So finally after months of working on the printed version of the catalog. We are proud to present a video version online. If you want to get a copy of the printed catalog just email us at info@trueames.com / This catalog video highlights our new 2013 longboard fins. enjoy

True Ames Fins Catalog 2013 from TRUE AMES on Vimeo.

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this is a digital version of our 2013 catalog. We just got them printed!! If you are interested in getting a copy email us at: info@trueames.com

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Sometimes a blank canvas comes in different shapes other than the traditional square or rectangle. Here are a few plain glass on fins with a little creativity and paint. They are block printed and have a randomness to the design which creates a unique look to each one. These hand printed fins are just a few ideas that are brewing in True Ames art department. Art by: Ryan Kleiner

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PART 2:

After surfing the left point, it was time to explore. Load up the truck and hit the road in the heat with visions of empty beachbreaks. Not so fast, as we hit a checkpoint within the first half hour of our drive. I'm not getting used to sight of machine guns, but all is good. We were back on the road after some attempts to speak broken spanish.

Soon after that, we found ourselves lost in the middle of some old city, right in the middle of the market, driving on sidewalks and getting strange stares... OK so we're obviously not from around there. Stop again, to ask another heavily armed group of policia for directions, these guys were cool, they told us the way to the beach. After seeing endless sugar cane feilds and some smoldering volcanoes, we found the beach that we were looking for. too late for surf though, time for cold cervezas and dinner!

As the Sun came up at five AM the next day we were up and ready to go. The tide was way too low for the beachbreak so we headed to a rivermouth by boat. This was in the middle of no where and pulling up from outside we couldn't tell if the waves were any good. All I saw was a strong rip, closeouts and super murky brown water. Not what I was expecting. So to get a better look headed into the river to get a view of the setup by land. It looked good and nothing like how it was 20 minutes ago from outback.

The tide was pushing and there were peeling lefts on one side with an identical right peeling off of the other side. The goofy footers outnumbered so I surfed the left. This time I was trying out the Eric Arakawa fins. I could tell the swell was picking up and these were kind of racy walls with a few sections but really long waves with plenty of good cutback sections and lips to hit. I felt really in control on a few waves that were head high, maybe a few feet bigger on sets. I liked the way these fins seemed to hold in, but the got loose when I wanted them to. They never slid out in critical sections just a good release with full control. Good fin selection for this wave. The wind was coming up, so it was time to head back. The beach was out of control closeouts and windy by now, but the tide and swell was supposed to be really good for the next day.

Another 5am wake up call and the surf was looking good, nice A-frames coming in on the beach with no wind. Finally an opportunity for some tubes...I chose to try out the Small Channel Islands fins on this particular day thinking that the waves were head high or so. This is where I was convinced that I could ride the smallest fins just by the way these waves looked. The peaks up the beach were so playful looking and fun. Not exactly, it was twice as big as it looked since there was no one out. About a foot and a half deep on hard packed sand. These were drop in under the lip kind of waves and just get shacked . take a deep breath and hope you make it out of a few.

Here is where I could have used a bigger set of fins, I saw this set bumping up on the horizon and a perfect right peak headed my way. This wave came in with some serious push, I paddled and made the drop, as I was about to come out of the bottom turn into a bus sized tube, fins skipped out and I lost it, dove straight into the wave and then got thrown down to the bottom for a solid hold down. I learned from this wave, after that I was able to just draw out the bottom turn and ride a little bit higher to stay in the right place to make it out of some good tubes...

All good, sometimes a nice hold down will get you ready for the next bigger set. I was able to pick off a few good ones after that, Just making sure not to push the bottom turns too hard. A great session overall and I'd recommend these CI small fins for head high and under. They worked really well at another beach break left that I surfed a bunch, it was about chest high there and more of a speedy long wall of a wave.

Overall having these 3 sets of fins was ideal. To handle any kind of wave there could be on that trip. I was a bit weary of having only one board but luckily I didn't break it. Miss the warm water waves and mellow vibe down south. Until next time...

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PART1:

On a recent three week trip to Central America during the beginning of the south swell season, I was able to try to out 3 different sets of fins. I wanted to go minimal with my fin selection, so I brought 1 board, a 5'11 Simon Anderson squash tail, this would give me a chance to try 3 sets of fins. A small, medium and larger set for any kind of waves that I could find. It's amazing how much you can change the ride and feel of one board by simply changing fins...

