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So I'm trying to pick out a monofin for my new tail, and I'm debating over shelling (yay, puns!) out the cash for a competitor. I do most of my swimming in rivers that have pretty strong currents in places, but I've also heard some scary stuff about fiberglass monofins. Has anyone ever used one?:confused:
I LOVE my competitor mono fin in my tail!
Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EgGg...6eAUAAAAAAACAA
This has a competitor in it.
I am in love with them. They are very expensive, which is why I only offer them as upgrades now. This way people can choose what they want to pay. That is how I can keep my price under $1,000 for a simple Silicone Mermaid Tail.
Fiberglass fins are probably completely safe, especially since if they're not you can
sue the company xD They would try to make them as safe as possible so that would
never happen.
I hear lots of good things about competitor, and in the end, you get what you pay for.
If you dish out a little more money, you'll get a longer lasting fin!
I've never used a competitor but Raina near me has one in her new tail. From what she has said they are really strong, sturdy, propel you really well and are much quicker. If you are doing your swimming in an area where there are strong currents I would probably go for it, you'd need something strong.
If you are swimming in anything with a powerful current, you want a competator monofin, or one in the same class. Very stiff for maximum propulsion, as you will need that to get you where you need to go. That is all Hannah Fraser uses in her tails since she is always swimming in the ocean.
can you cut a fiber glass competitor fin with some sort of tool to shape the fin?:confused: just wondering :S
I love my Competitor. It is very stiff, and you have to get used to it, but it is amazing.
Well, looks like I know what monofin is going in my new tail! :D
Also note - make sure you watch some videos on youtube on how freedivers swim and how they do the dolphin kick. If you swim improperly in the Competitor (like, if you knee-kick in it where you use the legs instead of the hip/core for power) you WILL hurt yourself. If I even try to swim 'lazily' in the competitor it puts way to much strain on my knees.
I did find that the Competitor forced me to swim better in it, whereas I could get away with poor form very easily in the Rapid.
I've watched some stuff with it, and I don't think I'll have TOO much of a problem. I'll have to work on my form though, but I was expecting to have to do that. I have considered just using the rapid, but I love the look and power of the competitor in the water.
I've heard some stuff about dissolving heelstraps as well. Have any of you had this problem with the competitor?
Well, I haven't had my competitor that long but my heel straps are thick, fat and stiff! I can imagine the straps on a Rapid stretching and breaking down because it's adjustable, but the ones on the competitor are fixed. I don't think they'd degrade easily.
Here's some competitor "like" monofins. They're a little bit cheaper, but not extremely. Take a look
http://www.waterwayfins.com/index.ph...emart&Itemid=4
http://www.waterwayfins.com/index.ph...emart&Itemid=4
http://www.specialfins.com/freedivin...in_dolphin.htm (The cost of this one is 99 Euros, which is roughly $127 in dollars. I don't know if this available in America though you'll have to look into it)
Thanks iBlondie!! I love competitors, I just loathed the idea of paying for one on my teenie salary. I'm actually considering a rapid now though, because I changed the fluke shape on the tail I'm making and the round-ish shape will be better for a round fluke. But I may get one of these for my mermaid parties tail. :D
Sweet! I love them too they're just so much!! I'm hoping to buy a mermaid parties tail soon myself! Best of luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidRaegan
I currently have a Finis Rapid and will probably upgrade in a year or so. I do like the way the waterwayfins ones look. Does any one know how to convert sizes?
I will most definitely look into these for my next tail :) does anyone know if you can cut these to a more mermaid shape?Quote:
Originally Posted by iblondie
Yes you can!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Marissa
I own a special fins dolphin, and I LOVE IT. It's medium hardness- it's fast as hell... and it set me back 176 bucks with tax and shipping. Karmo, the guy who builds them, is AWESOME. I highly recommend.
I got my Waterway on eBay, and it tells you how to size it in the information section. It says to get a size bigger than you think you are because they come really tight. I'm a size 8 (American), and I have a 240, but I probably should have gotten a 260. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MONOFIN-FOR-...ht_1207wt_1141
Do be careful about swimming in currents with the rapid. I've taken mine out to the lake before and unless you have extremely good form with the rapid, you're going to struggle. It's a great fin though. :> Be warned, the foot pockets tend to crack and tear though.
I bought the waterway model 1 about a year ago. It is a great fin, very comparible to the finis rapid. And yes, you can cut it! :) The reason I bought it over the competitor was not only because it was much cheaper, but also because it doesn't have the two reinforcement's on the top of the fin that the competitor has. When you put the competitor in a tail you have the two ridges that stick up near the foot pockets...you don't have that problem with these!! :)
this is exactly what sold me on the waterway. I like the model 2. it looks exactly like a competitor, but it's cheaper and it doesn't have the reinforcement ridges coming off the foot pockets. I wanted a monofin that was the shape and size of a competitor but a little bit more flexible, and this looks like it will be exactly that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by LindseyLu
I'm selling mine http://www.ebay.com/itm/290724899101...9#ht_500wt_922
I just bought an Oceanika ;)