UDT Swim fins?? can i still buy a pair??

General Discussion
61

Heh - it’s an indication of how bad my spanish is that I didn’t think of it 'til now when you mentioned that. Really… may not have helped that I was mostly in some pretty remote areas with a lot of english speakers around me. Funny, I always seem to wind up on islands in Panama.

Another example- was walking along one morning and a terribly earnest english gringa was trying to say something to a Panamanian lady I knew… and when the gringa asked me to translate the Panamanian lady and I both burst out laughing - we both knew how bad I was.

But - there are lots of Americanisms, now that I think of it, plus so many words come from the same latin roots. Also, Panamanians don’t tend to speak very fast, not the rapid-fire words you hear some places, which helped me a lot. Though that may have been simple kindness to the Yankee idiot.

Dr. S, one thing to bear in mind in Panama. See, they may do things differently there, but there’s a reason for it. You’re probably one of the last people who needs this explained, but I will anyways… when something is done in a certain way, it’s because it works well with what they have available, in the climate and the culture, y’know? Before you go reinventing the wheel, find out what the roads are like…

doc…

62

willl you be gone forever dr???..will you have a pc???..its been great talking to you here and flexspoon.com…one day ill be in panama on my way to chile…it be good to surf with another kneeler or air matter…

63

Doc, always good advice. Ugly American is last thing I want to be. I know there’s a reflex, at least in our culture (such as it is) to think that anyone “different” or “not from here” is less intelligent. HAH! Specially on their turf. Local knowledge can’t be beat.

Skamatt, don’t know at this point. This is a check it out and maybe shopping expedition. If the vibe is good and we find a good deal on a house or buildable land, we will grab a piece of the rock; come back north and start packing. Definitley will be online eventually. I’ve been asking and a lot of my favorite sites don’t ship internationally but the knowledge base on the net is pretty nice to have on tap. Heck, what if I decide to make a board there…Swaylocks is a must have item!!

64

De nada, Dr. S. I found that when looking at how things are done elsewhere - well, it’s what ya might call ‘custom’ - somebody had a reason for making it that way. Like the thatch and bamboo housing, lashed together with what’s effectively plastic packing twine.

Thatch and bamboo are very much available, it’s that or masonry and tin roofs. You lash it together, and the plastic makes a lot more sense than wire, 'cos the lifespans of both materials are similar and the twine is much easier to work with. Simple ideas, properly executed, are very sophisticated, elegant stuff, y’know?

Fedex ships to Panama, by the way, as do many of the other biggies. And there is net service in the bigger towns and cities, lots of hotels have it. And you’ll be making regular supply runs to, say, David if you’re in Chiriqui. With a laptop and such, you’re golden.

In the smaller towns, there’s usually a general store, place that will carry anything from cooking gas to tennis shoes. Very cheap too. For all I know, they have internet cafe-type stuff in those too, now. When you think about it, getting stuff in Panama is very easy. One of the really major shipping lanes in the world goes right through the middle of it.

Ah, rats, I do miss the place. If I was 20 years younger, I’d give some rewal thought to pulling up stakes and starting over.

doc…

65

Heh-heh think again, Doc…I’m 56. Could drop dead any minute. I’ve known people in their 30’s and 40’s who have suddenly died. Had a friend age 23 die in auto accident. You’re not dead 'till you’re dead and before that…anything is possible. Sort of combination of immortality attitude and this could be the last day attitude. I say, forget your age and only base on what you want to do and what you realistically can do. If you’re body is badly aged, well, that can slow you down for sure, but if you can surf all the time, can’t be that bad! Just have to get creative. Big issue for me and the spousal unit is how we will make a living there. Part of our R&D for the trip. Won’t take a lot of income though. That’s part of the beauty. Could turn out to just be a fun vaction for a coupla weeks but I guess we will find out…

66
Quote:

Big issue for me and the spousal unit is how we will make a living there. Part of our R&D for the trip. Won’t take a lot of income though. That’s part of the beauty. Could turn out to just be a fun vaction for a coupla weeks but I guess we will find out…

Well, you pretty much hit that nail on the head for me. A few, very few years younger, most of my skills are blue collar here that don’t translate well to bamboo, and besides, things here are going pretty well.

One of these days, I may get a chance to go a’travelling again. But for the moment, the sea and the boats are calling me right here.

Good luck

doc…

67

Ugly American? I’m ok with dat, as I’m gringo (altho Isthmian variety) and pretty ugly myself. Just don’t be a cruise-ship American – now that I cain’t stand.

hey had my first surf in UDT fins - 6-8ft (faces) point surf – UDT were infact a bit of an improvement over the Blue duckfeet - but not as much as I’d hoped, but an improvement still. However they were FAR more comfy dan the duckfeet, me thinks. Makes a difference yknow. paddling out to the point through the shore pound at the end of a ride - well dat’s torture enough - I didn’t open any ulcers or anything. much better.

any you mat/spooooon types come down - pm me and lemme know. would be cool to get a surf in and trade notes.

68

How’d your mat work? How were the conditions? Get some good rides?