There were a wide variety of waves ranging from super hollow barreling beachbreaks, long sweeping points, powerful outer reefs, and perfectly peeling sand bottom river mouths. The swell was consistently head high plus at most of the spots and a few days with close to double overhead.

My Choice of fins were:

Standard sized Channel Islands / Eric Arakawa / Channel Islands Small ( Some of my boards are FCS fins compatible, This time I had Futures Fins compatible setup, I think they are much easier to change out and a more solid base.)

LOCATION: The Point- FIN CHOICE: Channel Islands Standard- This spot had a wide sloping takeoff zone and then the wave would hit the edge of the reef for a short tube section. I wanted to start off with the Channel islands standard size set for this wave just to see what they could handle. Drops were easy and plenty of drive off of the bottom even on overhead sets. I noticed that since I was up and riding before the barrel section I could have time to setup and pull in with ease, going backside in a hollow spot I would probably use the larger fins but these CI Standards were holding in just fine, and not slipping out in the steepest sections.

Check out the next post for another session with the Eric Arakawa fins, as the surf picked up and headed north to some solid beachbreaks and a boats to a desolate rivermouth. Story/Photos: Ryan Kleiner

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Come and check out True Ames at the Surf Expo this January 12-14. We will be there with all of our latest fins... Everything from Stand Up Paddle fins, to our wide range of single fins, as well as system fins for FCS and Futures compatible. We'll be at booth #2065 - See you there!

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This is an interview published in the latest issue of DEEP magazine. Here is an online version of the mag, we're on page 13. Thanks to Brandon Read for taking the time to answer a few questions.

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In the small town of Coolangatta on the Gold Coast of Australia's beautiful wave rich eastern edge, there was a wave called Kirra. She still exists but her face has changed forever due to a combination of erosion and beach nourishment programs during the last few decades. Now don't get me wrong, she is still beautiful, but back in her prime, she was a perfect 10 with unbelievable shape and form, endlessly peeling across the sand bank. Today the wave is a bit shorter and not as ruler edged, but can still give you the tube of your life. With the strong currents and sand pumping, Kirra's waves are ever-changing and unpredictable, but on the right angle swell and tide there are some epic waves if you can keep your position in the lineup.

Here is a shot from last year during an off season swell. This wave is seriously breaking in about a foot and a half of water with super fast sections and a current that will make your arms sore. In the moment ( an unidentified Kirra local gettin' shacked )

to download this image as a wallpaper for your desktop check out the wallpaper page here.

* Prior to 1840 — Kirra is not known by its current name and is rarely visited by white settlers.
* 1840-1910 — The first white holiday-makers start to visit.
* 1910-1920 — Holiday-makers increase, making Kirra a popular recreational beach area.
* 1930s — The opening of the South coast road increases the popularity of the southern Gold Coast as a holiday destination. Camping was very popular for families because Kirra had a long beach and a low-lying dune system.
* 1960-early 1974 — The Tweed River breakwaters combine with a series of low-pressure weather systems to result in serious sand erosion. This brings the high-water level to just below the coastal road.
* 1970s — Big Groyne built at Kirra's south end.
* 1995 — 30 metres taken off Big Groyne to help fight erosion at Greenmount Beach.
* 2001 — Start of Tweed River sand bypass project.
* 2003 — Little Groyne completely buried in sand.
* 2006 — Project launched by Griffith University Coastal Management Center to restore the beach

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Got another free wallpaper screensaver here. (click the link below image for download) This was a shot from a few weeks ago. A bit of the Southwest swell was mixing in with some Northwest peaks. Was on my way back walking along a bluff when I got this shot. These are futures compatible CI fins. They work really well with this Simon Anderson 5'10" squashtail. The best part about these fins is that the work great in small waves around waist to chest high but also got me into some solid overhead waves down south last month. Good all around choice for shortboard fins!

True Ames - Free Surf Photography Wallpaper 1280 X 960

True Ames - Free Surf Photography Wallpaper 1920 X 1080

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SURF EXPO 2011 BOOTH #878

It's that time of year again for Surf Expo in Orlando, FL. We will be at booth 878 with a showcase of surf fins, stand up paddle fins, and windsurf fins. Check out our the booth for our latest catalog and stickers! .

SEPTEMBER 8-10, 2011

Orange County Convention Center

South Hall

9899 International Dr.

Orlando, Florida 32819

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