Can anyone share workouts that are nothing but kicking with fins? Also, has any used fins intended for snorkeling or SCUBA rather than the small types of fins competitive swimmers now use? I thought some military units primarily relied upon "finning" and may have some training advice.
Background: My recent swimming has been just for fitness and cross-training. After months of pain, I visited a doctor to learn that I have an impingement in my shoulder. He's recommended breaststroke, but this doesn't work with my knees. I'm hoping to get back in the water during lap swim, but use fins for an all-kicking workouts.
Thanks in advance.
I participate in an annual open water championship at a lake in Brasília, about two hours drive from where I live. They have 300 meters for kids, and 1,000 and 3,000 meters for adults. It is age graded and I believe there are about six events during the year. However one of them last July was co-sponsored by the fire-fighers. They had this event which was called "equipped swimming" for 3,000 meters. I read the rules and thought they meant swimming 3,000 meters using snorkel, mask and finns. To my surprise when watching the arrivals (the departure was on the other side of the lake where the competitors were boated to), I noticed no one was using their arms. It seems there is this cathegory, used mainly by the military, where you are allowed to use only your legs keeping your arms up front or straight down your body. Darn, those guys swim purty fast! Coming in you could see their difficulty in seeing which way to go, and they were constantly lifting their heads above the water to find their way. They all used longer finns than those speedos we use for training. Lastly, when we do use finns, most use the scuba or snorkeling types but I have my own swimming finns and my lane partner gets ahead of me with his huge diving finns. I am faster by aboutk 5 seconds per 25 meters but on these specific days he stays with me and has a huge grin on his face. I use finns when swimming alone (without the coach and the group) on weekends. It makes swimming easier and less boring maybe. Take care, billy fanstone.
