Riding finless ROCKS!!

I am halfway through my second year of riding, and have finally gotten over a few major hurdles.

I have gotten a pretty good idea of how 'POP' feels, and can clear the wake every time pretty easily.

FINALLY, I removed the fins on my board, an O'Brien vision 140, and found that was the single best thing I have done to improve my riding!!! I highly recommend trying it at least once. I feel like I have so much more confidence now.

So my question is, as my riding improves (albeit baby steps) am i ok looking for a larger board next time around? Does riding finless affect how the board rides in the water?

I have noticed that because I need to edge harder without the fins, my rear foot and calf catches alot of water and at times it causes me to lose speed/Balance. Also, my Vision has those sharp 'tongs' on the ends, will that make the board ride lower in the water?

I am assuming that a larger board will help with that issue. I am 6 ft, 220 lbs, and my next board will be ( for the moment) an '08 O'Brien Natural 144, with '08 Zuess bindings. Should I just take the fins of when I get the board or not?

OK, thats alot of questions, but it is raining here, and what else can I do besides think about wakeboarding?

Sean

Don't put the center fin on the Natural, it tracks sweet without them!

please don't call them "finless."

Good point Joe, it's funny when a board with 8 molded in fins is called riding finless just because you take off the bolt on fins!

Joe, I agree, not exactly 'finless'. I am surprised how even with the molded fins, removing the removable fins makes a huge difference in how the board feels.

It is weird that even though the board is so much looser, it feels more stable??? Everyone I ride with has commented on how it has made a huge difference in my riding. I thought that I would need to be a much better rider before I would realize the advantages...

I don't think I will ever ride with them again.

Sean