This mission began in the turbulent surf industry of the 1980’s, as True Ames forged lasting relationships with notable surfers and shapers of the Santa Barbara area and beyond. We worked closely with local comrade Al Merrick and Channel Islands Surfboards, producing the templates and foils that helped navigate young Tommy Curren toward the first American World Title in many years. We began to make fins for Reynolds Yater, one of the most prolific and renowned figures in surfboard making. We worked with cult icons the Cambell Brothers in developing fin designs for Bonzer surfboards.
In 1985 True Ames took hold in the technically challenging world of windsurfing. It was during this time that True Ames formed a symbiotic relationship with surfing eccentric and inventor George Greenough, who by this time had diverted most of his attention to windsurfing. Noting George’s experiences and foresight, we developed progressive foils that set new standards for the industry. True Ames riders came to dominate course races. The first windsurfer to travel over 50 mph was propelled by a True Ames skeg!
The 1990’s took True Ames in still more directions. When the resurrection of longboarding facillitated an unprecedented demand for Bane box fins, we worked with surfers and shapers in creating an ever-expanding palate of longboard fin templates. Respected shapers, such as Dale Velzy, Wayne Rich, Steve Walden, Skip Frye, Greg Liddle, and the Yaters, all created True Ames signature models. In 1994, we started making wakeboard fins, a move which prepared us for making today’s kiteboard templates.
Today, True Ames offers a greater diversity of fin products than any other fin company. Our material experimentations have created the True Lite fin line, which includes thruster templates from Lost, Erik Arakawa, Hamish Graham, Timmy Patterson, and Channel Islands. Our close relationships to imaginative pros, such as Josh Farberow, Jimmy Gamboa, Oliver Parker, Daniel Graham, Ashley Lloyd, and Brad Gerlach allows us to maintain the constant flow of feedback that will continue to establish True Ames as the industry’s greatest fin resource.
