Duck Feet .....

General Discussion
1

…never thought I would be asking this question on a surfboard design website , being “a standup surfer” and all,

but …

have people here used these flippers ?

if so ,

your impressions / thoughts / experiences of them , please ?

are they “any good” ??

[ie: strong enough / flexible enough / ?stiff enough? [whatever it is that flippers “NEED” to be ?] for mat riding ?

here’s a coupla photos of them …

By the way …when I wear them with ‘top’ written on the top of the fin ,

then they feel tighter / less comfortable , than when I wear them with the two holes on the top of the fin.

I am assuming the holes are to let the water drain out [when they are on the bottom of the fin ?]

… any other comments about the best type of flippers needed for mat riding , please ?

Also, do you really “NEED” to wear those socks with them that I see boogieboarders using ? [they are worn to prevent chafing , yes ?]

What size / width of fin is needed / ideal ? [I think we will be mainly riding our mats in waves to ‘maybe’ chest high , at the VERY maximum [it being our summer here , at the moment ].

The length of blade needed , and any other helpful info on flippers , would be MOST appreciated by this newbie to matting .

…I am hoping to buy a disposable watercamera this weekend , so that IF there are ‘big enough’ waves during my days off , this weekend and during next week , hopefully Eno [sand[y]groper] and I can get some watershots of our mats in ‘action’ , [and hopefully Pascal / “popeye” on his mal , too ?]

…stay tuned …

cheers

matfish61 / ? matchip61?

2
Quote:

…never thought I would be asking this question on a surfboard design website , being “a standup surfer” and all,

but …

And I never thought I’d be talking fins with a standup surfer. In my book you’ve already got the perfect fins for what you’re doing. Duck Feet fell from heaven. (Others swear by other brands) If you were a serious full-time matster, you’d probably want to upgrade to UDT’s, which are longer, thicker, stiffer, heavier… faster!

Fin socks are good. After a few 3-hr sessions w/o them you’ll know why. Booties are even better–the fins just have to be big enough to accomodate them.

You got the fins, but what are gonna do about those skinny legs?

3

cheers mark !

“You got the fins, but what are gonna do about those skinny legs?”

[drum roll]

ta da …

[now I can see why you are called “man of WAR”, you incredible hulk , you ! [jk]

4

Chipster,

I like Duck Feet. I like to bodysurf and one of my goals this season is to do more of it. I tried all kinds of different fins and I always go back to my Duck Feet. Best way to figure swim fins is to go out and use them. The aches and pains will tell you if you need socks etc… If you’re gonna wear them upside down then I suggest you bore some holes to let out the sand. Have fun getting barreled! Body surfing gets you the most tube time. Oh the views are spectacular!!

A prime example of a nice place to visit while bodysurfing…

5

Ben, you’re gonna need a new wetsuit, too:

6

q’paso, Chip?

I used and still have duckfeet (now i’m using udt fins) – but ducks are plenty good. I used the blue/black ones - don’t know how much difference if any, but the shape and the rest are ident to your orange/blue ones. yeah usually the holes go down. I don’t wear any socks or booties – for sure y’re gonna get some ulcerations — but if you clean them up nicely with peroxide or some other disinfectant, they heal up and and you’ll have some beautiful-looking scars ( ankles and tops of toes). After a while, you’ll learn a slower and more powerful kick, and yr scars will be callused and you’ll get by without sores.

another tip: while yr kicking back out to lineup, learn to kick from the waist by rolling yr hips. (like Long Dist swimming) – kickin in to catch wave is a little different.

another tip: stretch and warmup b4 go out

contrary to what many will say - i find udt fins very comfortable. (more so than the ducks)

so y’re set. ( but ya needa get an order in with Dale to really live)

7

Chip, do we have to explain everything to you?

Of course you wear them upside-down. That’s the only way “Top” is right-side-up in America! :slight_smile:

8

photo courtesy Dirk Brandts

For Voit UDT and Duck Feet swim fin information/ordering contact Greg Deets - email:

9

LOL , … right on Benny!

10

Chipfish -

Some guys (especially with gnarly feet) get out the grinder and alter the foot pocket and/or strap to fit better. In some cases fins are getting cut down and the spines ground down to adjust flex.

I think it was Dale who told me that some guys consider stock Duck Feet to be pretty good fin blanks.

