FCS II Thomas Longboard Fin

The FCS II Thomas Longboard Fin is a traditional single fin developed with Thomas Surfboards, inspired by the tall fins found on Australian old mals of the mid-1960s. Designed to deliver a combination of drive, controlled release and dependable hold on the nose, it's an excellent choice for surfers who want classic longboard performance without sacrificing the ability to turn the board smoothly from the tail.

Available across multiple sizes, the Thomas fin allows you to match the amount of depth, area and hold to your longboard and preferred style of surfing.

Classic Australian Longboard Inspiration

The Thomas template draws directly from the tall single fins used during one of the defining periods of Australian longboarding.

Rather than focusing exclusively on either turning or noseriding, the design balances the two. FCS describes the template as providing the right amount of release and drive for turns while retaining plenty of hold for noserides.

That makes it particularly well suited to traditional longboards where you're regularly moving between trimming, cross-stepping, noseriding and turning from the tail.

Hold for Noseriding

With its substantial depth and relatively upright 30.5° sweep, the Thomas provides the stability and hold you want when moving forward on your board.

That additional depth helps keep the tail engaged while you're cross-stepping and spending time on the nose, making the Thomas a strong choice for surfers who want to hang five, hang ten and extend their noserides.

Drive & Release Through Turns

The Thomas isn't simply a dedicated noserider fin.

Its template has also been designed to provide drive and release through turns, allowing you to step back onto the tail and redirect your longboard without the fin feeling excessively restrictive.

That balance makes it a versatile option for traditional longboarders who want to surf the entire board rather than concentrating solely on time spent on the nose.

Performance Glass Construction

The FCS II Thomas Longboard Fin uses Performance Glass construction, providing the solid and predictable response particularly well suited to larger single fins.

FCS Performance Glass fins are machine-cut from layers of solid fibreglass. The stiff construction maintains the integrity of the fin's flex when placed under significant load, helping provide predictable response and control.

FCS II Tool-Less Longboard System

The Thomas uses the FCS II Longboard System, eliminating the need for the traditional fin plate and screw.

The fin can be installed and removed in seconds without tools, and you can make subtle adjustments to its position in the fin box during a surf. FCS designed the system to work with most existing longboard fin boxes.

That makes experimenting with fin position particularly easy. Moving a single fin forward or back can noticeably change how a traditional longboard turns and holds.

Choose Your FCS Thomas Fin Size

FCS currently publishes specifications for 9.75", 10.25", 10.75" and 11.5" versions of the Thomas template.

9.75" – Smaller Traditional Longboards
The smallest option provides the least area and depth, making it the logical starting point for smaller traditional longboards or surfers looking for a little more freedom through turns.

10.25" – Versatile Traditional Longboard Fin
A step up in area and hold while retaining the balanced character of the Thomas template. A strong option for traditional longboards where you want to combine turning with noseriding.

10.75" – More Hold & Stability
Additional depth and area provide increased hold, making the 10.75" particularly appealing for larger logs and surfers placing greater emphasis on cross-stepping and noseriding.

11.5" – Maximum Area & Hold
The largest Thomas option has substantially more area and depth. It's aimed towards larger traditional longboards and surfers looking for maximum stability and hold from the Thomas template.

FCS Thomas Fin Specifications

These are FCS's current published fin specifications.

Features

• FCS II Thomas Longboard Fin
• Developed with Thomas Surfboards
• Inspired by Australian mid-1960s old-mal fins
• Designed for traditional longboarding
• Balanced drive, release and noseriding hold
• 30.5° sweep across the range
• 50/50 foil
• Performance Glass construction
• FCS II Tool-Less Longboard System
• No conventional plate and screw required
• No fin key required
• Fin position can be adjusted quickly
• Compatible with most existing longboard fin boxes
• Available in 9.75", 10.25", 10.75" and 11.5"

Perfect For

Traditional longboards, logs, old-mal inspired surfboards, noseriders, cross-stepping, trimming, hanging five, hanging ten and surfers who want a traditional fin that can still turn smoothly from the tail.

Why You'll Love It

The FCS II Thomas Longboard Fin sits nicely between a dedicated pivot/noserider fin and a more swept all-round longboard fin.

Its relatively upright template provides the hold and stability needed for traditional noseriding, but Thomas and FCS have retained enough release and drive to let you step back and turn the board confidently from the tail. That's an important distinction if you want to surf your entire longboard rather than simply maximise hold on the nose.

The range of sizes also lets you tune that character to your board. Move from the 9.75" through to the 11.5" and the base, depth and total area progressively increase while the 30.5° sweep and 50/50 foil remain consistent.

For surfers searching for a traditional longboard fin in New Zealand, the FCS II Thomas is a particularly interesting option for classic logging, trimming and noseriding while retaining enough response for smooth, controlled turns.