Monofins For Freedivers: Part I
Posted By Aharon & MT Solomons on 18 April 2005
We have been intermittently following the debate concerning the use of the monofin in freediving and would like to share some of our findings.
Two years ago we put together the first experimental monofin/freedive clinic where we assembled some unique elements. We put together the leading trainers in monofin swimming, namely, the Russian coaches from Tomsk University (who train both the Russian national team and their chief rivals, the Chinese), the leading specialist monofin manufacturer, and a representative panel of freedivers ranging from elite competitive level to raw novice. The group included advanced freedivers who already had experience with the monofin, advanced freedivers who had never used a monofin and a novice freediver with no experience of the monofin.
The objectives were to find:
- What is the optimum style, and why?
- What are the optimum rhythm and amplitude of movement?
- What kind of monofin and what stiffness of blade and, if individual what the relevant criteria for monofin choice should be?
- What compromises and adaptations had to be made to suit the specific needs of the freediver?
- What is the best training method for the monofin freediver ?
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- what are these?
