Attempting going flipperless...suggestions?

[Jacksquid]

Flippers rule for catching waves, as I feel like I can access almost any wave I go for. But I'd love to be successful without them - for many obvious reasons. Has anyone else made the transition? Without flippers, unfortunately, I feel powerless in the water, but I'd love to give up their drag, walking and tripping with them on, etc. Any thoughts are appreciated. Are some boards better suited for this? Maybe I just have to suck it up, practice, and pay my dues; or should I just say, "I'm a kneeboarder, therefore I wear fins?"

Thanks,

Jacksquid

[skansand]

tried it in mexico...felt like a kook....i did manage to get a couple incredibly late drops....fun once up and going but still verry frusterating trying to get a wave..didnt think it improved anything once riding....if you were going to do this id suggest a longer board..one with the wide point an inch or two forward from center for better paddling ability....

[surfhorn]

Buy a 10'0" noserider.

[Jon Manss]

Jack look in the mirror and check out those Pecs. Are they up to the paddle? If not better get in the water and start paddling. A good cross trainer is the long board.

[El Nino]

I'm new to this whole kneeboarding area so I cant say anything with conviction, however it seems that by not wearing fins you're just in the same paddle situation as most standups these days. I could see a necessity for fins back in the 60's and 70's when kneeboards were spoons and 4 footers. These days though it seems like most of them have just as much, if not more, floatation than the potato chip shortboards that are out there. When I tried kneeboarding for the first time this winter I went out on my uncle's Blast (finless) and was shocked at how much quicker and easier I could get into waves compared to most of the standup boards I have ridden. The Blast was nice and wide and had plenty of paddle in it. I'm sure for a longtime fin-wearer like yourself the first few sessions without those duckfeet are gonna leave you feeling naked and those drops are gonna feel pretty late. Take solice in the fact that those "late drops" are what most standups have been dealing with since they were groms. You'll get used to it. Ross Dillon, the Aussie kneelo at the pre-worlds gathering, might be a good guy to talk to. He made the transition to finless a few years back and was telling us how hard it was. There's no denying the advantage that they give you though. No need to break a habit if it aint bad. Good luck on your quest.

[albert]

I feel I have to make a comment on this because a.) I made that transition and b.) if I keep banging my head against the monitor trying to get work done I will start bleeding soon...

The key here is patience... Rome was not built overnight and there is no way that you will be able to build up the technique and muscle strenght required to catch waves on a kneeboard withouth the use of your legs just because you thought you should try it.

The first time I tried kneeboarding with no flippers was a scary ordeal. It was at a local spot that is pretty harsh when it comes to holding you down, it was pretty big, stormy, onshore... I really dont know what I was thinking... after that I committed to getting used to it. It took a few months, but after that I have never looked back.

The thing is, it feels sooooo much better when you are bottom turning... at least to me, that is enough to get me to stop using flippers. I tried every set of flippers under the sun, soft and stiff blades, shapes, I even tried cutting them down to a smaller size (similar to Gigs'). I didnt have to alter my boards in any way, in fact I ride boards with less flotation now than I did then.

Now I feel that it was only holding me back, I know a lot of you will not agree with me on this, but I felt like i had to compensate for the drag by kneeling further forward, riding wider tails, bottom turning more on the fins than on the rails, etc. I seem to recall having the same discussion a while back with someone over pads, "why do so many people wear pads?", "I dont need pads, my knees never hurt after a surf!" that sort of thing. Thats another thread though

So my only advice is to give it more than just one try! Try it for three months or so, then come up with your own opinion on the subject.

[Man O' War]

One advantage El Nino doesn't mention above but did mention when he came in after his first session on the Blast was that the board surfers gave him his space. They didn't see flippers so the old prejudices didn't flare up. That'd be a lame reason to go finless, but it's one advantage if you do.

[Doc Turbo]

Has anybody tried this out, I bought a pair and tested in the pools, but each time I am on the beach, I am too hyped to experiement, and stick with churchills

http://www.shinfin.com/

they allow you to walk easy, and don't give drag in the water.

[Beeline2.0]

..

[eqKneelo]

Well put, Albert.
I made the switch to finless or going with super shorties (2 inch blades, cut so there is no drag) last summer and I'll never go back. Once you ride a wave without flippers you realize how much power you have USING your feet to control turns. Look at Simon's cutback and look how hard he's pushing with his left foot to counter balance against his body driving into the right rail. THIS is where true power comes from

[albumimg]7387[/albumimg]

Also, look at the video of Gavin's World Title winning maneuver... he actually stops his rotation with right foot and kicks the board back underneath him.

A good place to start is to do what Gigs does... put your board on your bed, get on your board, and then cut your flippers so the are 1/2 inch from any rail. You'll still be able to kick plenty, but your board will feel 40% faster. Gigs then uses 2 arch bars:

[albumimg]7385[/albumimg]

So his feet are in the same position on the rail like Simon's/ Gavin's/ Matty's ect.

And MOW... unfortunately, you are absolutely right. Every session I go flipperless some stand-up says, "No flippers on a Kneeboard... cool." I feel I might actually get more waves because of it. Weird.

And for those of you who think you might be too old to try... our beloved "K-MAN", the Bolinas Enforcer, has never worn a flipper in his life and paddled circles around me last Thanksgiving... AND HE'S SIXTY-FREAKING-SEVEN!!!

[K-man]

Been flipperless for the duration.Pretty strong paddler,so I have no problem catching waves,and much faster flipping the board around for late ones.PLUS....less hassle surfing the rock reefs up here..PLUS....less screwing around with different fins,bootie socks and all the gee-gaws,and accrutements that go with it.
Tried a pair I bought on this site[john s.]Wore them for 15 min. Threw them on the beach.No mas!
I'm not against fins,guys/gals are flying around on the buggers,so they work for some.
Also didn't like the extra weight on the back

cheers

''68''ed..... In it for the long haul.....

[eqKneelo]

''68''ed..... In it for the long haul.....[/quote]


You're officially my hero.

[skansand]

the "arch bars" really work...after getting my A$$handed to me at the worlds i decided to try em out...glued up 2slices of camping pad ontop of eachother with contact cement on the stringer behind my knee pad...bout 1 1/2 inch wide.....really make a difference, im not sliding off when i pivot anymore...i can force my turns alot better now...tested it at hb and blacks.... definetly made for arm paddling...when i start kicking with my churchhills the bars right on my groin ...so i find myself kicking from the side of the board...........but back to the original topic....dont you love resting your arms on the paddle back out?...i love long sessions and catching almost everything i go for....the only way i can do this is with fins.....fins rule

[mal]

yea i used 2 use flippers and slowly stopped by only wearing them on big or real good days. now i dont at all. u get much more control and a better feel for the wave . also ur flippers arnt dragging in the water so you go a little faster when riding and paddling.

[W.G. Facenda]

Last week I went to Rincon and I must have seen 30 guy's riding very small(5ft5) fish standup in overhead good Rincon. Tom Curran was on a 5ft little egg thingy.So going without fins is no big deal if your fit enough .How about in Good size Hawaiian waves though?