Swim Fin History

‘Doc’ Joe Jackson and Schep are back, this time to discuss an in-depth analysis of swim fin history their design progression through time. From DaVinci to WWII to Mavericks we outline the evolution of the most well-known name brands and dive, pun intended, into what has made them so successful.

Swim Fin History

Polynesian swimmers w/ hard palm leaves tied to their feet some dried palm leaves were even coated in tar or natural latex (Churchill witness 1930’s)
Leonardo Da Vinci (15th century)

Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (17th century)

Benjamin Franklin (18th century) As a child he loved swimming as fancied himself a sailor. He would affix wood planks to his hands and feet – “artist palette” shaped) documented in the Smithsonian

Louis de Corlieu (1914-1939) In 1914 the 1st prototype were designed by French naval officers, 1924 Corlieu left the Navy to work on his fin, in 1933 he received a patent (767013) for fins and paddle combo, and mass production began in 1939 after selling a Churchill purchased a license from him.

propulseurs de natation et de sauvetage translated as “swimming and rescue propulsion device”

Churchill renamed the design as Swimfins which is still used in English today. He went to the US Navy to demonstrate their value and application which, and the subsequent order allowed the gear to shine in battles of World War 2. Churchill fins left prints on the Normandy beaches attached to the feet of “Naked Warriors” as they cleared landing sites for the invasion.

Fun fact Owen Churchill is a gold medalist, yacht racing 8m, 1932

Open Strap Heel

1946 Skin Divers and Duckfeet and custom duck feet (what we use modern duckfeet wise) (Spearfisherman the fin company was started 1945 by Arthur Brown later sold in 1955 to Swimaster, which became Voit in the early 1960’s 1st to use rails or ribs for stiffness and power

1948 Italian cressi-sub and Luigi Ferraro came up with a closed foot (closed heel) fin design
1949-50 Udt’s, a larger version on the Duck Feet fin (both have duck feet still written on them) in use on record w/ US Navy through Vietnam with the Frogmen (fighting on land as sea)
1964 Georges Beuchat designed and produced the jet fin (Scubapro Jet Fin)

1980’s or 1990’s Dr. Greg Deet rescued the UDT fin mold after production had been moved down to Mexico. Rumor had it they were sitting behind a barn in TJ

Viper Swim Fin History

1st released 1982
I-Beam 7” black no drainage holes
Mid-late 80’s
V7/ V5 yellow and orange dots iconic colorway
2014 injection molded rubber fins were made as an update. The new rubber didn’t require the use of paddling, the rubber was smooth enough not to make your feet a bloody mess
Vectors V7/ V5 yellow/ orange
2015 vector V7/v5 blk/ grey
2016 New yellow dots V7’s v’5
*Weird rubber in late 90’s early 00’s in both the v5 and v7*

DaFin history

Andy Cochran, a lifeguard living in Hawaii designed the fins in the mid 90’s
Official swim fin of the US lifesaving association
Standard issue fin of Hawaiian Lifeguard Association

Yucca Surf Fin History

In 2016 Sean Straky made an update of one of his favorite fins for bodysurfing the wedge, what he came up with is considered by the hosts of the show to be the best fin on the market.

3 rubber variations

Potato soft
Regular
Stiffs for the grooms that said “bring the stiffest fin you make ol’ man”

Features an open heel design similar to the Viper V5 with updated ventilation holes at the toes on the bottom side of the fin to help drain sand and gravel that ends up in your fins

When will we see a 7”? Joe is patiently waiting.

BUY THEM HERE!!!