All fins this bad?

[anomymous3]

Right before I was goind to buy the sporasubs, my parents got me a pair of something called "Beauchat Gold Fins Evolution" for my birthday, and I got to try them in a lake last weekend. Now I don't want to look like an ingrate, but these things weren't very good for me. For one, they were pretty stiff and my legs cramped up almost immediately. My dad really did not know what to look for, and got an open heel. All that aside, I did manage to get to 47 feet with them using a dolphin kick. I've read on here that long fins are supposed to decrese o2 consumption, but my actual underwater times were about 15 seconds. Using my original split fins, I made it to 45 feet using a normal kick. It will take some time to build up my leg muscle to be able to kick using such a stiff fin. Like I said before, I'm very grateful for his attempt, but It looks like I'm still in the market. I have not said anything to him and I don't plan too (It would be quite rude). Any ideas as to what I should do now concerning what fins to get based on this new information [or if I should stick with the original idea to get the dessults for that matter] would be helpfull.

 

[Erik]

I'm not sure of that fin you've got, but any good freediving fin will take some time to get used to. Almost everyone gets cramps at first, even experienced divers changing brands/stiffness. You are also diving really fast (too fast), which means you're going to get some pain, plus not using the fin in the most efficient way. If you've been using split-fins, then you're in for a bit of a learning curve as the resistance from a full-foot freediving fin is massive compared to them, plus the stroke is a different amplitude and velocity. Even using a crappy plastic snorkelling fin will probably cramp you, and should still be used slowly to conserve O2.
Best of luck,
Erik Y.

 

[anomymous3]

Exactally how should I use a fin. For one, I don't think my legs are strong enough to use them efficientally, or ,like you said, It my just take time to learn. On the diving fast, I notticed that the new fins did not give me more speed unless I "sprinted." Anyway, just how should I kick.

 

[JPPLAY]

You need to kick smooth slowly and gracefully. Your dives should be very relaxed meaning when the negative buoyancy takes over you can just let yourself be pulled down so not producing more carbon dioxide and wasting oxygen. Carbon dioxide is what your body is using to sense when to breath so the less you produce the better.
Stretch your legs before you dive and when swimming in a pool make sure you do just kick drills not just swimming to build the muscles in your legs.

 

[anomymous3]

I have no weights YET. Therefore, I had to kick somwhat hard. My goal was fifty feet when we went, so I got pretty close. Close to gaining access to a pool so I can train my legs to work with the fins. I have yet another question, do plastic fins become less stiff after a little use? When I first got to try them, like I said, they were very stiff. After the two days, I could bend them a little more.

 

[immerlustig]

hi,

as has been mentioned freediving fins require training. and don't compare a one time experience with them to those split fins (which, if i may say so, are simply and entirely a bad, bad joke anyway).

i don't know the fins you mentioned and it could be that they are too stiff, but give it a go, spend as much time as you can and focus on developing technique rather than reaching a certain depth.

generally stiff fins are not good for anyone unless your legs are those of a weightlifter. people commonly compensate by kicking out of their knees, which is not the best way really. technique development works a lot better with soft/medium stiffness blades. if you can change blades, that would be an option.

just my opinion,

roland

 

[naiad]

I found that freediving fins take some getting used to. I still can't use them properly because my legs are not strong enough, but at least I can get somewhere. When I first tried them it was exhausting, and my legs were worn out the next day. I think it's worth giving them another chance, maybe with softer blades.

Lucia

 

[PoseidonSv]

Lucia and Anomymous:

I tried the goldfin from Beauchat and it is one of the worst freedivign fins i ever tried, its heavy and uncumbersome in the water. I suggest you return them to the shop and buy some other fin. Beauchat has newer fins that is much better and more lightwieght and works as a freediving fin should.

I got the C4 Flap 80 and it is a really soft fin and would work really well for you Lucia.

 

[hteas]

Freediving fins aren't more efficient, they are more effective. if you wanted the greatest effciiency, you'd go with a soft and shorter fin. bicyclists ahve known this for a long time. You spin, you don;t grind away in the highest gear you can turn. Freediving fins give you the ability to move quietly when hunting, and they get you back to the surface in a real hurry ; ) when you need them to.
The effectiveness is that the lactic acid buildup in your legs holds the glucose breakdown products for a while and allows you to burn up energy in a hurry. You make up for it after you reach the surface. That's why you need extra time after a dive to regain your breath; your body is processing the lactic acid buildup during the heavy exertion.
As far as the gold fins; they are stiff and heavy. they aren't likely to get too much softer. I've had several pairs of fins that were too stiff (Esclapez blacks, Picasso Black Teams). I trim them back a few inches, and maybe even remove a few of the battens molded into the bottom of the blades if there are any there.
Remember, Martin got to 70 m at the Kona meet 1 1/2 years ago using snorkeling fins.
Howard

 

[hteas]

An extra note on open heels. Look at the monofins the serious CB and dynamic divers are using. Almost all are open heel. Makes me think they can't be all that bad.
Howard

 

[PoseidonSv]

Well they do not have heelstraps that are adjustable more like a fullfoot with open heel area.

 

[Erik]

An extra note on open heels. Look at the monofins the serious CB and dynamic divers are using. Almost all are open heel. Makes me think they can't be all that bad.
Howard

They also don't have big bulky straps and buckles which are easily fouled in lines, floatlines, fishing gear, stringers, kelp.
That's the main advantage.
When we say 'open-heel' we are usually referring to the fin that you wear a zipped neoprene boot in for scubadiving.
I have a mono with the FINIS pockets and they are excellent, but for extended periods in the water I'd rather have a full-foot pocket.
Peace,
Erik Y.

 

[DeepThought]

If you are not really claiming that one could dive deeper with snorkeling fins compared with long fins then your definition of efficiency is not fitted for freediving. Less effort is understood but one has a limit on his diving time.
There are also soft freediving fins to remind you. I doubt snorkeling fins are more efficient than C4's even on scuba ("unlimited" air supply).

Remember, Martin got to 70 m at the Kona meet 1 1/2 years ago using snorkeling fins.
Howard

Remember, Martin got to 80m at cayman a few months ago with no fins at all. It's like claiming that red is a more aerodynamic colour for superman's cape. (he also did 93m with longfins in cyprus).

And except the name the correlation between scuba open heel (with boots) and monofin open heel is quite small.