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...Compliments on your upper body flexibility. Must have been doing the "dance" a lot.
Wow Ron, that first swim of yours looks really smooth like a sinus wave...
A question: Now that you have gotten to a higher level of "monofin-undulation", does it seem like you use less O2 per metre, or is it at a cost energy-wise...?
The video isn't a great test because of different technique levels, but do you have a feel for the gliding efficiency of each? same, one better than the other? Much?
The hyperfin seems to glide nicely. Mandy had some trouble controlling the hyperfin in the glide. That may be because hyperfins are a little more slippery in the side to side motion, but I'm pretty sure that with a little more practice at gliding that the side-slipping could be overcome and avoided. The Orca has that nice deep keel, which acts like a rudder and helps to avoid the side-slip during the glide and in a long freefall, and also makes it easy to turn and control your direction during the glide.
We each did about 4 to 5 glides that day looking for the best spot and working up to a good glide. The videos are of our final glides. We were getting tired, having been in the water for over 3 hours. Plus, Mandy was getting some bad hyperfin blisters on her feet. We were both pretty happy with our final glides and decided it was time to go back in.
Mandy comes from a competitive swimming background. Her natural tendency has been to swim all the way down and back up when diving. She was saying that the gliding was not only fun, but that it was very useful for teaching her to relax and let gravity do the work. On her first "glide", she actually kicked the whole way down. By the end, she was making long glides and feeling good about it.
I've found the Orca and hyperfin comparable in pure glide. The Gen2 fin has more leverage - being slightly longer - and the one I am testing has a larger blade. I'm finding it wants a slightly slower stroke. Surface swimming is work in progress - and maybe where the fin differs most from a hyperfin. The prevailing theme I find with the Orcas is that you really have to tone down the amount of force you put into them. They deliver a lot of thrust with very soft effort. The trade off tends to be higher frequency but I'm interested to see the impact of this wider blade on that equation.
Thanks for the user/performance update Fondueset!
An update from my end: The first limited production run for the Orca2 has finally begun. The problem is that the job shop that is doing the plastic forming lost the original order and those parts are going to be really late. They were supposed to be done last week, but when I called for an update, the rep I submitted the order with at the end of June was no longer employed there, and he apparently failed to handoff the order to anyone else. I had to start over at the beginning with them, and I am expecting it to be another 6 weeks before I will have the parts such that I can complete any of the Orca2s that I'm currently assembling.
I've been continuing to refine and improve the strap system for the Orca2. It is amazing how much thought and effort goes into something that seems so simple. However, the effort is noticeable, and I'm quite pleased with all the improvements. I think customers will be pleased also. The latest configuration feels very solid and connected, and it has excellent power transfer.
In spite of the delay, I'm feeling good about reaching the production milestone on the Orca2, but I realize that it is a high-end fin that is not for everyone. Still, I feel this milestone is cause for some celebration! For readers here that are interested in spending less $$$ than the cost of an Orca2, but would still like swim recreationally with a DOL-Fin, I'd like to offer a limited special price on the DOL-Fin X-20 at only $650+shipping, for instock fin sizes. That's a significant discount from the regular price of $890. Currently I have at least 1 of every shoe size available in stock, but that could change quickly, so if you are interested, don't wait. Send me a message that you want DeeperBlue special pricing on your DOL-Fin X-20!
True, but I would love some good close up shots...There is a good video in the first post on this thread.
Hi Noa, I can get some dry detail shots for you later today.True, but I would love some good close up shots...
Of the new Orca ? Thanks...Hi Noa, I can get some dry detail shots for you later today.