Kneeboard fins, vipers vs duck feet

[DYdamo]

the springsuit/booties combo comes to mind

You just can't get over that can ya Mike....................


G'day Pino ..........Wondered when you'd show up

[Smokin Rock]

to be fair nobody works that look better than you except maybe Bruce
so the hat/glasses/zinka/webbed gloves/springsuit and booties combo with the apres surf crocs when combined all together might just be the ticket to true cool?
the beeg question is what board to ride with all this gear??????
i'm thinking tri-fin

[Smokin Rock]

i want to state no-one highjacks and mutilates a thread better than me
my complete f*cking nonsense reigns supreme

[DYdamo]

All hail the king........

[KenM]

Hilarious

How about a vote for the guy in the fullsuit with his surf trunks on the outside?

You mean Mike Purpus?

Dude, don't be raking on Purpus, he's my HERO!!!!

And Bunker Spreckles too...except maybe the whole Trust Fund Baby thing...

Bunker copped his style from the book "Black Players, The Secret World of Black Pimps", he would NEVER have worn his trunks over his wetsuit.

[KenM]

As for Purpus and kook paraphernalia, anyone remember the Aqualid?

[jamie]

Any chance of getting back on topic, as much as i love a tangent.
Pine apple is a bit of an icon in Australian knneboarding, he was invloved in developing fin templates for multi fins back in the 80's, had deck pads that he self styled around the same era, won more age division contest titles than anyone I know bar Baden, and was one of the guys involved in running the Central Coast kneeboard classic.
Despite the fact that he wears flippers, he needs something to put his big wide hooves into, that deliver power.
The hard sole boots are a must wear he lives(rough walkways, urchins, rock hopping etc).
His tried the dive flippers also...
Its taken us years to get him onto the site, help the bloke out if you can...

cheers

[KenM]

Ahh, yes, the topic, good point Jamie. Depending on how thick the rubber is around the foot pocket of your fin of choice, it's possible to enlarge them using a Dremel tool with the barrel sander tip. It takes some time and effort but does work, I've modified a pair of Churchills and a pair of Tech 1's using this method. The Dremel is small enough to fit inside and grind within the footpocket.

[BillL]

Hey Pino!
It's been a long time, 25 years, since my brother,Mike, and I met you in Austrailia and hung out with you in Bali. That was a unforgetable trip for me.
I know Bob Gove wears hard soles in the winter with duck feet a size or two bigger than normal. It works for him as he is a 60 year old wave catching machine. It would take some getting used to but I'm sure you would acclimate. I am hooked on Churchills so I can't comment the difference between the UDTs and the Duck feet but I'm sure others could. If you want a pair of Ducks, PM me and I'll send them to you. Glad you're on the site, hope to see you again, Bill Lerner

[Mike Fernandez]

Has his question been answered? If you have to wear the soled SCUBA booties, and I have some, because of urchins and stuff, then get some of the new light weight SCUBA fins, and cut them down. That pocket should fit any foot. You don't have a lot of choices if you have a size 12-13 foot, and are wearing 3-5mm soled booties.
That would be my best advice.

[C.P.Odom]

I use Duckfeet year round. At the start of the winter I buy a new pair of semi hard sole booties, at the end of the winter I cut the tops off and make them into my summer booties. With the wrap around rubber toes they do not wear through and burn holes in my toe knuckles.

[pineapple]

Hi all,
How good is this, I can't believe I haven,t been on this site before. Not only do I get advice on surfing fins but fashion as well. Seriously though I appreciate the feedback from Mike, Ken M, Alfredo, Kidrock and Smokin Rock and thanks for the welcome from DYDamo and BillL, long time no see, it's great to hear from you again. I am still keen to try a pair of Duck Feet and wonder if anyone knows which are best for kneeboarding, Greg Deets or UDT's? If I can get a recommendation I will take you up on the offer, Bill and organise a pair.
You have to laugh my 18 year old daughter saw me writing this and was amazed that I writing something on the internet. Then she read the comments and muttered something about kneelos being weirdos. I expect nothing less. As for the fashion police, you must be watching me when I walk down to my local break in crocs, hat, fins in hand with a kneeboard under my arm. My daughter just shakes her head and says she is adopted.
Thanks again, Pino

[Bob Gove]

As Bill so eloquently stated, I have been a duck feet enthusiast for over 40 years. My feet are a size 9 1/2 and in the winter I wear a pair of 3 mm soft booties under a pair of hard sole dive booties all warmly tucked in a pair of super extra large blue and black duckfeet. I have the warmest feet in the lineup, plus a lot of thrust from the extra surface area. I had a problem at first with my latest pair being too stiff (couldn't get the damn things off without a struggle) so I took a belt sander to the foot pocket, strap, and blades down the sides and softened the whole thing up. They work great now. The old version of orange and blue used to be a lot more pliable, I haven't seen any lately, but Dave Weinbaum uses them and claims he bought some recently. As for the power, well, it's like being a SUP in the lineup! Hope this helps.

[fooj]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned when comparing flippers is their side profile. Vipers have a higher profile because of those side runner thingys. Duck feet have a lower profile because their side runner thingys are lower. I'm thinking this may change the way a rider is positioned, center of gravity, the leverage applied and the contact that the tops of the feet have with the board through the flipper. I still think I'll try some Kicks fins their foot pocket looks mighty comfortable and nearly like wearing no flippers at all, even though the rubber may be crappy.

[kidrock]

I'm absolutely convinced that the old blue UDT's cannot be beat for sheer power. Unfortunately, they leave Vesuvius-sized craters on the tops of my feet.