69

my mat worked very well ( JD on his too) we both got some killa waves – i just loved trimming high on the faces, then dropping for more speed and back up again. here’s a pic i found of it on the web - it’s one of the more crowded spots - but weekdays, well today there was just me, a friend, and two other peeps out. had it from 0630 to about 900 when high tide lull set in. mat works best there at 180 bend inflation… and let out just a leetle more.

i tried to upload the pic here - - but we just got done a major downpour, and internets kinda in/out – takin too dam long - will try later. dale – will email you the pic

70

my mat worked very well ( JD on his too) we both got some killa waves – i just loved trimming high on the faces, then dropping for more speed and back up again. here’s a pic i found of it on the web - it’s one of the more crowded spots - but weekdays, well today there was just me, a friend, and two other peeps out. had it from 0630 to about 900 when high tide lull set in. mat works best there at 180 bend inflation… and let out just a leetle more.

71

trying to load the #!@# pic

72

Well that pic certainly put some air in my mat! And to think…the water is warm!

73

actually Dry season with the upwelling – it gets freezing - down to 68-70F – ooooooh. ( y’see it’s all relative)

74

(chuckling )

Dr. S, let me introduce Panama. Panama, es mi amigo Dr. S. That point is classic Panama - and it’s not the only one.By a long shot, north or south. As big as you want it. And yes, a spring suit can be a handy thing to have. You can catch a chill with both the dry and the strong offshores.

Strong offshores? Ah huh. In the mornings, you get 'em. The word you are looking for is ‘hollow’. The other word is ‘fast’. Kneelo paradise. Just watch out for the little coral bumps on the rocks, they are sharp. In real rock country, a Gath is good.

Wait til you meet up with Panamanian Ron Anejo. Not quite snifter stuff, but a friend liked a shot with his coffee in the morning and on his example I found it does make the day a wee bit more tolerable if you’re not working.

Apres surf, especially if you wore one of the sun-guard type white rash guards…the offshores will freeze ya. I smartened up and used a dark rashie early on, then just tan and fur.

Oh, and, watch out for Agua Rojo in the Wet. It’s like a red tide stateside, exacerbated by the fresh water runoff. Me, I have a nasty allergic reaction to it, so I hit the pharmacia for 25 mg Benadryl caps, cleaned it right up but miserable itch before that.

Heh- gettin’ to the end of the Dry, isn’t it? I used to love to watch the rain come across the water, lots of wind and white at the edges, lightning and thunder booming and then the rain comes down like a wet curtain.

I found the UDTs worked best with a long, deep, diving fin kind of stroke - hit the power in mid-stroke. If they never break the surface of the water, that’s just right. Better than the duck feet and way better than the also-rans.

Just as an aside - I found that the hardware store poly resin in David and probably elsewhere, the stuff where you bring your own containers and it’s a nice, pale emerald color, it makes very nice surfboard resin for repairs and such. How are sources for polyester-compatible sheet foam there? You might say that doing board work in Panama is nothing new to me;

hmm- going back on what I said before… I may have to look into the after christmas ( mid-late dry season ) ticket prices. I can sign on for my unemployment over the net, after all. The joys of direct deposit and debit cards besides.

I’ll be the bald guy at the airport with the real short double board bag, the backpack…maybe a vac bag setup in another piece of checked luggage… and the silly smile 'cos I do miss the place… my passport has years to go yet.

doc…

75

Yeah, 68 w. wind would be cold. Here we’re lucky to see 58 in summer. Winter can hit 49 in the water. Proly lot colder where Doc lives?

Just found out about that deep kick thing in the water, partly from reading Doc’s posts and then a website I found and lost the addy for. A swim coach talking about how everyone’s quads are way stronger than their hamstrings. And because we emphasize the stronger muscle groups because they are easier to use, the imbalance gets worse the more years we are kicking in the water. He suggested pool laps on your back as you will airate on the quad side that way and build hamstring strength. Claims to make swimmers much faster w/ consistent workouts. What I did yesterday was make sure my feet were deep enough to not break surface, take big slower kicks and really put the geevum into the hamstring half of the kick. Timed myself by following board paddlers and varying my kick. Gained a lot of speed by evening out the two halves of the kick. Also, found a new set of muscles to get sore!

Back to booties. Been searching in dive shops packing a Duckfoot to try on. Seems the surf booties stitch the sole on almost under the sole w/ instep material wrapping down to the seam. The dive booties have more like a shoe sold and end up a lot wider at the same size so need a bigger flipper depending on which you get. Too bad, because I really like that solid shoe sole type support and protection but they won’t fit my Ducks. Need 1/2 to full size bigger flippers. Was hoping I could use same boots for both flips (old Ducks and new UDT’s) Oh, well.

76

Has anyone ever tried making their own swim fins for surfing? The best way to get a custom fit would seem to be make your own! A lot of people complain about the fit of mass-produced fins! Especially the powerful ones like Voit Duckfeet and UDT. Their molds havent changed in 50 years! Price isn’t everything! So why not try making a pair for your own use? How about a close-tolerance swim fin “blank” to be shaped as needed?

These days there are lots of silicone rubber and polyurethane compounds available in different durometers. Some RTV silicone putties can formed by hand and don’t even need molds. FDA safe for human contact. Not expensive to experiment with, either.

Obviously I havent tried this yet! What am I neglecting to consider?

77

i thought about that about a few months ago and drew some pics of what i wanted to do,wanted to make a clear silicone foot pocket(or hydro tech 2s) and then extend the blade with epoxy/fiberglass to give em more power…i need a good fin-pocket for my 14s…the ducks ive modified are the best ive ever worn…(vipers,slashers,makapuus,tech 1s,ducks)…gonna get udts before summer though…