The Coastal Athlete Program

Major Mike Harris, USMC, sat down with Schep recently to discuss ultra athletics, training methodology, heart rate zones, and balance.

Marine Ultra Runners Club of America

 

We will be updating and adding to this post over time. Make sure to check back for more photos and intel.

Joe Jackson sat down with Juan Macias of Cal Fire after the Nor Cal Water Rescue Rodeo to talk about Juan’s path to service. Juan details his journey as a Fire Firefighter One (1) Seasonal from Mexico to the United States, and discusses how being bilingual has benefited him.

 

Kpaloa Classic OnGoing Review v1.0

Swim Fin Category:

Surf

Quiver Comp:

DaFins

Pro’s:

Super comfy

Soft foot pocket, firm tip

Great all day bodyboarding fin

Nice wide foot pocket

Stylish

Cons:

At 5’11 220 they felt a little underpowered in 4-6ft swell on a bodyboard

Where can I get them?

HERE

 

From Kpaloa’s website

“Founded in 1983 by Augusto Conti, son of a prominent rubber industrialist, KPALOA is a 100% Brazilian company specialized in the production of high performance surface swimfins made of high quality vulcanized rubber, for bodyboarding, bodysurfing, swimming and rescue.  Due to his know-how in rubber technology and his great love of sports, besides being focused, painstaking, and highly artistic, Augusto idealized the project at the very beginning of bodyboarding in Brazil, was passionate about it, and, ever since, has offered athletes a state-of-the-art product. “Something new is coming up at sea”, the slogan used by Kpaloa to launch its first model of swimfins! Since its creation, KPALOA has always aimed at producing the best swimfins in the world, giving athletes and lifeguards equipment that offers excellent propulsion, comfort, durability and safety.”

 

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Aloha Pod Members,

Schep and Joe just got back from the rodeo! They spent all there time getting the episode ready, make sure to check back here for more information. (THEY WILL BE UPLOADING LINKS, VIDEOS, AND GALLERYS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AS THEY FINISH PROCESSING)

Big thank you to Cal Fire Station 1166 for taking care of us, and welcoming our pod into their home.

Jesse Pitman Memorial 5K

Jesse Pittman was born and raised in the redwoods of northern California. As a young man, he spent two seasons as a wildland fire fighter with CAL Fire before he joined the United States Navy to become a SEAL commando. After completing his third deployment, Jesse volunteered to do another back-to-back. Jesse had a saying among his teammates, “I don’t run, I charge.” On August 6, 2011, Jesse was one of 31 American heroes lost in a helicopter crash over Afghanistan. Jesse died while living a life dedicated to service and conquering challenges. His next goal was to attend college and earn his bachelor’s degree. Now, Jesse’s wish will carry on with you.

Schep and Joe sit down to discuss what they ride and how they ride it! This is a straight-up waterman hang.

Jake Sonnier US Navy Rescue Swimmer

We are joined this episode of The Coastal Athlete Program Podcast by Jake Sonnier US Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, crew chief, fisherman, and all around bad ass to talk about his career as a water rescue professional. Jake talks about his aquaphobia and fear of heights, and how he refused to let them deter him from becoming a Rescue Swimmer. Schep and Jake discuss jet fins vs rocket fins, shark encounters, and Jake shares some of his stories about flying in the Florida Keys.

Water Rescue Professionals are often perceived as fearless superheroes when in reality many of us struggle with phobias and pain just like everyone else.  The life also calls us away to stand duty, often times costing us valuable time with the ones we love.  We went there in this episode, and we thank Jake for his candor.

Many active duty Rescue Swimmer s never get the opportunity to actually ply their craft in a civilian rescue scenario. In 2017 Petty Officer Sonnier got the chance to do just that, and the story is electrifying. Imagine being afraid of heights swinging from a helicopter in a storm, down onto a shrimp boats, surrounded by hungry sharks. This is an all-timer folks, you won’t want to miss it!

So Others May Live

Jake can be found on Instagram @jakesonnier

The Coastal Athlete Program Podcast is stepping up to weekly episodes through the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere to provide as much quality content for water rescue professionals as possible during the tourist season.

* Joe is getting his mobile recording set up online so we are doubling our range.

* Schep & Joe are coming to Mendocino for the Water Rescue Rodeo and will be offering a class on the alternate day of the event.

* Episodes dedicated to the true cost of water sports goods, examining the human and natural cost of things like rubber/foam/polyurethane

* Product reviews

* Summer Special Events! like the 3rd Chum Challenge

CAP CLASS SUMMER TOUR

The guys are ready to hit the road the provide CAP Classes in your area on the Pacific Rim, specifically for water rescue professionals or any group of water sports enthusiasts. Schep and Joe have fins, boards, paddles, and small craft standing at the ready to come to your town! Contact us HERE or via any of our social media channels.

* 10 students minimum per session

* 20 students maximum per session

As we begin to offer mobile classes we will talk about them on the podcast, so make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss your chance to try out a CAP Class for yourself.

NEXT REMOTE CLASS

MAY 19 OR 20

(DEPENDANT UPON RODEO SCHEDULE)

MENDOCINO, CA

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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 

The Swim Fin is a vital part of any waterman’s gear, especially water rescue professional’s, and can be used for a variety of purposes. Surfers, lifeguards, dive and salvage teams, as well as snorkeling guilds, require different levels of stiffness and comfort to do their job. Some use swim fins to train their legs for non-fin events or to increase kinetic awareness. Others use fins to explore deep below the water’s surface and require the perfect combination of performance and efficiency.

Episode 006 – The Great Swim Fin Debate

Joe and Schep recently sat down to try and help you make sense of it all. Below are links to the brands and topics discussed.

Scuba Pro Jet Fins

Voigt Duck Feet

Da Fin 

MS Viper

TYR Cross Blades

 

Viper V5 V7

Yucca Surf Fins (Extra Stiff)

Churchill Swim Fins 

Final Categories (as agreed upon at the conclusion)

Dive Fins

A good Dive Swim Fin places an emphasis on subsurface propulsion, efficiency, and strength of stroke delivery. These fins tend to be longer, heavier, and require proper leg strength development prior to efficient use.

Multi-Purpose Fins

Can serve for surface and subsurface duties, often the pair of fins you bring if you only can have one in your kit. A good multi-purpose swim fin is like a good multi-tool; durable, easy to use, flexible enough to meet your needs.

Surf Fins

The Surf Swim Fin category contains fins designed for comfort and control while playing in the waves. These fins are usually made of high-quality rubber that is both buoyant as well as durable.

Training Fins

Fins that are designed for pool work, and are made of chlorine resistant materials.  Typically cover the entire sole of the foot, with an enclosed heel pocket. A Pool Swim Fin is typically not buoyant and is not well suited for ocean use.

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One year ago the first CAP Class assembled at Del Monte Beach to brave the overhead plus heavy slab waves and driving north wind. We began this Program in order to prepare a group of recent Naval Academy graduates for their careers in the special operations community.  The “First Four” sat down with Schep to talk about the origins of the Coastal Athlete Program, what motivates their desire to serve in the United States Navy, and why they have chosen their paths.

We recorded this interview several months ago before the guys had a chance to class up.  They have since all completed Navy Officer Dive School and will continue down the pipeline to being Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technicians. Rest easy at night knowing brave men and women like this are standing the watch.

 

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