ZastrugaLeptonyx
06-17-2024, 10:09 PM
Hello!
My mername is Zastruga H. Leptonyx, and my character is a leopard seal merman living in the Ross Sea in Antarctica. The word 'zastruga' refers to the ridges of ice-hardened snow on top of wind-carved snow plains, and the name 'hydrurga leptonyx' refers to the latin word for leopard seal, meaning thin-clawed water worker. I chose the leopard seal as my mer-animal, because it helps me envision myself as a powerful being underwater, therefore combating a bit of my thalassophobia. If I don't see the bottom of a pool, even if it's a bit hazy, I get so anxious.
I have been fascinated by polar environments and tales of exploration since I was a kid, and I always loved winter. When I got into mermaiding as a hobby in 2021, I really wanted a character that would spark those interests again. In that regard, I want to focus on ocean predators and the melting ice of Antarctica's ice sheets as my environmental focus to my mermaiding, and to also have a chance to nerd out about polar exploration history as my character. I adore learning about polar animals as well, and I admittedly get a bit jealous of their ability to withstand and thrive in such cold water.
I am based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I feel so blessed to be close to the ocean every day. If I need some cold water in my life, it's never far. Ironically though, many pools in the city don't allow mermaid tails, let alone mono fins. If they do allow mono fins, it's usually during workdays when my banking job keeps me busy. So, my tail is unfortunately land-locked. I swim in it a few times in a private pool when I can, and I'm already hooked. More mer-tail swimming opportunities are so craved right now.
For now, I focus on my sewing, where I make my own outfits for underwater, as well as my landlocked merman self. All of them are inspired by old sails, ropes, and animal fur and skin textures my characters would encounter in his frigid environment. All of my creations can be seen on my instagram, zastruga.seal. I also paint polar landscapes in acrylics, watercolours, and Copic markers. I love to do art of my character living his life in the Southern Ocean.
My goal with mermaiding is to learn to free dive, so I can feel more comfortable in open water, and to give me the tools I need to do this safely. I have a fabric tail from Fin Fun Mermaid I had printed myself, and I'm waiting on their printer to be back up and running to print a more accurate leopard seal texture. Otherwise, I tend to relegate to swimming lanes when I can (thank god for underwater headphones, otherwise I'd be bored out of my seal skull). I want to attend conventions someday as my character, and be immersed in this underwater world. Though it is a passionate hobby of mine, I want to do it responsibly.
So, even if I end up meeting some locals who swim like me, I would very much appreciate it. Leopard Seals may be solitary creatures, but this one is lonely.
My mername is Zastruga H. Leptonyx, and my character is a leopard seal merman living in the Ross Sea in Antarctica. The word 'zastruga' refers to the ridges of ice-hardened snow on top of wind-carved snow plains, and the name 'hydrurga leptonyx' refers to the latin word for leopard seal, meaning thin-clawed water worker. I chose the leopard seal as my mer-animal, because it helps me envision myself as a powerful being underwater, therefore combating a bit of my thalassophobia. If I don't see the bottom of a pool, even if it's a bit hazy, I get so anxious.
I have been fascinated by polar environments and tales of exploration since I was a kid, and I always loved winter. When I got into mermaiding as a hobby in 2021, I really wanted a character that would spark those interests again. In that regard, I want to focus on ocean predators and the melting ice of Antarctica's ice sheets as my environmental focus to my mermaiding, and to also have a chance to nerd out about polar exploration history as my character. I adore learning about polar animals as well, and I admittedly get a bit jealous of their ability to withstand and thrive in such cold water.
I am based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I feel so blessed to be close to the ocean every day. If I need some cold water in my life, it's never far. Ironically though, many pools in the city don't allow mermaid tails, let alone mono fins. If they do allow mono fins, it's usually during workdays when my banking job keeps me busy. So, my tail is unfortunately land-locked. I swim in it a few times in a private pool when I can, and I'm already hooked. More mer-tail swimming opportunities are so craved right now.
For now, I focus on my sewing, where I make my own outfits for underwater, as well as my landlocked merman self. All of them are inspired by old sails, ropes, and animal fur and skin textures my characters would encounter in his frigid environment. All of my creations can be seen on my instagram, zastruga.seal. I also paint polar landscapes in acrylics, watercolours, and Copic markers. I love to do art of my character living his life in the Southern Ocean.
My goal with mermaiding is to learn to free dive, so I can feel more comfortable in open water, and to give me the tools I need to do this safely. I have a fabric tail from Fin Fun Mermaid I had printed myself, and I'm waiting on their printer to be back up and running to print a more accurate leopard seal texture. Otherwise, I tend to relegate to swimming lanes when I can (thank god for underwater headphones, otherwise I'd be bored out of my seal skull). I want to attend conventions someday as my character, and be immersed in this underwater world. Though it is a passionate hobby of mine, I want to do it responsibly.
So, even if I end up meeting some locals who swim like me, I would very much appreciate it. Leopard Seals may be solitary creatures, but this one is lonely.