Fiberglass Hockey Fins

unless you have a specific measurement or test to determine an amount of "pliability" duck, your argument is shot.

sure, fibreglass fins are less pliable than some we have had in the past but they are still pliable, of course they are, they fit all the criteria both in the rules AND for the definition of pliability. you are just haggling over scale of pliability.

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it's more polite on the grating than on the subs bench

"Suck it up and kick faster in something that conforms to the rules. This should be a game about fitness and skills more so than technology."

why would you want to stop the sport from advancing with technology?

Uh, personal safety?

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

take the leaderfins for example - they are encased in rubber; i've seen about 3 or 4 blades snap and the rubber has remained intact

the nemo fins, while they hurt when they hit you on the head that's about the only problem i've seen with those

mind you most fins hurt when they hit you in the face

Todd has it there, they seem reasonably safe (as much as any other fin). Most fins have solid ribs which hurt when they catch you in the head, this includes the stratos, the v6 and the quattros. As far as pliability goes, most carbon fibre fins can be bent back on themselves to touch the heel of the foot without threat of breaking. Glass fibre can't, but they're still pretty goddamn flexible. Would you accept carbon fibre instead? The pliability clause is there to stop people from wearing fins that are hard enough when the tip is slashed sideways to caust damage to other players, which in my opinion (as shabby as that may be), none of the fibreglass fins are (them all being encased in rubber and all that).

As far as the specialfins go, I'll do another post when I have some photos, but for now keep your cash in your wallet...

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It's not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose.

Thanks, could you also include photos of the other fins you have lying around for comparison?

Probably more so than fiber fins that only have rubber on the edges, 'encased' in rubber is the key. Should the fin break the rubber might still protect against sharp edges. The main issue I see in fiber fins of any form is that the side to side flexibility is not enough. Sure you can go from heel to toe and get it to bend, but when someone slices through and whacks you one, you know you got whacked since there is very little flex that direction.

As far as what I would accept, that's not really an issue. The rules state about 'approved fins', is there a list of what is approved or at least what isn't. I know there are hundreds of fins out there so the list could be long, but some definition as to what is approved could go a long way.

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

Hi,

Tom de Trebons sells fiber fins :
Brier at hockeysub.com

I think they are authorized in French championship (if not, he did not sell them ...)
Cheers

We are involved into the developpement of this BREIER product since 6 months now.

Several top level players like Thomas, Guillaume and Benson have contributed by their comments to the developpement of this product. Those fins have been used by players of the French national team in Bari (and Belgians).

The fiber plane itself is from far really more resistant and the protective "rubber" envelopp hundred times more efficient than Leaderfins or Special fins. They have the exact dimension of ALA fins. They are available in different level of resistance.

But they are still some issues with lateral border on the custom made footpocket and a lack of inclinaison (0%).

Those fins will be available very soon (end of october) with a Beuchat footpocket, a equivalent lateral border as ALA & Quattro and an inclinaison of 17%. Which will make of it a really well finished product.

An update (border & inclinaison) of the custom made footpocket product is planned for january 2008.

Breier has a product that is currently in the pipeline and expected for october 2008 that will be a little revolution for our game.

One last point:Graham has confirmed me on Monday that Fiberfins are allowed in Durban.