My duckfeet are dying, need some sugestions!

[KenM]

I'm taking a correspondence course......from Geno!
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edited for trowt

[kneelingBROTHA]

Kicks don't have much thrust, plain and simple, but they are very light and compact. That is why I bought a pair; they are good fins to throw in a backpack and take a casual bodysurf with. Their fin pocket is extremely soft, and would be comfortable to me but my feet are gigantic. Still, they are good travel fins. And, even though they pinch my monstrous feet, I can still wear them without fin socks or booties and remain fin-cut-free! Soft, soft soft.

Hey FLWaves:

The BluntCuts have more thrust, but the Kicks are more comfortable in bare feet, without sacrificing too much thrust.

If I were out somewhere big with serious rips or currents, I'd probably opt for the fins with the most thrust, weight and comfort would take 2nd fiddle to being able to get around as needed. Having said that, my vanity makes me arm paddle a lot, so I'm using the fins for the leisurely cruise out to the peak when I'm tired or trying to play nice with everyone else and not take too many waves, and for quick power on take off's, like everyone else.

I'd recommend trying a pair of the Kicks. There was a pair of Large that didn't sell on Ebay, so you might try contacting the seller through ebay and work a deal if that's your size.

Closed item# 160215454835

Hope that helps.

Where are you in Fl? I grew up in Gainesville, surfing mostly up around St. Augustine: Blowhole, A Street, Vilano etc.

T

[Nov]

Kids..... Wink

Crusty old buggers.

See, two can play at that game.

Thanks for answering the $64 who in their right mind sets out to ride a board Question.

1. you don't get it.....surfers ride waves...that's the source.

And your board is your connection to the wave! If you don't have a good connection with your board, you will not have a good connection with the wave.

2 you worried about drag.....go ride bigger and more powerfull surf...the concerns you have will be moot.

Yeah, sure. I'll just go and magic up some bigger waves.
I'd prefer to be a surfer that can ride and enjoy all types of waves, not one of the guys who whines that it isn't 8ft and perfect.
Besides, I ride a pin-tail when it gets big, flippers just get in the way.

....don't know of anyone complaining about drag in big surf....just issues with harnessing and controling all that natural energy.....something the Ozzie style of surfin' can't quite embrace.

Now this is absolutely hilarious! Bagging Australian surfing in general? You have got to be kidding. I don't think you need reminding that both the current kneeboarding and stand up surfing world champs are both Australians. Not only that, but some of the best surfers of all time are Australians.

But wait, let me guess, competitions are for 'kooks'?

[jdc]

[quote=]
But wait, let me guess, competitions are for 'kooks'?

[/quote]



i guess that means (since youve called competitors kooks) your not a kook Nov!

but your also a competitor

[RW]

And your board is your connection to the wave! If you don't have a good connection with your board, you will not have a good connection with the wave.

......where's the soul in yur equation?....you'll not find it ridin' boards...but you'll get it surfin' waves that's for sure....yur stick is just a tool to tap into the source...it's not the source no matter how many ways ya try to sell that concept.

I don't think you need reminding that both the current kneeboarding and stand up surfing world champs are both Australians. Not only that, but some of the best surfers of all time are Australians.

I'm not impressed, dazzled, or even interested in that inane pursuit of idolotry. You mistake contest performance as surfin'...it's not....it's simply a subjective game designed around those who need reassurance and lots of attention.....all of which is so far removed from the roots of surfin' it's unimaginaginable on how it came to be....that is....for those who weren't around to witness the progressive decline of a lifestyle into a marjetable commodity. Titles are for those who need them. To each his own I say.

....and yes there have been some good surf cats from OzzieLand....MP being the best I've ever seen followed in order.....Ian, Elekerton, MR, Rabbit, and Occy....all became Masters at Sunset....and ya can see I quit paying attention after the last one....as surfing rapidly became a formulated point per move game instead of a soul driven dance of self expression.

But wait, let me guess, competitions are for 'kooks'?

.....you said that not me......

Competition is for people who need lots of afirmation and attention....everyone has a right to meet their needs....however it is not what the majority of the surfing world holds in awe....only by the small minority of those who are involved and enamored with that kinda surfing.

Hope ya understand the differences between cultures and the history....I got no problems with you or it....but I do enjoy the dialogue thus far.


oh...and ya don't need to "magic up" big surf...if you can pull that off I'll gladly pay ya for yur services on a daily basis....I'd most likely loose a lot of this crust too. But ya can save up and buy a ticket to the Country to get a full comprehensive demonstration on the comparitive differences which are always under hot debate around here.

