Cayman 2005 - Freediving World Record Event
Day 29 - April 11 - 74m Free Immersion World Record
From Kirk:
Again we set up on site, realize there's too much current and pick it all up to
find another more suitable site. Although this is necessary and we end
up with relatively good sites, it keeps the athetes waiting and the crew working.
Exhaustion is taking its toll, and today Tom Lightfoot spends over 5 hours in the water.
Finally by 10:30 a.m. we are hooked up and ready to put the first athlete in the water.
Mandy-Rae Cruickshank will attempt 74m / 242ft which is 2m / 7ft short of her previous
attempt. It's better to make a good attempt. Considering the whipping wind and the
fierce chop today it's not going to be an easy day for anyone.
Joining us on the boat is Sky Christopherson and his film crew. They are
shooting a movie called "The Greater Meaning Of Water". A freediver movie
that gets away from the usual themes seen in most movies. This one should open in June
and hit the film festival circuit. We're providing our record attempt
infrastructure as a movie set when we're not using it, which is usually at
set up and break down.
Today we're missing Peter Satitpunwaycha and Dave Faas. Dave's heading to the airport
for his flight home. Dave and Peter will be sorely missed. Mandy's
sent a last minute plea to Dave's family to let him stay and keep Team PFI safe
at depth along with his buddy Spencer. Both of them have been with us since the beginning.
Joining us today is Aaron Paker from Northern California. He'll end up replacing Peter on
the heavy lifting end of the game. There's something to be said for those hearty NorCal
types.
From Mandy:
Well, we got what we asked for and more. The winds are back today in full force.
This makes the surface conditions less then perfect, and with a good current
underwater it means that we need to change locations before we find a divable
site.
I get in and start my warm-ups. All goes well except that the current is
pulling me sideways, although it's much better than the other day. So I decide
to make another attempt. Today's goal is to speed up my Free Immersion dive a
bit. So all the way down and back up I keep a constant 'one-two' count going in
my head. The strange thing about the dive is that none of my safety divers
are cheering. So all the way up I keep wondering why they are being so quiet.
I guess that they just forgot. Soon I meet up with Kirk and Tom and we make our
way the last few meters to the surface. Once at the surface I do my recovery breathing and
give the judges a big OK. The surface is really choppy and I have to wind my legs around
the line in order to stay safe above the water.
It is such a great feeling to finally get this record. I first announced it in
early 2001 and then again in 2003 and 2004. I am glad to have finally conquered
this discipline. I only wish that I had more time to get it a bit deeper, but I
still have Variable Ballast to attempt so I'll leave it for now.
Mandy on the way down
Photo by Alex Mustard |
Mandy on the way up
Photo by Alex Mustard |
From Doc:
After the usual warm up, one more gulp and down I drop. It is getting so
comfortable now, I love the release into the blue. The anxiety of reaching down
for that little bit of air I need to equalize when I feel the depth squeeze has
gone. Now that I am used to it, the air comes more easily. As I descend my only
thoughts are on my timing. Keep refilling until it won't come up. With my cheeks
full, the last equalization is pushed to near empty. But why is it taking so long?
Did Kirk fool me again? As my eyes open to take in more data, there is another
line rubbing on my sled. What the heck! I look first to my back and down to see
where touchdown is. I cannot see it, so my body bends forward and up. There it
is two meters away. I ride it to the end with the feeling that my eardrums are touching
each other. In a flash the sled peels away from my fins. What in the world! There
are two lines to grab! Which one will take me to the judges? A look down traces one
line to the sled and my hands grab it. Because the counterbalance line
is swinging in the current the two lines became twisted. The delay throws my usual easy trip up to a new
uncomfortable swim. The current is swift enough to make it hard to grab the
line, so my fins do all the work. I make it, give the OK sign and shake AIDA judge
Bill Stromberg's hand knowing that I have exceeded his national record by one meter.
Tonight, I wonder how many times my teamates will tease him, "Bill, what's the
variable ballast record for Sweden?" ... Me? I'm lying low.
Doc on the way down
Photo by Alex Mustard |
Doc on the way up
Photo by Alex Mustard |
Martin on the way down
Photo by Alex Mustard |
Martin on the way up
Photo by Alex Mustard |
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