NEWS

Cayman 2004 - Freediving World Record Event

Day 19 - From bad comes good

Yesterday's performances may have sucked except for Doc's, but today Martin and Mandy certainly make up for it.

The weather's still windy and Danny mentions a cold front that might go stationary in the southern states. This will draw crap weather, although not necessarily the Nor' Western-type fronts that blow out the Westside of the island. That's our adopted side of the island and the side that makes training and more importantly record attempts that much easier.

Martin at 102m

Martin after surfacing

Martin's goal today is 102m free immersion. The 102-bail-out monkey must be thrown off his shoulder and he's determined that this is the day. His warm-ups look great and he seems very focused today. Today Chris Brandson from Divetech is joining us to do some underwater video and he and Derek will be stationed at depth. Chris will be working with us for the first two days of the record attempts and he's out getting a feel for things. Also joining us today are Miles, Jen and Trevor from Canada. Miles and Jen we know from Pender Island where our friends Dan and Tara, ex-Cayman and Team Canada members are now living. Trevor we know from a clinic in Calgary. This makes for a pretty full boat, but it's getting closer to the reality of what game day will feel like: more bustle, more noise, and less room to move.

Martin is off and away after his warm-ups and he isn't going to his nose to clear. That's a good sign! Later Martin mentions that on his way down he sees the videographer and thinks they're close together so he gets ready for the plate. But the timing seems off and upon looking up he realizes that he's still another 20m from the bottom. He continues to sink to depth until he hears Derek's encouragement, then almost as a matter of fact stamps his hand on the plate. "Martin is here!" is the impression captured by the bottom camera. Soon he's pulling his way to the surface. We meet at 25m and there's no question in my mind that he's 'touched plate' and is in full control. We surface and Martin looks very relaxed. 102m in 3:28 (1:46 down & 1:42 up). He'll certainly have no problem with this record unless his ears get the better of him or the looming weather breaks.

Mandy heading down to 77m

By zero plus 30-something she's out of sight and Bill Strömberg starts his count up for me. Bill, Tony and I have the whole thing down to a science now and it's great to feel this synchronicity with them. At zero plus 1:15 I start my dive and soon see Mandy ascending with tag in hand. We quickly ascend to the surface and she looks in control. She breaks the surface, takes her recovery breaths and gives me a big smile. Mandy's now unofficially the deepest woman in constant ballast with a dive to 77m in 2:31 (1:23 down & 1:08 up). She comments that each of them feels no different. There's the same leg burn, she's still equalizing at the bottom, there's no chest squeeze, etc.

Dr. George Lopez

Our last official training day is finished. We've a long deserved day off training awaiting us tomorrow and then it'll be our first record attempt day. Tomorrow will be a day to review the rules and stretch and measure the line. We'll also have our final safety and support briefing with all the cast and characters who are here to make this event happen. Right now we're on our way to the airport to pick up Nicolas Laporte from Switzerland, our second AIDA Judge.

Stay tuned!

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