"how to" question

[Andrew the fish]

just got my monofin, first one ever, and noticed my distance and time reduced dramatically when compared to doing same dolphin kicks with my stereofins. Monofin is of medium to soft stiffness, I'd say it is comfortable stiffness, not heavy blades like the ones I tried before. Must be something wrong with my technique. How do I practice finswimming alone?

Another question is turns, it turns out that turns with monofins are a bit different, at least I cannot turn with whatever method I was doing before. Any good tutorial or video on turns?

 

[monkeyhatfork]

look on youtube for some technique training stuff there is a bunch, if just interested in training the movement allot by yourself, you could do it on the surface with a frontmount snorkel you can swim endlessly that way and build up the proper core strength and movement, dyn i'd keep to shorter distance if by yourself and just work on the technique

 

[monkeyhatfork]

if you search around there was a thread on turns, but basically as you aproach the wall if turning right point right arm back towards the other end of pool and this will help lead your body around-after you turn get both arms forward and then kick off

 

[trux]

Have a look at this video tutorial: APNEA.cz - Monofin Training Tutorial

 

[Andrew the fish]

aah... fin-city. Thats where I was referred to this tutorial sometime ago. Real shame fin-city is down, but then, discussions were so anemic it was obvious site ain't gona make it. Thanks for the link trux

 

[trux]

The tutorial is not from fin-city. It comes from the thesis of Ales Medek on the Palacky Univesity, Olomouc, Czech Republic. It was published at Apnea.cz with the permission of the thesis tutor, and co-autor, Dr. Svozil.

 

[Andrew the fish]

ok, another question on turns. Well, first off - that one hand to the wall another to the other side of the pool works like magic. But when I complete the turn, pushing away from the wall with my feet like I used to do with stereofins doesn't work very well. Monofin "glues" to the surface and actually pulls me back. I wathched some poeple's turns on utube and noticed some people do not push off the wall at all, keep monofin in verical position with bent knees and then just resume finning. I tried it and it helped a little but I am still not happy. I believe I am missing something.

 

[neurodoc]

I found this video to be helpful:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK-HlxwVLzg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL]YouTube - DOL-Fin Training Video - Balance and Control Part 1.wmv[/ame]