Women's 100-meter Immersion at Dutch Open Finswimming Championships

By Robert H. Kelly
Executive Director-Texas Finswimming Association

DEER PARK, TEXAS (May 31, 2009) Below is a very good clip showing the women's 100-meter immersion at the Dutch Open Finswimming Championships on May 16, 2009 at Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Notice the deep water kicking technique and how the finswimmers come to the surface to turn at the 50-meter mark. The deep water kicking is better for the race, and one has less chance of their monofin breaking the surface and causing resistance. The shallow turning technique allows the fin to come out of the water on the flip to, enabling a fast turn at the half-way point.

Notice the times of the five competitors:
1st place: Nicloe Matthes :41.51
2nd place: Carolin Haase :46.52
3rd place: Ghita Puts :49.32
4th place: Sandra HaBler :49.40
5th place: Sabine Steenken :59.34

The United States women's senior and junior finswimming national records for the 100-meter immersion are as follows:

Senior 100-meter immersion: Jenny Thompson :49.88 at Dunaujvaros, Hungary (1996)
Junior 100-meter immersion: Kristine Kelly :58.48 at Palo Alto, California (2000)

Russian Finswimming Video

By Robert H. Kelly
Executive Director-Texas Finswimming Association

DEER PARK, TEXAS (March 16, 2009) Here is a video clip that I found on YouTube that was produced by the Russian Underwater Federation. It shows a variety of events and disciplines, along with some very good examples of the techniques that are necessary to become a top caliber finswimmer.

I served as the Head Coach the United States National Finswimming Team at the 2000 CMAS World Finswimming Championships in Majorca, Spain.

My wife Darla, who served as the USA Assistant Coach for those Championships, took many hours of finswimming video in Majorca. If I can ever figure out how to convert them to a digital format, I will post them here.

The video below is about two years old, but it is still a welcome bit of visual finswimming for all to enjoy.

2008 TFA End-of-Season Award Winners

DEER PARK, TEXAS (January 15, 2009) The Texas Finswimming Association recently announced its end-of-season awards for 2008. We are very proud to recognize the following award winners:

Athletes of the Year
Lauren Rossett-Texan Finswimming Club (TFC)
Derrick Mauk-Finswimming Association of Southeast Texas (FAST)

Newcomer of the Year
Inka Johnson-USSAG "Sparta" Team (Houston, Texas)

Team of the Year
U.S. Scholar-Athlete Games "Sparta" Team

Coach of the Year
Darla S. Kelly-Swimming & Finswimming Commissioner-2008 U.S. Scholar-Athlete Games

All State 1st Team
Lauren Rossett-Texan Finswimming Club (TFC)
Brittany Jones-Texan Finswimming Club (TFC)
Derrick Mauk-Finswimming Association of Southeast Texas (FAST)
Jonathan Abner-Eagle Finswimming Club (EFC)

All State 2nd Team
Inka Johnson-USSAG "Sparta" Team (Houston, Texas)
Nilda Eguren-Texan Finswimming Club (TFC)
Christian Castro-Texan Finswimming Club (TFC)
Andrew Rodriguez-Eagle Finswimming Club (EFC)

All State Honorable Mention
Ramsey McRory-USSAG "Athens' Team (Keller, Texas)
Adrian Hernandez-Eagle Finswimming Club (EFC)

TFA Selects New Board of Directors for 2009-2012

DEER PARK, TEXAS (Janaury 10, 2009) The Texas Finswimming Association recently selected their new Board of Directors. Each board serves for the duration of the current Olympiad, with this board serving until December 31, 2012.

The Board of Directors for the current Olympiad (2009-2012) is as follows:

President: Darla S. Kelly-Deer Park, Texas
Vice President: Derrick Mauk-Friendswood, Texas
Secretary: Donna Alicoate-Broadway, Virgina
Treasurer: Ruby Tamulitis-Baytown, Texas
Executive Director: Robert H. Kelly-Deer Park, Texas
Director of Media and Public Relations: Jack Light-Amarillo, Texas
Director of Medical Services: Crystal Withrow-Pasadena, Texas
Director of Special Programs: Kristine Kelly-Deer Park, Texas
Athlete Representive: Jenna Taylor-Pasadena, Texas