11

When I was a Huntington Beach lifeguard in the 70’s the AMF/Voit guys came by and offered us DuckFeet for $2 a pair. Needless to say ALL HB guards used them. I had about four pairs. They were a fixture at every tower. They work great. Get them as snug as you’re comfortable with, or get leashes so you don’t lose them.

12

It’s the UDT’s that some consider “blanks” and if you handle a pair you will immediately see why. They are huge and heavy and stiff. IF you are a big, hunky hunka manhood you could likely use them as is but otherwise, a little mod will make them work better. When you’re are using fins for surfing where you need long cruising ease and short burst power from same fins they are best tuned for your body size/leg length and muscle power.

DuckFeet are shorter and softer. I like them a lot. Also I like Flips www.flipsswimfins.com The Original model is somewhere between Duck Feet and UDT’s in power and though they take a bit of finicky finiking to put on and take off, they are very comfortable and one size will fit you barefoot or in 7 ml hardsole dive boots and also fit your 5’ 100 pound girlfriend who wears a size 3 shoe. Plus they pack flat so travel well with a deflated mat in your suitcase or knap sack…

13

The blue and black ones are called (or were called) blue streaks. Mine are still in great shape after 22+ years.

14

what about churchills? I used to love those. They were longer on the outside edges. Their spiel was - they matched the resistance to the power in your legs.

15
Quote:

what about churchills? I used to love those. They were longer on the outside edges. Their spiel was - they matched the resistance to the power in your legs.

I remember them in the 70’s. I was a Makapu’u regular back then with my super soft, all green Churchills. Then they came out with the blue and yellow ones we called Stiff Blades… Around that time Duck Feet went from all blue to the orange and blacks. By then I was mostly bodysurfing Waimea shorebreak and Log Cabins to Rocky Point areas… Ahhhhh the memories thinking back on it all…

Come to think of it, I remember all kinds of things from my first Paipo board to a slew of hand boards I had like a “Hydro Disc” or the old faithful McDonalds tray… I also remember when Boogie Boards first came out and we were getting so tubed on them… By the time I reached 13 I had gotten barreled hundreds of times and maybe only came out of a handful… All we were after was the view… Heck, I’m 42 now and I still love the view!!! Here’s a few more “views”

16

Nice views they are too.

17

They are the fin of choice for west coast lifeguards (read “real lifeguards”) in New Zealand.

Your onto a good thing.

Clubbies in NZ get a bit more respect from surfers that what i’ve heard about auzzie tho! ha ha.

Most of the clubbies here are the ones out for the dawnie each morning…

Unfortunately duck feet stopped being sold here a few years ago.

I was so stoked to finally get some in the US. Good buy.

Kit

18

another tip: while yr kicking back out to lineup, learn to kick from the waist by rolling yr hips. (like Long Dist swimming) – >>kickin in to catch wave is a little different.

that sounds like a very good idea! Must be less tiring when getting out!

another tip: stretch and warmup b4 go out

indeed very important: i used to have pretty bad cramps (i use pretty long stiff fins) which disapeared when i started doing warmup!

Have fun CHip!!

19

chip: i used to sneer at any kinda prone surfing. when you get older you get wiser tho.

mat surfing (and body surfing, boogie/paipo) puts things in perspective - and you’ve heard this b4: it’s not what you ride, but how it feels… and i might add, WHAT YOU SEE. bodysurf, matting, boogies down low on the water like that – the perceived speed – the angle at which you look up at the shoulder and lip. (waaay mo’ overhead days ) Well, you realize how nice and simple a good surf can be.

i love board surfing, and i’ve only been into mats for little over a year, but check this:

when yr rolling down the runway for a takeoff on an aircraft - that speed blur – well once you get any altitude (even 100 ft)the perceived speed just vanishes. Same with surfing small waves - especially up to shoulder high - once you’re up on yr feet, while it feels good to turn and get weightless – you do lose some of that speed feel. Not so for pronies.

was Silver Surfer any cooler than Superman? ( well Clark was kind of a bonehead, but…)

20

well, thanks heaps for your replies guys , some helpful stuff here , for sure !

When I was a kid , I vaguely remember having a secondary triangular kinda shaped bit of rubber , that went over my ankle and the flipper , to “keep them on” .

…Does anyone else remember / have these ?

Are they still available ?

are they a good idea ? [I ask , because it seems as though maybe a flipper could slide of the back of my [yes, man of war! ] fairly skinny ankles easily ?

cheers, guys , for any more help !

ben