I am passionate about designing natural fins to match the natural biomechanics of good swimmers. I aim to help all levels of swimmer to improve their technique and fitness, for swimming and many other water sports. Most important, is a proper streamlined body position with a natural streamlined kick. Natural good swimmer biomechanics. shinfinTM fins are indeed a natural fin design. It feels like you are swimming barefoot but with more power and speed. The end result, is fins that enhance the enjoyment and benefits of swimming and many other water sports.
I first believed there must be a better alternative to foot flippers around 1990. That was more than 50 fin prototypes ago – it has been a much harder design challenge than I first thought! My passion, together with the kind help from many people, keeps me going. The result is an exciting new natural fin design that I feel genuinely comfortable offering to you. I’ve had very pleasing feedback from many customers around the world, some of which you will see on this website.
Good swimmers and swim coaches quickly feel the streamlined kick of shinfinTM natural fins and recognise their benefits. You feel them keeping your body horizontal for less drag. You feel them guiding you to kick from your hips, with only a little knee-bend. You feel the power coming from the big muscles in your upper legs, buttocks, stomach and torso. These are same muscles you use for good “no-fins” swimming. They don’t strain your feet, ankles and calf muscles like foot flippers. You also feel them give you the correct body balance to support your arm stroke. With shinfinTM fins, you know your swim training is strengthening your natural kick because your kick feels right. That’s why they also improve your “no-fins” swimming technique (arms too), your stroke efficiency and your speed. So these biomechanically advanced fins are an evolutionary step up from all foot flippers (including short, training flippers).
Beginners, intermediate swimmers and swim teachers also quickly feel how the shinfinTM fin design encourage a horizontal body position with a good streamlined kick. Their natural, rhythmical flex teaches and guides you into the correct streamlined kick. These benefits come naturally, without you needing to think about it too much. Even if you can only swim a little way at first, you will soon find your swimming technique (arms too), swim fitness, breathing, distance and speed much improved by using them. Just relax and let them guide you. They offer you an exciting new way to improve your stroke technique, fitness and your enjoyment of the water.
For other water sports (snorkeling, body surfing, bodyboarding, kneeboarding, surfing etc.) you still do the same streamlined kick with shinfinTM fins. I recommend using them for freestyle, in calm water first, to become comfortable with the streamlined kick from your hips and only a little knee-bend. Then transfer this streamlined kick to snorkeling or paddling your board. Lie horizontal on your board and kick and paddle together – like doing freestyle lying on your board. They offer you a comfortable, light-weight alternative to the many problems of foot flippers.
I have not designed shinfinTM fins for a foot flipper kick. If you force them into a foot flipper kick, they will feel floppy and inefficient. Foot flippers require a different kick with more knee-bend, using different muscles. That’s why foot flippers strain your feet, ankles, Achilles tendons and calf muscles. To help evolve from your old foot flipper kick, wear your shinfinTM fins and swim arms-only freestyle or backstroke. Let them lift your legs into a horizontal streamlined position with your knees fairly straight. Then add your kick gradually and let the fins flow naturally. They will guide you into a good streamlined kick and you will feel the power from your upper legs, buttocks, stomach and torso. This usually happens almost immediately. If a streamlined kick is new to you, it may take a while to build your strength for it. The benefits of shinfin™ fins will transfer to improve your swimming without fins too.