Al Merrick Fins: The Revolutionary Design That Changed Surfing Forever

The Legend Behind the Design

Al Merrick is one of the most influential shapers of all time. The brains and talent behind Channel Islands Surfboards—arguably the most popular and successful surfboard brand of the 1990s and early 2000s, if not all time—Merrick was a pivotal force in the refinement of the modern high-performance shortboard and built boards for many of the best surfers in history.

Champions Who Trust Al Merrick

His team of riders included the enigmatic multiple world champ Tom Current, 11-time world champ Kelly Slater, four-time world champ Lisa Anderson, outspoken goofy-foot talent Bobby Martinez, and Dane Reynolds (whom many people considered to be the greatest talent of his generation).

Current team riders include Michael February, Joao Chianca, Lakey Peterson, Imaikalani DeVault, Barron Mamiya, Parker Coffin, Yadin Nicol, Vahine Fierro, Pat and Dane Gudauskas, Pete Mel, and dozens of other incredible surfers.

The Revolutionary AM Fin Design

In addition to revolutionizing the high-performance shortboard and the surfboard industry in general, Al Merrick has also been an influential designer of fins over the years. His signature thruster fin set, the AM from FCS II, has been a staple of power surfing design for decades.

The AM fin set is large and stable, making it perfect for carving big turns, handling critical bottom turns in hollow sections, and holding the line when the waves get big.

The Signature Raked Design

Perfect for barreling waves and punchy beach breaks, the AM fins also lend themselves to drawn-out power turns on lined-up point breaks, due to the aggressive raked outline of the side fins. Meanwhile, the smaller center fin allows for a quick release at the crux of big turns, bridging power carving with modern high-performance shredding.

Performance Characteristics

FCS II System Integration

The AM fin set has been designed to fit the FCS II system, which allows for quick snap-in integration without sacrificing stability and dependability. The fins work best with high-performance shortboards featuring deep concaves and moderate to high rocker.