...think about it sometime.....those standup guys did/are doin' something right by playin' in the big league....

[frankfqr]

Howdy RW, there has always been an underlying ingredient to your input. Lost to most due to the delivery I suppose. But that last one I had to respond to. Excellent take . Not because I'm older now do I lament the loss of the pursuit of "soul". Surfing is just something I've always seen as a soulfull, very personal pursuit of a unique liquid artform. I didn't like the direction the mainstream was going long ago, and I hate what it has become. Your thought out take was much appreciated, I liked seeing it put in words.......Frank.

[Nov]

And your board is your connection to the wave! If you don't have a good connection with your board, you will not have a good connection with the wave.

......where's the soul in yur equation?....you'll not find it ridin' boards...but you'll get it surfin' waves that's for sure....yur stick is just a tool to tap into the source...it's not the source no matter how many ways ya try to sell that concept.

Great, instead of admitting that I had a point you're just going to start rambling about vague crap like 'soul'.

I'm not impressed, dazzled, or even interested in that inane pursuit of idolotry. You mistake contest performance as surfin'...it's not....it's simply a subjective game designed around those who need reassurance and lots of attention.....all of which is so far removed from the roots of surfin' it's unimaginaginable on how it came to be....that is....for those who weren't around to witness the progressive decline of a lifestyle into a marjetable commodity. Titles are for those who need them. To each his own I say.

Hahaha. Well this has told me just about everything I need to know. Surfing has changed RW! Get over it! It's never going to go back to 'the good old days'.
Contests are not the be all and end all, even the most competitive surfers will tell you that. Surfing is still done purely for the love of it, and guess what, people actually do enjoy competitive surfing! Competitions are simply one facet of a surfers life.

It takes pure skill to do what those guys do, you would do well not to write them off like that.

....and yes there have been some good surf cats from OzzieLand....MP being the best I've ever seen followed in order.....Ian, Elekerton, MR, Rabbit, and Occy....all became Masters at Sunset....and ya can see I quit paying attention after the last one....as surfing rapidly became a formulated point per move game instead of a soul driven dance of self expression.

Well at least you admit that. Next time, mind not writing off an entire continent of surfers?

But wait, let me guess, competitions are for 'kooks'?

.....you said that not me......

Because I was being sarcastic and I could see what was coming.

Competition is for people who need lots of afirmation and attention....everyone has a right to meet their needs....however it is not what the majority of the surfing world holds in awe....only by the small minority of those who are involved and enamored with that kinda surfing.

RW, when was the last time you went in a contest?

oh...and ya don't need to "magic up" big surf...

Mind telling me how I can surf bigger waves regularly then?

...think about it sometime.....those standup guys did/are doin' something right by playin' in the big league....

I.... have no idea.... what you are trying to say....

[Bob]

I think the current women's champ is Aussie, too.

[fooj]

I wear Vipers, V5 orange dot. When the surf gets big I don't whine, the V5 yellow dots come out.

[RW]

Frank....thanks man.....and about the delivery.....it is what it is....I'm tired of fu¢king around and placating pussies....no one down here does....remember? ...stay tuned cause Gene-O says..."ya ain't seen nothin' yet!"


now for the rookies....

Mat.....you need to remove your version of KneeRiding/KneeBoarding/Kneeloism from your vision and "listen" to what I'm saying. You have an entirely different equation...history.....than we do here. Truth is...the Ozzie mentaltiy of surfing is what killed the soul of Hawaiian Surfing and the lifestyle that spawned us all. I witnessed it first hand...as did many others who where there when PT and Ian brought the whole "Pro" mentality into the "Soul" environment of the Country. Everything since has been downhill and resembles nothing of what many of us identify with.

Times may change allright, but for you to say we're out of touch is ludicrous because you've never been in touch to begin with. Competition has killed surfing....no two ways about it....and your Ozzie sun rises and sets on competition....for christ skaes it's your national identity to excel at some type of sport for identification. Power to you all....but it ain't what it's about here...that's the point you just can't grasp....and so instead mock...then condem....that which you have no connection with.

So I'll continue to patiently explain the difference between our roots and history so we can meet at some future point with a full and complete understanding of how we both arrived at the same place.....via diferent paths. I'm not singling you out here...it's just that this dumb attitude permeats everything around here....and we in the Underground have come to call it Kneeloism for simplicity so everyone knows what we mean.

