Smith / Parrish Full Base
The Smith / Parrish Full Base is a refined take on a classic ‘70s era single fin, but a bit more modernized.
The Fin
The Smith / Parrish Full Base is a refined take on a classic ‘70s era single fin, but a bit more modernized. Subtle adjustments make this fin a bit more dynamic, allowing for enhanced turning ability, hold, and drive in bigger waves.
This fin’s roots trace back to the North Shore in the ‘70s, when Charlie Smith–one of Haleiwa’s standout surfers–developed his reputation while riding Lightning Bolt surfboards shaped by Tom Parrish. Unlike most of Parrish’s team riders, Smith spent as much time in the shaping bay as he did in the water. The Smith / Parrish partnership / duo began, and their collaborative dedication to the craft of surfboard building and design has left a monumental impact ever since.
Held in high regard, the Smith / Parrish Full Base is a bit more progressive in its area distribution than other more classic single fin designs of the day. It has a little extra rake and hook in the tip as well as a slightly narrower base, meaning it will give you more maneuverability without sacrificing the amount of hold. This fin is made for Hawaiian power–think big bottom turns and long, drawn out carves on a solid day at Sunset Beach.
Extended tip and rake mean more drive and smooth maneuverability on waves with power
Great as a single fin for ‘70s performance single fin boards , and exceptional as the anchor for a 2+1
- Solid fiberglass construction, flat matte finish
Specifications
What people say
Traditional look and the feel of more fin in the water — less aggressive than cutaway models but still accessible to traditional longboard surfers seeking balanced performance rather than maximum maneuverability.
The Full Base tracks: the back of the board stays planted and the front is yours to work. This is the fin you reach for when you want to know your fin is there — built for cross-stepping and trimming, not pivot-happy response. Build your surfing around that hold and it makes complete sense; ask it to do something else and it'll tell you no.
A low-rake, high-hold single fin designed by Tom Parrish and Charlie Smith out of their mid-to-late-1970s North Shore collaboration during Parrish's Lightning Bolt years, refined through Smith's riding at Haleiwa. The template uses a narrower base and adjusted tip relative to classic single fins of that era, with minimal flex. It is manufactured by True Ames and available in three sizes, with the 6.5" and 7.0" suited as the center fin in 2+1 setups. Intended for traditional noseriders, Hawaiian-style single fins with pulled-in tails and flat rocker, and 2+1 longboards.