Sore shins?? Bad fins or bad boots

[divingtigger]

Hi Guys,

I currently dive with Mares Plana Avanti Quattro fins and boots and have for around 7 years. About mid way through every dice my shins start to hurt and start to feel better on the dive boat after I've taken them off. I don't do a whole lot of diving 3 or 4 a year on average since the kids were born. I figured that my legs just needed to adapt to the fins. I'm getting tired of sore legs after diving and using lots of air to compensate. Should I switch to a split fin, wider boots, or something else?

Thanks

 

[CompuDude]

Frog kick. LearnIt-DoIt-Loveit.

 

[evil_xander]

Frog kick. LearnIt-DoIt-Loveit.

True indeed.

Plus, when you go dry, even less fatigue. Big difference.

 

[wjknobles]

i agree ... the frog kick is great

also, just diving a few times a year does not keep your legs acclimated to diving, so they will be a bit sore

 

[divingtigger]

Frog kick?? Can some one explain?

Thanks. Once I get more info on it I'll try it

 

[meesier42]

bad fins- yes
the problem is all about how the power is tranmitted into the fin.
do a little test, form a figure 4 with one of you legs and grab your foot down near your toes and resist with your leg. You should feel the same stretch as you do in your plana avanti's, focused in your shins and hamstrings.
Now, do the same thing but grab your foot up near where you shoe laces are and resist. You should find the the tension shifts up to your quads. Now you have focused the power onto a larger muscle group and away from your shins and hamstrings. Same power output, larger muscle group-> therefore less fatigue and better air consumption.

Guess what, Force Fins already do this. Try getting yourself a set of the ForceFin Pro's and see if you still have the same problems.

 

[Coalcracker]

Frog kick. learnIt-DoIt-Loveit.

Some like to frog kick, most fish and marine mammals seem to prefer a smooth flutter or dolphin type kick. For that open water style of diving the better split fins are way more efficient less effort, faster response, better speeds in currents etc. Stiff paddles do have there place, they are not the answer for all.

 

[cmufieldhockey8]

Where on your shins do you hurt? On the bone? Is something digging into them?

 

[mkutyna]

Some like to frog kick, most fish and marine mammals seem to prefer a smooth flutter or dolphin type kick. For that open water style of diving the better split fins are way more efficient less effort, faster response, better speeds in currents etc. Stiff paddles do have there place, they are not the answer for all.

I don't know of many marine creatures that have two dangly things at their rear end used for propulsion. Most have just a large single tail. Frogs have two dangly things though. They swim pretty darned good too.

 

[Coalcracker]

I don't know of many marine creatures that have two dangly things at their rear end used for propulsion. Most have just a large single tail. Frogs have two dangly things though. They swim pretty darned good too.

Well, frogs swim like frogs. As far as split tails, try Whales, Dolphins, seals, sea lions, and fast moving pelagic fish, all have a split tail. No wonder why. Mother Nature figured it out eons ago.

Nature's Wing