How to get less traction but still a deep, hard cut?

Alright so I haven't been active on here for about a year. Anyways, I remember everyone seeming to have a legitimate solution to just about any wake-related problem so I'll shoot at you guys.

I ride a 2013 Parks 139 with LF Bob boots from 2014. I weigh 160 pounds, 17 years old, trying to max out my progression right now. I can do Tantrums, scarecrows, 180's. But no 360 yet. Part of the reason I haven't tried them is because the Parks tracks SO hard, believe me.. there is no looseness in the board at all. The main pro in it is that you can a super deep cut. And I use that to my advantage because that's the way I ride. I have normal, 1" ramp fins from Ronix in the board right now. I'm wondering if I should shorten them up, or remove them, to find a difference. I rode on my buddy's Phoenix 137 the other day finless and it didn't cut hard enough to fit my riding, but the pro in that situation is that I would try handle passing spins with it since there didn't seem to be a daring edge to catch in that board. So I want my board to be more forgiving on the landings, the cuts, overall track less, but still hold enough traction to make a good cut so I get good air. Any suggestions?

Shorten them up. Does ronix make a .6" or .8" fins? I put smaller fins on my slingshot. It definitely loosened it up.

I would take them off altogether and work on edging versus using your fins to gain traction. The board will probably feel super loose at first but that is okay, if you working on progression this will help you understand the physics of how the wakeboard works on the water more. On a new set up I would suggest something with Molded fins and removable center fin. I know, I know, I always preach about O'Brien board but I bet you would love the way the O'Brien Decade rides without fins, fast aggressive but forgiving with the rolled center edge.

As for doing 3's on a board that tracks really had remember that, Pop, Pull, Rotate, Pass. Don't rotate off the wake. I hope this makes sense.

Originally Posted by andy_nintzel

I would take them off altogether and work on edging versus using your fins to gain traction. The board will probably feel super loose at first but that is okay, if you working on progression this will help you understand the physics of how the wakeboard works on the water more. On a new set up I would suggest something with Molded fins and removable center fin. I know, I know, I always preach about O'Brien board but I bet you would love the way the O'Brien Decade rides without fins, fast aggressive but forgiving with the rolled center edge.

As for doing 3's on a board that tracks really had remember that, Pop, Pull, Rotate, Pass. Don't rotate off the wake. I hope this makes sense.

This definitely makes sense. I feel like beginner setups are all oriented around that center fin though.. as for traction the center fin is over doing it in to a beginner level so the rider has to do less work. I'm just curious, should I learn 3's finless and then get them with fins in, or will the transfer be just awkward?

Just take the fins off like Andy said and learn to ride comfortably without them. I've been riding behind the boat a couple times lately. I use the same finless board I use on the cable and don't feel like my edging is a problem at all.

If the board is pretty much featureless on the bottom, i.e. no channels, then it may not be all that suitable for riding finless and either smaller fins or just another board is the way to go. But you can still get plenty of benefit from learning to control it without fins. Whether you choose to try the 3 is up to you. I leaned my first 3 on a surf style shaped board with a single fin in the back.