Future Fins Dark Arts Control Series Thruster Set Black-Gold L
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Speed Control Built Into the Template
The Dark Arts Control Series thruster set is a collaboration between Futures Fins and the Dark Arts team, engineered around a neutral template that delivers a balanced, fluid ride. A thinned tip and a smaller center fin work together to manage speed and provide timed release when you push into a turn. The result is a fin that stays predictable through the arc and lets you exit with drive rather than spin-out.
Fiberglass Construction
Each fin in this thruster set is built from fiberglass, a proven material that gives surfers a blend of flex and stiffness that full-composite fins cannot always match. Fiberglass absorbs chop-driven vibration through the foil without sacrificing the responsiveness you need to drive off the bottom or project through a top-turn. The matte-black finish shown in the image is characteristic of the Dark Arts Control Series aesthetic, with gold branding identifying the collaboration.
The Dark Arts Story
Dark Arts was founded in 1996 by the Longo brothers, whose background fabricating aerospace parts and hydrogen fuel cells gave them a precision-first approach to shaping. When they applied that engineering discipline to surfboard fins, the result was a line built around measurable performance characteristics rather than trend-driven design. The Control Series collaboration with Futures distills that philosophy into a fiberglass thruster that is purpose-built for a specific outcome: speed control at a Ride Number of 3.8.
What the Ride Number Means
Futures assigns every fin a Ride Number on a scale from 1 (maximum speed and release) to 10 (maximum drive and hold). A Ride Number of 3.8 places the Dark Arts Control Series toward the speed-control and release end of the spectrum while remaining in a neutral zone that works for a wide range of conditions. Smaller, punchier surf rewards the quicker pivot and release this set provides. Heavier, more powerful surf rewards the controlled entry into the arc before releasing cleanly off the back of the wave.
Futures Fin System Compatibility
This set ships with the standard Futures tab base and is compatible with any surfboard drilled for the Futures fin system. No additional hardware is required beyond what your board's boxes already accommodate. The thruster configuration (two side fins plus one center fin) is the most versatile setup in shortboard surfing, and the neutral template of the Dark Arts Control Series slots naturally across a wide range of rocker and concave combinations.
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Specifications
- Brand
- Future Fins
- Series
- Dark Arts Control Series
- Fin Setup
- Thruster (3-fin set)
- Construction
- Fiberglass
- Template Category
- Neutral (balanced/fluid)
- Ride Number
- 3.8 (Speed Control)
- Fin System
- Futures
- MPN
- 1056-203-00
- UPC
- 815681024487
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Futures Ride Number and what does 3.8 mean?
- Futures rates every fin on a Ride Number scale from 1 to 10. Lower numbers favor speed and release; higher numbers favor drive and hold. A Ride Number of 3.8 means the Dark Arts Control Series thruster set is tuned toward speed control and clean release at the end of turns, making it well-suited for surfers who want a fluid, pivot-friendly feel rather than a rail-to-rail grinding drive.
- What is a neutral template fin?
- A neutral template sits between a pivot template (built for tight, snappy turns) and a drive template (built for long, projected arcs). It provides a balanced, fluid feel across a variety of surfboard shapes and wave conditions, which is why Futures classifies the Dark Arts Control Series as neutral.
- What surfboard fin system does this set fit?
- This thruster set uses the Futures tab base and fits any surfboard drilled for the Futures fin system. It is not compatible with FCS or other plug systems without an adapter.
- Why does the Dark Arts Control Series use fiberglass instead of carbon?
- Fiberglass offers a flex pattern that many surfers find more forgiving and lively than stiffer full-carbon constructions. The material absorbs energy through the foil, translating into a smoother feel through chop and an easier time generating flow in less powerful surf. Carbon and hybrid-carbon sets deliver more direct stiffness; fiberglass prioritizes feel and responsiveness.
- Who are Dark Arts and why did they collaborate with Futures?
- Dark Arts was founded in 1996 by the Longo brothers, who came from an aerospace fabrication background including hydrogen fuel cell research. They applied precision engineering to surfboard fin design. The collaboration with Futures produced the Control Series, which channels that technical discipline into a fin template optimized for speed control and release.
- Can I buy Future Fins at Island Water Sports?
- Yes. Island Water Sports carries Future Fins in store in South Florida and online. The Dark Arts Control Series thruster set is available through both channels.
- What wave conditions suit a speed-control thruster set like this one?
- A fin with a Ride Number of 3.8 performs best in smaller to medium surf where generating speed and pivoting quickly matters more than locking into a powerful rail drive. In faster, hollower waves the thinned tip and smaller center fin let you bleed off speed through turns rather than getting bogged down in the pocket.