Slater’s long before clothing and energy drinks.
While surfboard fins are unlikely to go down as Slater’s magnum opus — it’ll be hard to top his artificial wave machine — they may be his most personal project yet.
Endorfins ($130-190 MSRP) are available now on the Firewire Surfboards web store and through various brick-and-mortar retailers.
