Surface Finning Bifin Technique?

[jimqpublic]

This seems like a lame question but is there any secret to surface swimming? I have fairly soft but quite long plastic Riffe brand bifins. They seem nice and powerful underwater but on the surface I feel that I expend a lot of energy without much speed.

Should I bend at the hip and knee to keep the fin deep in the water, or use less angulation and just focus on the down kick?

Thanks
Jim

 

[sickbugs]

tried using ankle weights? some people swear by them, others dont like them, but ive found that they help a lot with surface swimming

 

[cdavis]

Surface drag makes swimming on the surface inherently less efficient, plus you can't use an efficient wide slow stroke. If swimming flat, focus on the down stroke, relatively fast with lots knee and ankle action. It also helps to turn a little sideways so you can widen your stroke, more like being underwater. This bothers some people, but works well if it fits you. If you are trying to be quiet on the surface, turn sideways or get a soft fin that also has a bend to it.

Connor

 

[Narsil]

A fin with angle from the footpocket helps with finning on the surface as well.

 

[jimqpublic]

I tried ankle weights but hated them for breathe up and diving. I float vertically while wearing them instead of horizontally. My footpockets have a decent angle.

As with all things I think I just need practice.

 

[naiad]

It takes a while to get the weight distribution right. It is hard to find a balance, and easy to end up with legs sinking, head sinking, fins kicking the surface...

If you float vertically instead of horizontally, you have too much weight, or wrong distribution.

 

[jimqpublic]

My folly was in spending $20 for a pair of 1 kg ankle weights. About 500 g each would probably be fine.

I may make a lighter pair from bicycle inner tubes filled with shot and threaded through Fastex buckles. Might do a light neck weight as well.

 

[naiad]

I make a neck weight by joining two ankle weights. It works very well for dynamic.

 

[trux]

You probably know it, but I mention it anyway: when a bigger distance needs to be crossed quickly, it is usually easier to turn on your back - in this way you can go almost double the normal (face down) speed, and it is less tiring.

 

[jimqpublic]

I did learn that on my own. I thought it was cheating though.

 

[sickbugs]

only problem with that is how much you miss out on under you.