Development History

Home > Technology > Design Team > Development History

Technology

Innovation Design Team Product Media Coach's Corner

FINIS Development History

A quick review of FINIS' extensive product development history

1992
Pablo Morales wins the Olympic Gold Medal in the 100 meter Butterfly in Barcelona, Spain. Pablo Morales and John Mix ideate the MONOFIN and first prototypes are ade.

1993
Seeing the potential to "improve the quality of swimming", Morales & Mix establish FINIS INCOPORATED in Discovery Bay, CA, U.S.A. Three different blade-sizes for the MONOFIN are finalized and pre-production units are created.

1994
The first MONOFIN units are sold throughout the United States and Europe. Understanding the importance of hip-rotation, the TECH TOC and HYDRO HIP are created in part with UC Berkeley Head Coach, Nort Thorton.

1995
The center-mount SWIMMER'S SNORKEL is introduced to improve body balance and positioning. FINIS moves their headquarters to Tracy, CA, U.S.A.

1996
Tim Elson, 15 year Pepperdine Head Coach and FINIS VP, patents the FREESTYLER HAND PADDLE, which develops proper hand entry and lengthens the stroke. The Olympic Games take place in Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.

1997
The center-mount FREESTYLE SNORKEL is introduced to allow Freestyle swimmers to achieve the proper head-position in the water.

1998
The SWIM MIRROR is introduced, which provides immediate visual feedback in order to improve stroke technique.

1999
Seeing that the quality of goggles for younger swimmers has been overlooked, FINIS introduces the LANE 4 brand of swim goggles.

2000
The Olympic Games take place in Sydney, Australia.

2001
The TEMPO TRAINER is designed to teach stroke cadence and help swimmers discover their optimal stroke rate. Needing space to grow, FINIS moves their headquarters to Livermore, CA, U.S.A.

2002
FINIS partners with Stanford All American, Dr. Marty Hull, to introduce the ZOOMERS brand of training products. Recognizing the need for better quality children's products, FINIS launches the WATER PALS brand of water confidence and safety items.

2003
Swimwear is added to the growing FINIS assortment when the durable polyester AQUATUFF swimwear line is introduced. The technical championship swimwear HYDROSPEED line is introduced to improve racing performance.

2004
The new short-blade ZOOMER Z2 fin is co-developed with Dr. Marty Hull. FINIS signs world record holder, JADE EDMISTOE as a premier sponsored athlete. The Olympic Games take place in Athens, Greece

2005
The original SWIMP3 bone conduction & waterproof music player is introduced. The LAP TRACK personal underwater lap counter and timer is added to the FINIS range of products.

2006
The FOREARM FULCRUM is introduced to improve stroke efficiency and technique. The ALIGNMENT KICKBOARD is introduced to maintain optimum body alignment while kicking. FINIS signs water polo great and US Team Captain, TONY AZEVEDO as a premier sponsored athlete.

2007
The re-designed SWIMP3 v.2 music player is launched. The large SOLAR DIGITAL DECK CLOCK, which is powered through natural and artificial lighting, is introduced. FINIS introduces the TA SIGNATURE SERIES WATER POLO line in recognition of water polo star, Tony Azevedo.

2008
FINIS begins to distribute the completely waterproof UNDERWATER PACE CLOCK The CIRCUIT TRAINER workout timer is introduced to help organize dry-land and circuit training programs. The Olympic Games take place in Beijing, China, where TONY AZEVEDO and the US Water Polo Team earn a Silver Medal.

2009
FINIS looks to help younger swimmers by introducing the LEARN-TO-SWIM SWIMMER'S SNORKEL and SWIM EXPLORER.

2012
The Olympic Games in London, UK