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"starfins" hyper
- Thread starterAlex "STARFINS"
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Ok, here comes my Starfins review as promised to Alex.
Since I'm a bloody rooky in Monofins and technique (I started with a Mono in March), I have not much of a comparison to other brands nor experience how a Mono should feel.
Last December I tried a Mono for the first time. I tried a Starfin and a WW Glide.
To me the quality or workmanship of Starfins is superior to WW - better gluing and assembling.
In the water the blades seem to work similiar to each other. But the most important reason to choose a Starfin to me are the footpockets. If you slip into the footpockets of the right size, they feel firm but comfortable for the pre chosen time.
After talking to many others, fitting is a delicate issue. Many order a fin which doesn't fit in the end.
Anyway, in January I decided to order from Alex. Being anxious to get a fin with the correct parameters I wrote a big bunch of emails to Alex (sorry for that
!). He answered always very friendly and mostly prompt. Since we are from different countries and English is not our first language, it felt necessary to get my questions and wishes confirmed.
Paying the fin was somewhat unhandy. Money transfer to the Ukraine is rather uncomfortable, since you can't just pay via credit card or PayPal. Due to the lack of alternatives Alex prefers Moneygram, which felt expensive (17€) and a bit adventurous for you have to go to some garage internet shop and pay the transfer cash. I've seen that Moneybookers could be a reasonable option.
The fin finally arrived end of March. I was relieved that all wishes where perfectly realized. :inlove
I can wear the fin for about 30 minutes before it starts to hurt, the angle is about 28°, the blade stiffness is 3 (from odd 2 to 7) which feels soft. The only thing is that the fin is neutral at about 4-5 meters - I wanted it to be neutral at about 2 meters. But I guess this is very difficult to implement.
Ok. These where many details and stories around the fin. But how does it feel and work in the pool?
In the water it feels like a part of me (which I can't control yet, like someone who has to learn to use his legs).
After a few short sessions in the pool I feel much more comfortable now and with a nero comp suit I feel like a dart. It's pure fun! And so easy to get fast that I need to force myself to slow down.
Here is a video of me using the fin.
(You may notice that the blade v-bends and I'm wondering if this is intentional ...)
All in all the fin must be perfect for me, since I could do a 200m in the Swiss Champs... :mute
Since I'm a bloody rooky in Monofins and technique (I started with a Mono in March), I have not much of a comparison to other brands nor experience how a Mono should feel.
Last December I tried a Mono for the first time. I tried a Starfin and a WW Glide.
To me the quality or workmanship of Starfins is superior to WW - better gluing and assembling.
In the water the blades seem to work similiar to each other. But the most important reason to choose a Starfin to me are the footpockets. If you slip into the footpockets of the right size, they feel firm but comfortable for the pre chosen time.
After talking to many others, fitting is a delicate issue. Many order a fin which doesn't fit in the end.
Anyway, in January I decided to order from Alex. Being anxious to get a fin with the correct parameters I wrote a big bunch of emails to Alex (sorry for that
!). He answered always very friendly and mostly prompt. Since we are from different countries and English is not our first language, it felt necessary to get my questions and wishes confirmed.Paying the fin was somewhat unhandy. Money transfer to the Ukraine is rather uncomfortable, since you can't just pay via credit card or PayPal. Due to the lack of alternatives Alex prefers Moneygram, which felt expensive (17€) and a bit adventurous for you have to go to some garage internet shop and pay the transfer cash. I've seen that Moneybookers could be a reasonable option.
The fin finally arrived end of March. I was relieved that all wishes where perfectly realized. :inlove
I can wear the fin for about 30 minutes before it starts to hurt, the angle is about 28°, the blade stiffness is 3 (from odd 2 to 7) which feels soft. The only thing is that the fin is neutral at about 4-5 meters - I wanted it to be neutral at about 2 meters. But I guess this is very difficult to implement.
Ok. These where many details and stories around the fin. But how does it feel and work in the pool?
In the water it feels like a part of me (which I can't control yet, like someone who has to learn to use his legs
). After a few short sessions in the pool I feel much more comfortable now and with a nero comp suit I feel like a dart. It's pure fun! And so easy to get fast that I need to force myself to slow down.
Here is a video of me using the fin.
(You may notice that the blade v-bends and I'm wondering if this is intentional ...)
All in all the fin must be perfect for me, since I could do a 200m in the Swiss Champs... :mute
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I thought you have already two ;-)
I first saw it when a friend of mine used it.
Ok it's a bit hard to see on that video. At 1:13 I took a screenshot:
Attachments
That is normal blade flex - V-bend occurs laterally across the blade(so it looks like a 'v' when views from straight behind the swimmer)
I do - but one is an older one without the 28+ degree blade angle so, while first rate; it doesn't count toward my policy of redundancy in most loved free diving essentials..
since this is your first mono - and since you can already wear it for 30 minutes - there is a very good chance your feet will adjust and you'll be able to wear it much longer.
Soft is definitely how you want your first fin (better for rec diving and horizontal swims too). Afterwhile you'll 'feel-into' the fin and find the best pace.
