Force Fins and finning backwards

[puddlediver]

Hi,

I went on the DIR demo at Capers on Saturday and enjoyed it thoroughly. One of the demonstrations was swimming backwards. Now, try as I might I could not manage that.

In the swimming pool without diving kit I can swim the length of the baths backwards (much to peoples consternation) so I know that I can do it. However, get me in the dive kit and I just can't do it.

I use force fins which I can get to do flutter and frog kick and also helecopter turns. But no way can I get to go backwards.

Is there anyone out there who uses force fins and can get them to propel them backwards? If so, I'd like to hear from you to see if I'm wasting my time trying in them or not.

Cheers

Lyvia

I do appreciate that they are not very DIR

[Reikimaster]

i cant even do it in JetFins!

[puddlediver]

Originally Posted by Reikimaster

i cant even do it in JetFins!

He he. Don't know whether that has cheered me up or depressed me. I did see the guys doing the backwards swimming so it IS possible. Perhaps lots of effort needed.

Lyv

[Mal Bridgeman]

The skills is taught in the pool with no fins on, in GUE Fundamentals ..... basically (in my view) because fins actually get in the way of the skill!

The thing to remember is that is it a 3 stage process :

1) The set up

The slow stretching out of the legs. Done so slowly that no forward motion is created.

2) The snap

The pulling back of the ankles towards the shoulders whilst making sure the knees stay in line with the rest of the body.

3) The pause

Allow some time for the miniscule amount of backwards motion to occur

then set up again.

When you have a completed a few strokes the set up becomes easier because you are actually travelling backwards and the pause can be a little shorter. In people who are really proficient it appears to be a 2 stage activity of set up/snap set up/snap but in reality it's always 3 stage.

The profile of Force fins means the set up is hard to do because stretching the legs actually causes a forwards motion. My guess is that if you did it really really really really slowly, it might work....or just buy jetfins cos that's what everyone else uses to do it in

HTH
Mal

[Scubee]

I can do it in force fins

I could show you, but I can't describe it because i can't see what the fins are doing - it is a bit like backwards breastsroke legs.

[puddlediver]

Hi Mal,

I shall try that technique out asap. It's not the method I've been using - its more like a breaststroke in reverse....... I think I was expecting to see immediate backwards movement which apparently isn't going to happen. Interesting about the pushing out propelling me forwards, was doing that bit too forcefully, if you'll excuse the pun. He he he.

Hi Scubee,

Yippee, if you can do it then so shall I...... how's that for confidence. Chucking out the fins is unnecessary then. At least until I've given it enough of a go.

Yes I do understand what you mean about it being difficult to describe.

More patience required I think.

Cheers

Lyv

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

2) The snap

The pulling back of the ankles towards the shoulders whilst making sure the knees stay in line with the rest of the body.

Originally Posted by Scubee

it is a bit like backwards breastsroke legs.

That would not be "DIR style" backfinning though because the knees should not drop below the hips, which they do with breaststroke.....

HTH
Mal

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

That would not be "DIR style" backfinning though because the knees should not drop below the hips, which they do with breaststroke.....

HTH
Mal

Hmmm... a bit like.... not exactly like.

See... I said it was difficult to explain!

[neilh]

Originally Posted by puddlediver

Yippee, if you can do it then so shall I...... how's that for confidence. Chucking out the fins is unnecessary then. At least until I've given it enough of a go.

It is a tricky one to master, but as Mal says it's possible in the pool without any fins - because the fins aren't actually the reason for the backwards movement. It's more about the calves and a bit of the side of the fins moving you back, so in theory the type of fins don't matter for this kick.

Having said that you do need to make sure that when you push your feet out backwards to get ready for the power stroke you don't end up propelling yourself forwards. Jetfins are pretty stiff so if you put your feet together and gently push them back they should slide through the water without pushing you forwards. I suspect that some other fins might be a bit too flexible and could bend as you do this, presenting more of the blade and causing some forwards movement.

This is a complete guess though as I've only watched people in jetfins doing backkicks!

It might be worth borrowing some jetfins sometime and giving it a try with those. If you can manage it then you know your technique is fine and you just need to work on doing it in the fins you have.

You could also try hooking up with someone who has jetfins and can backkick no bother and swap fins to see how you both get on

[Skiverdiver]

I have not seen many divers finning backwards?? - despite the fins!

Finning forwards is much easier!...