Old school Russian monofin
by Lubomir Stefanoff on Sep.23, 2009, under Training
Today I tried my new monofin – a genuine Russian monofin for finswimming, made some 10 years ago or even more… It’s a gift from Stefan Todorov (renowned underwater video operator and former champion in underwater orienteering). I turned 25 a few days ago and that was a great surprise 
The monofin was crafted from first class fiberglass material. The rubber footpockets are a bit damaged but that could be easily fixed.
This morning I tested it in the pool. The footpockes are fairly tight (maximizing efficiency) but still feel great, as if the monofin is an extension of the feet! Only I have to wear some fabric (special socks for finswimming?) to prevent blisters. The blade is a bit stiff – it’s designed for fin swimming, not dynamic apnea (supposed to be ‘long’ distance), but we’ll modify it soon.
I had not planned a training session for today, just wanted to try out the new equipment. I did an easy 50 m and felt great…the glide is longer compared to my Waterway Nemo Wing monofin. I rested for just over a minute and did another 50m…and soon I ended my 20th lap (50m) with 1:20 rest intervals inbetween, feeling really good and confident. I did not count the number of kicks…that’s on my to-do list for next week. I can clearly see the difference between open-heel footpockets (no socks necessary) and closed ones (similar to Omer Millenium). Can’t wait to try a 100+ meters dynamic with it!
Well, did I mention that I’ve got TWO Russian fins, not just one…The other one has a little crack right on the edge and I’ll delegate the repair works and experimentation to Volodya (spearfisherman/retired military pilot with innovative and ‘crazy’ ideas about [mono]fins design).
Enough about monofins… Tomorrow we’re heading to Porto Koufo for the Skandalopetra event…I’d better do some equalization exercises now. Stay tuned for some pics and the story behind them.
1194 Comments for this entry
Leave a Reply
-
Welcome to my Freediving blog!
My name is Lubomir Stefanoff. This is my personal blog about freediving, training for constant weight, static and dynamic apnea, traveling and underwater photography. Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed.
Kindly supported by:
December 11th, 2011 on 2:05 am
I’m impressed, I need to say. Actually not often do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the problem is something that not sufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I’m very completely happy that I stumbled across this in my search for one thing referring to this.
December 11th, 2011 on 11:34 am
Just wanted to mention I seriously respect your work on this blog website plus the excellent top quality articles you make. These form of posting are precisely what keeps me personally going via the day. I found this post after a extremely good very good friend of my own recommended it to me. I do some blogging myself personally and I am constantly thankful to observe other people giving very good quality information to the community. I most certainly will definitely be following and have book-marked your web site to my facebook account for other people to visit.
December 11th, 2011 on 11:47 am
I was more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wished to thanks to your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
December 11th, 2011 on 2:35 pm
The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to read, but I truly thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could repair in the event you werent too busy in search of attention.
December 11th, 2011 on 6:41 pm
Upload Free
December 12th, 2011 on 2:59 am
The root of your writing while appearing reasonable in the beginning, did not really settle properly with me after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you actually managed to make me a believer unfortunately just for a while. I still have got a problem with your jumps in assumptions and one would do well to fill in those breaks. In the event you actually can accomplish that, I would certainly end up being impressed.
December 12th, 2011 on 3:41 am
I’d forever want to be update on new blog posts on this internet site, saved to favorites!
December 12th, 2011 on 4:49 am
There are actually quite a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a nice point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you carry up the place the most important thing might be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round things like that, however I am sure that your job is clearly recognized as a good game. Each boys and girls feel the affect of only a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
December 12th, 2011 on 3:50 pm
Same here WVUL with the one box of sugar cereal on your birthday. My birthday cereal was ALWAYS Lucky Charms. I would try and eat the non-marshmallow bits first so I would end up with a bowl of marshmallows and milk. (Yes, I am a bit of a sugar fiend.)
December 12th, 2011 on 5:49 pm
Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I’m experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting similar rss drawback? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
December 12th, 2011 on 7:15 pm
Yes, you have it right. Caralluma Burn weight loss plan that could contain all the natural and safe ways to lose fat. You won’t actually need to go through painful surgeries in order to be able to have that healthy and fit body. When you make yourself familiar with weight reduction, you’d surely realize that there are numerous things that you are able to possibly do to have that healthy and fit body.
December 12th, 2011 on 9:11 pm
An attention-grabbing dialogue is worth a comment. I think that you should write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo topic but generally people are not brave enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
December 12th, 2011 on 10:44 pm
Enjoy our twitter notices @tuscanyvillas, for updates for the Renaissance capital, Florence
December 13th, 2011 on 6:55 am
I have just bookmarked your blog post titled “Mustard Seed Alliance» Blog Archive”. The moderated comments in your blog has added to keep rich discussion on the topic.
December 13th, 2011 on 9:07 pm
Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I wish to write like this – taking time and precise effort to make an excellent article is very rare…
December 14th, 2011 on 6:35 am
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog.Much thanks again. Will read on…
December 14th, 2011 on 3:53 pm
Hi there,Stumbled on your site a while ago and I have to admit that you have some really interesting stuff going on here : ) . The only problem that I’m having are the loading times of your website , where is your site located? Salute, Sergio P.S. I’m from Europe btw
December 14th, 2011 on 6:24 pm
Happy time period sunk right into this kind of page. I really enjoy checking related to other people’s viewpoint with this subject matter. You impressed people. Wonderful!
December 15th, 2011 on 1:54 am
Im obliged for the blog article. Fantastic.
December 15th, 2011 on 3:02 am
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!