Dynamic w/ monofin question

[glubglub]

I guess this question is more for monofinners out there. I'm using SpecialFins Dolphin FRD and depending on how I kick, I can reach 25m with 9 kicks, very very rarely 8 kicks. But if I'm not very streamlined I normally reach 25m with 11-12 kicks.

I see in Youtube and many of the dynamic attempts use 10 - 11 kicks to cover 25m. Is this the optimum ratio for oxygen spent / distance covered?

To do with 8 or 9 kicks I have to make sure my head enter water quite a way forward, so the first kick (not on the wall) gives me good thrust. Also I have to be very disciplined in keeping my chin tucked in and arms stretched. Then I have to maximize the glide also that I shouldn't try to kick again if I'm still moving forward.

Comments?

 

[sayNO2o2]

the biggest thing i see that cuts down the amount of kicks is having the right amount of neck weight on.
i test by pushing off the wall and giving one kick and see how far i glide before i float.
i get it where i glide to a stop before i flaot.
i swim 25m in 22 sec with 7 single kick though now days i use a double kick and do 3-4 of them. here is a vid of one of my swims hope it helps some.

 

[glubglub]

Wow that was great vid!! Thank you. My breath up is still limited to 1min while moving, but I never thought of double kick and glide. Will try it next time!

 

[sayNO2o2]

let me know how you go.

 

[bite ya]

SayNO2o2
That's a great vid, mate. My glide sucks and i want to increase my distance from 100mtrs to 150 this year. I only use 2kg in my neck weight so i will definatly be putting some more in and experimenting with some more weight.

Is it also important to get a good suit like yours? If so what one should i go for if i want to compete this year?

Thanks

 

[sayNO2o2]

Thanks mate.

Yea my neck weight is about 6kg. but I am a floater.

I think the suit is a must for comp as it could be that 1m you need to rank just that bit higher.
In training I don’t wear one until just a few weeks before I would compete as you want to be very familiar with everything you will be wearing in comp.

I don’t wear it all the time as they wear out. The Olympic swimmers only wear there a few times.
You could find an ok cheap suit like a ying fa and just keep that as your training suit after it has been worn out. But once they are worn out they will only be a little bit better than normal swimmers

In that vid I am wearing a speedo fs11 it’s a good suit and I notice the difference in my kicks per lap and in my times. Not much but like I said it could be that one meter !!!

The newer suits like speedo fastskin pro are great and of course the new lzr suit is great but sooooo much $$$. Orca have a nice suit as well I think the kiwis were wearing then in the world titles last year. Might be better value.

 

[bite ya]

That's great i'll check them out, any comments on my video which you will find on my blog below would be great too. Look through the 2008 posts.

I have never recieved formal dynamic training so any advice on kicking style or how to do this without so much knee bend would be fantastic.

Thanks for your help.

 

[sgnips]

i own two pairs of ying fa sharkskin full leg suits and i can say they gave me a good feeling the first 4-5 times i wore them
now they wear much less tight and give a different feeling

 

[sayNO2o2]

That's great i'll check them out, any comments on my video which you will find on my blog below would be great too. Look through the 2008 posts.

I have never recieved formal dynamic training so any advice on kicking style or how to do this without so much knee bend would be fantastic.

Thanks for your help.

Checked your vid out on your blog.

In your blog you have hit the nail on the head. You are trying to push with knee bend. You need to develop the power from your core.
You don’t look like you are lacking in core strength so you will find that its probably a matter of bringing the muscles into use.
I think a lot of this comes down to flexibility though your core and your spine.

If you imagine a small soccer ball starting at the base of your sternum then rolling down to your knees then load up the fin with about 10degees of knee bend.

When I started mono fining I had a stiff lower back and had bad technique but I worked on core strength and the flexibility of my spine. (this is still ongoing)

I found one of those blow up fit balls great for stretches.

The only other thing I would bring up is keeping your arms streamlined. I do plenty of stretches of my shoulders so I can keep my elbows strait and my biceps touching the tops of my ears. As soon as your elbows come out its like driving with your hand brake on.

It looked like a easy 100m.

 

[bite ya]

Thanks great advice thanks my friend..I'm back in the pool on wednesday night so i'll give that a go. I've got one of those balls down my gym so i'll give that a try also.

More weight and less leg bend, thanks..