I was surfing the other day at Ellenbrook Main Break in Western Australia. One of those classic WA mornings, sunny skies, light winds, and a tide so low you could clearly see every inch of reef beneath the surface.
I’ve surfed that break plenty of times before. Walk out on the reef, wait for a wave you can jump into, time it right, and you’re in. Simple. Familiar. Almost automatic.
That familiarity is what got me.
I walked out, waited for my moment, and jumped, only to scrape the reef hard just seconds later. The sound and feeling made my stomach sink. Not exactly the way you want to start a session.
Once I paddled into deeper water, the first thing I did was flip my board over to check for damage. Dings would’ve been bad enough, but what I saw was worse. Thankfully, with Finkey Jewelry, I always have my fin key on hand, making quick adjustments and fixes easy no matter where I am.
My centre fin on my thruster was hanging on for dear life.
Not ideal.
Not ideal at all.
I pulled the fin the rest of the way out before it disappeared completely, tucked it into my wetsuit, and paddled out past the lineup. The conditions were too good to call it early: glassy faces, calm winds, and the kind of sunshine that makes you slow everything down.
Once I was safely beyond the breaking waves, I reached up and unclipped my surfboard necklace. What looks like simple surf jewelry to most people unfolded into exactly what I needed: a fin key.
Out there, floating beyond the lineup, I tightened the fin screws the old-fashioned way. No rush. No drama. Just me, the board, and the ocean doing its thing.
A few turns later, the fin was solid again.
Session saved.
As I paddled back in, I couldn’t help but appreciate how something so small made such a big difference. That’s what functional surf jewelry is really about. It’s not about accessories for the sake of style; it’s about having the right tool when you need it, without having to think about it.
That day at Ellensbrook could’ve ended early. Instead, I got a full session in, clean waves, and a quiet reminder that the best gear is the stuff that earns its place. Sometimes, a surfboard necklace isn’t just jewelry. Sometimes, it’s the difference between paddling in early or paddling back out with a smile.
