 |
In
the Beginning. I started bodysurfing, riding longboards and then
shortboards and at the same time paipo boarding, back in the '60s, while
growing up in Puerto Rico. At that time I used whatever flippers
were around, i.e., moslty scuba diving style fins (e.g., Cressi's). Sometime
during the late '60s, or certainly beginning in the early 70s and into
the early 80s, I used Voit Duck Feet. I was never crazy about the Voits
but they worked and I couldn't afford trying out other brands.
Favorite Fins for the 80s and Into the New Millenium. For the next 20 yrs I have used Churchills almost exclusively, but the older ones with rubber and flexible blades. Not as much quick thrust as all the stiff blades that have blanketed the market the last decade or so. About 10 yrs ago Churchill changed the materials used in the fins which resulted in a stiff blade. I've been buying used Churchills wherever possible but that supply has pretty much run the course. Emergency Replacement, Dec 2003. Mrs. Santa was so kind as to buy me some new Viper V-5 Flex Model (orange spot) flippers (fins) during our trip to PR, as my trusty ol' flexi Churchills lefty cracked below the foot pocket. During the past two years I had bought a couple of close-out priced pairs of flippers at Shoreline Board Shop (Redley's flex and Hydro Techs) but haven't been pleased with either set. Vipers had not appealed to me in the past because of their stiffness. Have not yet tried the Tech2's nor the Slashers in the water, but the Slashers for some reason ride low in the ankle/heal and also bite into my ankle bone. The V-5 Flex'ers have passed the test as a good substitute and replacement for my old, preferred flexi Churchills. The paddling in cruise mode wears on the ankles a bit more but with some adjustment in the paddling motion they are working out better. Kinda tweaked my right knee during the adjustment phase during a heavy current period at a shallow left reef on the NW coast. On the plus side, these fins provide more thrust during wave catching than my old Churchillls. Bottom line: a decent replacement and addition to the fin (flippers) quiver. Good enough to buy the larger size for cold water surf (to accomodate booties). Rod Rodgers
|