Performance Freediving International
Day Two Record Attempts: Another World Record for Team PFI
A second World Record in the sport of freediving (breath-hold diving) has today fallen to Czech freediver Martin Stepanek. The 28-year-old resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL has now added a ninth World Record to his burgeoning trophy case with an historic freedive to a depth of 106m/348 ft. in the Free Immersion discipline. Free Immersion requires the diver to pull down a cable to depth and back up, without fins. The dive lasted three minutes, fifty-two seconds (3:52).
Today was another day of training for Mandy-Rae Cruickshank of Vancouver, Canada, striving to reclaim her World title and set a Women's World Record in Constant Ballast (kicking to depth and back up under her own power with fins) at 87m / 285ft. Unfortunately, today's dive was halted a few meters shy of the target depth of 84m / 276ft when Mandy's right ear locked up and she was unable to equalize pressures fully to depth.
Following Mandy-Rae was Dr. George 'Doc' Lopez, Founder/CEO and Chairman of the Board for ICU Medical, Inc. Doc's attempt to best his own US National record for Free Immersion (set Saturday, April 1 at 51 meters/167 ft) ended in disappointment when Doc judged it wasn't going well and aborted his descent. During his ascent Doc signaled to safety freedivers Kirk Krack and Tom Lightfoot for a 'lift' to the surface, a precaution against overstressing himself. Once at the surface Doc (referring to his record dive only 48 hours earlier) said "I shouldn't have dived today, I was still tired from the previous day." Having prudently conserved his energy by seeking assistance from his safety freedivers, Doc has signaled his intent to make another attempt on Wednesday.
The competitors train hard for these disciplines and records, but it's only with the help of a professional dive team and an advanced safety protocol that these three athletes can perform at their peak and with confidence. During each record attempt 8 rebreather safety divers (some shooting underwater video in Hi-Def) document the performances and, most importantly, assure the safety of the athletes while they're executing. "We have the very best safety crew with Team PFI" said Safety Coordinator Bill Coltart." For many this is their third year in a row working the Performance Freediving Cayman events".
This coming Wednesday and Friday (April 5th and 7th) will see the final record attempts before the end of Sink Faze Cayman 2006 . The athletes arrived on Grand Cayman March 5th and have been training for the past four weeks. Freediving is an intense athletic endeavor that requires strict and disciplined training in the gym and pool, and conditioned enhancement of the mammalian diving reflexes such as bradycardia (slowing of the heart), blood shunting (movement of blood in the extremities to the core) and thoracic filling (blood plasma movement into the alveoli at extreme depths and back out during ascents). Cedars-Sinai pulmonologist Ralph Potkin, MD, of Los Angeles has followed and monitored the athletes throughout the Cayman training period.
Mandy-Rae , Martin and Doc work with coach and trainer Kirk Krack, founder of Performance Freediving International , Inc. Kirk was formerly Vice-President of the Association for the International Development of Apnea (AIDA), the world governing body for the sport of freediving.
This event is made possible by the generous financial sponsorship of ICU Medical Inc and the support of Stingray Watersports o f Grand Cayman i n providing diving and accommodations. Underwater video services are provided by HD Odyssey of Monterey, CA . Professional equipment is furnished by Oceaner Sporting Goods and Yamamoto Corporation with additional support provided by Doc's Proplugs. Providing evacuation boat support was Danny Kupkowski of Off The Wall and spectator boat by Divetech Ltd.
The members of Performance Freediving International teach educational clinics around the world and are involved in both team and athlete development. Last years attempts in Cayman were broadcast near-live by streaming video and garn er ed an outstanding response from underwater enthusiasts the world over.
For media or spectator attendance or to receive pictures and updates, please contact Kirk Krack at:
604-862-5868 Vancouver office
954-302-2791 Ft Lauderdale office
345-322-4526 Cayman Islands cell phone
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com
Full streaming video, training diaries and pictures are available at www.performancefreediving.com .
END PRESS RELEASE
[ TOP ]
|
