There’s no way around the fact that downwinding is challenging. Navigating a 14-foot board through unpredictable variables including wind, swell and current presents an intimidating task. However, it’s also true that a good downwind run is some of the most fun you’ll ever have on a standup paddleboard.
While the right board and SUP paddle are important, your fin has a huge impact on your board’s handling characteristics. For most paddlers, our Maliko v3 downwind fin is the ticket to a better downwind paddling experience.
Designed to improve performance and handling with enhanced glide, forgiving stability, and increased maneuverability, the Maliko v3 is ideal for intermediate to advanced paddlers navigating downwind conditions in light-to-medium wind and swell. Harnessing the flow of the water, the Maliko v3’s high-performance characteristics helps paddlers increase speed and save energy by easily linking bumps together.
While more advanced paddlers may opt for our Sonic for maximum maneuverability, most paddlers will benefit from the balance of stability and maneuverability offered by the Maliko v3. Ideally suited to an all-round, cross-over board like the Starboard All-Star, the Maliko v3 enhances the board’s glide and footsteering capabilities—allowing you to catch more glides and have more fun.
You may also like to consider – Sonic v2: Downwind SUP Fin for Maximum Agility and Speed
FEATURES OF THE MALIKO v3
45° Rake Angle Improves Footsteering & Sheds Debris, Weed & Trash
The progressively curved, surfing inspired outline helps with foot steering, enabling the paddler to make micro directional and tracking adjustments with just a slight change of foot position or pressure, without the need to move all the wave to the tail of the board—ideal when connecting bumps. When on a good bump, the Maliko v3 will give you the confidence to step back and surf the swell from the tail. With a rake angle of 45 degrees, the Maliko v3 is better at shedding sea grass, kelp, river weeds and other debris in the water—an extremely important feature in many paddling locations.
Reduced Cord Concept
The Reduced Cord Concept (RCC) enables us to reduce the fin size while maintaining tracking. At only 14 cm, the reduced cord of the Maliko v3 helps to minimize surface area while keeping the benefits of the fin length. While downwind, this narrower cord helps to make it easier to carve and change direction. Having as shorter base also enables you to move the fin forward and back—further back for more tracking and further forward for easier turning.
Medium Depth Provides Ideal Balance of Maneuverability & Tracking
With an overall depth of 21 cm (compared to 18 cm with the Sonic and 24cm of the Ray) the Maliko v3 achieves an optimal balance of tracking, stability and maneuverability. These three factors are particularly valuable for downwinding, especially amongst intermediate paddlers.
Fresh New Artwork
The Maliko v3 also comes with a fresh new look—a distinctive aesthetic that will appeal to a wide-range of paddlers. We included more info and specs on each fin, making it easier for customers and retailers to identify the differences between the models. We are lucky to have added a graphic designer to our staff (Glenn), and you can expect to see gradual improvements across the collections as we become more unified and cohesive in our branding.
WHAT PADDLERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE MALIKO v3?
As shown in the data table below, the Maliko v3 is the most-versatile fin that we offer and caters to nearly every paddler.
Intermediate Paddlers
The versatility of the Maliko v3 makes it a great choice for many intermediate paddlers. While it’s specifically designed to enhance performance in downwind conditions, it also excels in rivers with current and flow. Due to it’s weed-shedding outline, this fin has also been popular with paddlers looking for a medium sized fin with a good balance between tracking, stability and speed while paddling in water with weed, kelp or trash.
Experienced Paddlers
Experienced paddlers will want to add the Maliko v3 to their quiver, especially if they paddle in downwind or river conditions. This surf-inspired fin makes it easier to connect bumps and expel less energy—ideal for long downwind runs.
MALIKO PERFORMANCE RATINGS
WHAT PADDLERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MALIKO v3
What we think about the Maliko v3
Thanks to their ease, and range of use, Maliko fins have always been popular with a wide range of paddlers. This fin makes down winding easier and is best suited to medium conditions and straighter courses such as the Viento run in Hood River. This fin works particularly well on boards where the fin box is a little further forward and away from the tail^^. Overall, this is an easy to use, performance enhancing paddle board fin which will find a way into the fin quiver for most paddlers, from intermediates to professionals alike.
^^ moving your SUP fin forward is like making it smaller, while moving it back is equivalent to making it bigger. Hence, boards with fin boxes further forward tend to need a bigger fin, while boards where the fin box is close to the tail, can use a smaller fin.
— Chris Freeman, Black Project SUP Founder
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RECOMMENDED DOWNWIND & OCEAN SUP RACE FINS
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Sonic v2 Pre-Preg
$175.00 -
Maliko v3 Pre-Preg
$175.00
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