Now you've asked me some direct questions, and I don't mean to hurt yur head with some critical thinking, but if ya wanna engage me...then ya gotta rise to my level....I'm more than willing to help ya out.

..as it stands, the last three questions you asked me are all answered in the same post which has you perplexed.....but I'm a gracious guy...so here ya go...

the answer to your magic waves quandry:

#1 buy a plane ticket and GO to where the majick Big Waves are the most frequent....Hawaii...and then tell me if I'm right or wrong on flippers, style, equipment..hell...the whole nine yards and the kitchen sink too....

#2 all those I mentioned, and then some, have done so, and moved themselves to the Big League. I gave you examples of those who rose to the challenge of both the surf and their own private goals. They just didn't click their heels and majickally find themselves on Top of The World.....no they had to go there....and prove themselves under a criteria that still judges the cream from the crap.....simple deductive reasoning.

#3 the last time I officially entered a contest was 1995. I won the KB division and it was my first time entering a WrongBoard event....and I won that one also...taking out some of the top US guys in a stealth attack...they never saw me comin'. I've not entered anything officially since then....except rough water swim meets.

However I do run events....and only surf in them to round out a heat due to some puke pulling a no show on the day of. Nothing worse than having full heats and one short heat....that isn't right to all those in the full heats, so I fill in when and where needed to balance out the entire equation. I see this happening all the time now and it's inexcusable for any organizer to continually perpetuate an unfair competive platform of unequality for all competitors. It's due to inexperience and an unwillingness to adapt to the given circumstances of what's on hand....instead of following a no brainer formula.

The most memorable Event ever was the one when Jaime was here a few years back...it was big, clean, and nasty.....and I was schooling all those young punks really bad on what's what on the home turf...up until my old hamstrings cramped up in the second half of the Final.....I finished third in the official results. However in the announced finish, I placed fourth as there was a tie between me and Litltle "Baby" Albert....it went to the next wave and he didn't have one.... the tabulators came to me and I told the staff to give it to the visitor as it made no difference to me...considering I was one of the hosts and hadn't paid the entry.....it was and it wasn't a question of ethics...and like I said....it was more important to him....than it would ever be to me. It was the right thing to do as I had already proven what was what in the water.

The actual finish in order was: Jaime, Super EQ, RW, Albert, The Creedler, and lastly Jack. You got questions about this old cat's competitive skills and savy....best you go ask Jaime himself....he had to work for what he got all the way through....and ask him to show you the bitchin' trophy I made that he brought back to OzzieLand in his lap.

To date that has been the most entertaining contest goof around I've ever had....cause I've never taken them seriously....unlike like a lot of of the other competitors out there.

All in all that one event gave me crystal clear insight on why you guys enjoy what you do. Lots of adrenalin and some huge rushes. But for us here.....you can have it.....especially in the slop contests are usually held in....it's just that the Surfer Bowl always has high performance conditions....sometimes clean...sometimes unruly....and sometimes down right dangerous....but always lots of big drama and challenging for all who enter....this one had all the above and is still talked about.

You wanna stay fresh at yur age young Kneelo.....observe, evaluate, embrace, and grow from all that came before you....only then will you come into your own....it ain't as hard as it sounds. You'll find that there's a a lot of guys who will be willing to guide you along based on your legacy. Be smart and tune in where and how you fit in.....that's the soul in the equation.

Lastly.....if yur out ta bust my chops...yur in over yur head and I'll not play along any further......won't do you any good and I'll still come out the crusty anti hero I am.....but you on the other hand will close a golden door of opportunity that could work for you in the years to come.....hurt yur head on this one and make the right choice....I am not the enemy

We're KooL thus far.....

[SFKneelo]

Interesting...

OK, allowing for the natural drift of conversation, I'm predicting several pages of response around this.

So... trying to keep out of the way, but point out the obvious... We've pretty well cleanly divided the topic, and the original intent is probably now the minority.

1. Next response to RW's is in a new thread, linking or quoting above.

2. Keep it going 'as is,' and rename the thread to (insert tune of 'My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, and I doooon't luv Jesus) 'My duckfeet are dying, I need Suggestions, and don't know what the rest is...'

So, please, next responder to the other topic, create another post and quote or link back to this...

BTW, read this several times. There's some morsels in there...

Many thanks!