Problem with monofinning

[ADELENELYNCH]

I just took my monofins out for the second time ever today for a trial in the water. I find it very hard to swim in a straight line in the water and my right side of the fin seems to be slip on my foot and hence my fins tilt sideways. My first thought is that the fins are too big, but with my neoprene socks on, the foot pockets are snug and my front of my feet cramp after 15 mins. Anyone had these problems when first starting out w monofins or are they normal teething problems because of improper technique or something?

[Evita]

It sounds perfectly normal, don't worry about it. After a few sessions you will get better used to wearing the fin and navigating it.

It is not uncommon for competitive freedivers to wear fins that are so tight that they become painful to wear after less than an hour, but if you're just using it for training and recreational freediving, I don't see the point. It is lucky then that the footpockets are just slightly too big, because that way you have more options for how to wear it.

Maybe you should try to fold a plastic bag around each foot instead of the thicker neorene socks - the plastic bags (think thin bin liner or a large "freezing bag", 15 litres or equivalent) will give your feet more space in the footpockets compared to the socks and you can better adjust the thickness needed in each footpocket if you think the right one needs a bit more. I'm not joking, we really do use plastic bags as socks in monofin pockets, they prevent chafing too :-)

[Erik]

Normal learning curve stuff... wait until you try diving straight down a weighted line then you'll really be upset haha! It'll come with practice amigo... remember that it's a very unnatural movement for a biped.
I'm not convinced that monofins need to be as tight as some say... there are some comfortable ones out there that work fine. If you're racing, then tight is right, but for recreational freediver...?

[yoda turtle]

Hi There, had my brand new mono in the water for the first time ever today and exactly the same thing happened to me, feet cramped after about 15 mins the foot pockets are a little large 'so i have neoprene socks (gonna try the bags now though thanks for that Evita!) and towards the end of my finning it felt like the mono was tilting to one side!!!! but Wow what fun it was... incredibly aquatic... I want more!

[ADELENELYNCH]

Hey guys, thanks for the tips!

Evita, I'll grab my trash bin lining bag. Wouldn't it make the feet more slippery within the foot pockets? I'll certainly give it a try.

But it's good to know it's normal learning curve thing and not that I need another pair of monofins (still got my house mortgaged for this pair). It felt like learning to ride a bike all over again and trying to keep in a straight line. How odd! Normally I go 50m doing dolphin kicks w my scuba fins but with my monos, I was struggling for 25m! Will keep practicing. I saw this page on Umberto's book about practicing finning by pushing again the wall in the pool. If the pool is deep enough, then fin while pushing on the bottom of the pool. Mine isn't deep enough so will try finning against the side of the pool.

[ADELENELYNCH]

Just a thought : when foot pockets are too tight, aren't you risking cramps? And how relaxing can it be finning with feet hurting like hell.......

[Evita]

It gives you something to think about in stead of I NEED TO BREATHE

[Erik]

One thing to be aware of is that now you have a massive amount of surface area pushing water compared to the bi-fins, ie: coming up from 30 metres can be done with 10 kicks or less, depending on the suit/weights etc.... go slooooowww... 8^)
Cheers,
Erik

[monkeyhatfork]

like Erik and Evita said, the cramping will go away, as far as holding a straight line, that should come to you quickly as well, you may be using too much leg, not have enough core strenth, you want to make sure it's a full body movement initiated by shoulders then your legs and fin more or less just fall in line with the movement. All this will work itself out after you get a few sessions in. Look on youtube for dynamic video's I found the Peter Pederson 200m video very helpful when I was starting out. Relax too-if you tense up it will add to cramping

[Kars]

In the beginning most beginners feet are not very flexible. With time your feet will become more relaxed and flexible and the pocked will fit fine.

About the sliding blade, it's a matter of technique and practice.
Mostlikely you're flexibility is limiting your ability to gradually build up pressure on the fin's blade whilst maintaining stability.

Back, belly strenght and flexibility and coordination are what beginners are seeking

Another idea for building those is:

On the back, on the surface, wearing normal scuba fins, arms overhead carrying a 1KG weight swimming lanes. I like to swim about 1km this way, where I have a incremental increase in intensity ending in 4x50m sprinting. After this I need some recovering breathing and than feel much more flexible. Than I'll put on my dear 'Natalia' and dance the gracious glide dance

In general, learning monofinnin needs a searching mind with discipline to swim long distances to anker movement, increase flex, stamina and strength.

Kars

[ADELENELYNCH]

Great tip guys! Thanks!

I have an old injury on my left shoulder joint and can't fully extend my left arm above my head post-surgery. So I find it easier to fin with my arms by my side. I know......it's odd.... but it may be better than having my arms hanging at 30degree angle to the plane of my back. Meanwhile, I'm trying to do some physio to regain that extension.

I think I have a combination of all the problems you all mentioned.....kicking too fast, without using the full power of the body rather than just the knees, limited flexibility etc. Will focus on getting my technique right. Practice practice practice!! Will search for Peter Pedersen's monofin clip to watch.

[salibandy]

YouTube - Elisabeth Kristoffersen 50m DYN Apnea...

[ADELENELYNCH]

Thanks Salibandy! Her stroke is beautiful.........

[fflupo]

try stroke and glide, stroke and glide ..

[ADELENELYNCH]

Been back in the pool practicing and getting used to toe cramps now and the foot pockets are a bit more comfortable now. Questions :

1) Is there any way to tell if I'm bending my knees too much short of video-ing myself underwater? Also, I don't know how "deep" my body oscillations should be to make the most efficient stroke..... (not sure if you guys understand my question...)

2) I tried slow strokes....and as fflpo said "stroke and glide". But it takes me more strokes to cover the same distance than my scuba bi-fins. Doesn't sound very efficient to me. Is that normal?