Watch: Mason Ho Tests And Is Nearly Speared By FCS’ New H4 Fins

We talked previously about the FCS H4 fins’ tech specs, and how they would lead to theoretical advantages in the surf. Now, thanks to the inimitable Mason Ho, we have an observable demonstration of their efficacy.

We’ll let you make your own assessment of Mason’s surfing vis a vis the fins, but there was one incident involving a healthy lump of backwash that we just can’t ignore. Around the 1:00 mark, Mason mistimes his backwash-inspired ascent, resulting in the board landing precariously beneath him…bottom-side up. 

There is perhaps no worse feeling in surfing than being suspended in mid-air while your board dangles somewhere beneath you. Time slows as you try to maneuver yourself away from the floating death trap, but with no counteracting force to propel yourself out of harm’s way, you’re at the mercy of wind and/or fate.

Somehow, Mason avoided a collision this time. Lucky, too, because those H4 fins are sharper than most.