I do - but one is an older one without the 28+ degree blade angle so, while first rate; it doesn't count toward my policy of redundancy in most loved free diving essentials..
since this is your first mono - and since you can already wear it for 30 minutes - there is a very good chance your feet will adjust and you'll be able to wear it much longer.
Soft is definitely how you want your first fin (better for rec diving and horizontal swims too). Afterwhile you'll 'feel-into' the fin and find the best pace.
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Yes, soft is what I wanted to have. For pool use I don't see a reason why it should be harder. And even for CWT I assume it would bring me back from -70m or deeper. Therefore it will take some time until the fin might be over powered.
Also smaller footpockets wouldn't be an improvement of fitting (I'm already used to climbing shoes, which bend your toes up to 90°).
"That is normal blade flex - V-bend occurs laterally across the blade(so it looks like a 'v' when views from straight behind the swimmer)"
That's what I'm referring to. You can see the v on the edited picture below although it is a bit blurry.
Also smaller footpockets wouldn't be an improvement of fitting (I'm already used to climbing shoes, which bend your toes up to 90°).
"That is normal blade flex - V-bend occurs laterally across the blade(so it looks like a 'v' when views from straight behind the swimmer)"
That's what I'm referring to. You can see the v on the edited picture below although it is a bit blurry.
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Hi Maui,
Thanks for the review!
I've watched your video, thanks for posting that!
I noticed you have an explosive aggressive swimming technique. I think your fin will work much better if you have a smooth push, lifting your ass up. Aim for a smaller amplitude, smoother, longer time action.
The V-bent may actually disappear almost when you develop a smoother technique. Henning told me it has nice stabilising effect, especially enjoyable when swimming in the narcotic end of a long dynamic dive.
V-bent is pretty usual for soft blades, or medium-soft blades.
Thanks for the review!
I've watched your video, thanks for posting that!
I noticed you have an explosive aggressive swimming technique. I think your fin will work much better if you have a smooth push, lifting your ass up. Aim for a smaller amplitude, smoother, longer time action.
The V-bent may actually disappear almost when you develop a smoother technique. Henning told me it has nice stabilising effect, especially enjoyable when swimming in the narcotic end of a long dynamic dive.
V-bent is pretty usual for soft blades, or medium-soft blades.
a good practice is to swim on the surface - focusing on keeping your hands parallel to the surface and at the same depth, your legs locked, and swim by raising your rear out of the water. If you focus on all of these things at once for several hours a day you should be clinically insane within a month.
Don't worry - it means you are making progress.
Don't worry - it means you are making progress.
Thanks Kars and Fondueset for the good hints!
I'll take them seriously. I'll get myself a swimming snorkel for surface swimming.
So far my training was 30 minutes once a week, which is definitely not sufficient ...
I really need to slow down and stay relaxed. During the first 100m my speed was 1.4m/s :head...
@Dave:
Your Starfin is too stiff for you, right? I've read that you prefer a soft blade in the pool, but what about CWT? Do probably don't use the same fin with the added weight ...
I'll take them seriously. I'll get myself a swimming snorkel for surface swimming.
So far my training was 30 minutes once a week, which is definitely not sufficient ...
I really need to slow down and stay relaxed. During the first 100m my speed was 1.4m/s :head...
@Dave:
Your Starfin is too stiff for you, right? I've read that you prefer a soft blade in the pool, but what about CWT? Do probably don't use the same fin with the added weight ...
Maui - part of my workout is to swim as slowly as possible - for example I've taken 2'20 to do 75. During these swims I try to swim with the least possible effort. However - you'll want to work on getting more movement into the middle back and hips - locking the knees - while energy consuming - helps shift the movement up. Eventually you'll feel how the backstroke revolves into a kind of lunge as the movement travels up the spine - causing the arms to slide forward just as you go into the downstroke. I generally work with 25 meter swims with varying breathe ups and paces.
I also suggest kicking continuously rather than working with kick-kick-glide in the beginning - or at least making that a big part of your training. You'll learn more about how to move by moving.
Alex's fins have tremendously responsive blades - by slowing down, working on form and technique and feeling the blade you'll make better use of the fin as you learn how it wants to be swum. At first this is a lot of just letting yourself do what you do and feeling into it. Once you've a good sense of your way of moving you can begin to make corrections here and there.
I also suggest kicking continuously rather than working with kick-kick-glide in the beginning - or at least making that a big part of your training. You'll learn more about how to move by moving.
Alex's fins have tremendously responsive blades - by slowing down, working on form and technique and feeling the blade you'll make better use of the fin as you learn how it wants to be swum. At first this is a lot of just letting yourself do what you do and feeling into it. Once you've a good sense of your way of moving you can begin to make corrections here and there.
Right now I do about an hour a day - but I used to just go two or three times a week. Anyway they're just ideas to use or not when you've the time My friend Pete - who actually teaches mono fin - suggests using those little fins.
My friend Pete - who actually teaches mono fin - suggests using those little fins.
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