The British Freediving Championships in Dynamic and Static Apnea 2007

[samdive]

and thanks to Alix too - I agree with every word.

[Haydn]

Well, I appreciate your efforts Sam. Its a good point to insist on BFA membership, I didnt know that. I dont know what you are concerned about with a few of the BFA decisions and its a bit trite to suggest that we should just accept them, even if we disagree. It seems that when anybody tries to do something positive, other people may approve or not, they may support or not, they may accept decisions or not. The thing is, more people should support Salt Free AND the BFA AND the comps AND any other initiative any body else trys to accomplish, rather than ignore them or complain about them and then settle just for their own little groups activities.

I believe we should all support as much as we can, any event that any of us tries to make happen. Even if we dont like to compete, we should still attend even if it costs more than its actually worth in petrol etc. We need to get the family feel again. We should renew our friendships and move the sport forward.

I wish I had my medical, I would love to get wet again in a comp, even if I were to come last I wouldnt care less.

The good news is the doc says he is now prepared to give me a medical exam but wants to consult the surgeon first about my diaphram and include a few extra tests, so I might get to freedive again soon. And even if I am rubbish, it will be good to know at least I am mended, its been too long.

[apneaboy]

Good luck with that Haydn, wish you all the best.

Some good positive points, i'm sure we can get a pool and open water comp running next year between us. I think its time for a UK championships again, Howard did excellent but the Salt Free comps are run very well also. Last years pool comp was very professional and good to catch up with and also meet a few new people. Maybe somehow tie the two in. I would be willing to get a few people to commit for next year once dates are set for sure. There is interest up here but a few of the divers are still finding their feet but some great potential.

I just don't think there was many people up for it this year, there is still some excellent divers here in the UK and representing us abroad and a few on the sidelines waiting to pounce when that trophy is up for grabs and some up and coming.

Lets get it on :-)

Laters

[atomichaggis]

Alix,

Lets get a few things straight. You are preaching to the choir. I presently have an appreciation and respect for all those involved in freediving in the UK be it competitive, recreational or spearos. I know there are many talented athletes and plain old enthusiasts involved with British freediving.

I was responding to the suggestion that there has been a lack of interest there or motivation to participate in the UK. If that lack of interest is not a problem for You and you wish to keep freediving your own little secret then What I said is irrelevant (just ignore it).
If the growth of feeediving in the UK is important to you then what I said should be at least heeded or constructively rebutted... it was deliberately critical for the sake of debate, not an attack on British freediving (only the cricket) or the people who are the lifeblood of it so no need to get your panties in a bunch... come off the back foot, I'm not attacking You.

The stuff I said is pretty much how a lot of people in the UK who aren't currently interested in freediving see it (prove Me wrong). whether You are cool or sexy is of no importance to Me (or anyone already diving)... but it might just be to the growth of the sport, no?
Creating a buzz will eventually lead to more people in competitions and that was essentially My point.


P.S. My criticisms of British society and attitudes is pretty much My own opinion tho.

[jayhem]

It's great to see some comments like Hayden's, I wish more beginners would understand that freediving comps are not about finishing in the top, proving that you're Mr Dolphin-Man or proving that your club is the best-of-the-best, a bit more collaboration wouldn't hurt:-)

I agree with Steve there are very impressive freedivers in the UK, but mostly in depth disciplines. Pool training is not taken seriously at all (hardly anyone turning up at training sessions) and the level is still very low, as very few can do over 125m dynamic.

[Monkey Matt]

It's great to read some more of the more positive posts. It takes 5 minutes to criticise the British Freediving community but a whole lot more time and effort to actually do something positive. I could comment that Norway’s newest recruit is UK free diving’s gain but it would not be constructive.
Hadyn’s point about us losing the family feeling is 100% correct. I sometimes feel like we are fast becoming the product of a broken home. Back in the very early days there were just free divers. It didn't matter if you were a Saltfree-er, a CP-er or even a No Tanker! We were all just part of a tiny free diving community and then clubs and formalised training came along and things started to change. In many ways for the better, but sometimes commercial interest took precedence over growing our sport organically.
I am not for one moment suggesting that we cease the commercial side of the sport because it is necessary to progress. What I am saying is that, when, it comes to discussing the future of free diving events in the UK, we should all try and be positive and not just criticise others to gain some space on this thread.
I for one would love every one to work together but in the old way, when people gave their time freely to assist others to achieve their aims. There are so many ways to help out, you can enter or assist at an event, get more involved with the BFA or just go free diving without slagging off people who try to raise the profile of our very small sport.
I would like to remind every one that there will be a short static apnea piece on prime time, terrestrial TV on Saturday 6th October, ITV1 17:30

[jome]

Not that any of this concerns me, but I see such great potential in UK freediving. You got history, good sites, good diligent people working tirelessly, great athletes, media attention, a good solid organization, active clubs...

Have you ever organized diving events for just the sake of gathering all the "family". I mean not necessarily a competition, but something less formal. Just get everybody in the same place and have some informal, dive related, fun.

Give you an example, we have for 2 years in a row organized a 24h dynamic relay "world record" attempt. Not very serious, rules are simply all travel must be under water without breathing equipment. Style is free, participation is voluntary etc, no bureaucracy...You just show up, swim as much as you like and enjoy the company.

This event has proven to be a huge success. We have had people coming in that previously had absolutely no interest in freediving at all, but the bar is so low (no minimum distance is required) that we've had participants from 12 to over 60 years with various levels of experience. Some dive 12 meters, others 100.

Anyway, the point is, this event always creates a great spirit and people from different clubs and backgrounds come together. We meet new people, recruit new people and have great fun.

Just an idea - from a complete outsider

Which reminds me - hmm, is that happening this year? Gotta make a few inquiries...

P.S only while reading this thread and writing the post above did I realize the true value of that event...Gotta make it happen again.

[atomichaggis]

Cheeky monkey!

P.S. Club politics ain't sexy

[atomichaggis]

Originally Posted by jome

Not that any of this concerns me, but I see such great potential in UK freediving. You got history, good sites, good diligent people working tirelessly, great athletes, media attention, a good solid organization, active clubs...

Have you ever organized diving events for just the sake of gathering all the "family". I mean not necessarily a competition, but something less formal. Just get everybody in the same place and have some informal, dive related, fun.

Give you an example, we have for 2 years in a row organized a 24h dynamic relay "world record" attempt. Not very serious, rules are simply all travel must be under water without breathing equipment. Style is free, participation is voluntary etc, no bureaucracy...You just show up, swim as much as you like and enjoy the company.

This event has proven to be a huge success. We have had people coming in that previously had absolutely no interest in freediving at all, but the bar is so low (no minimum distance is required) that we've had participants from 12 to over 60 years with various levels of experience. Some dive 12 meters, others 100.

Anyway, the point is, this event always creates a great spirit and people from different clubs and backgrounds come together. We meet new people, recruit new people and have great fun.

Just an idea - from a complete outsider

Which reminds me - hmm, is that happening this year? Gotta make a few inquiries...

P.S only while reading this thread and writing the post above did I realize the true value of that event...Gotta make it happen again.

Community spirit, no politics, Egos left on the bank, big event, lots of fun... blindingly obvious really...
If that happens in the UK anytime soon then I'll eat My hat... well, no I won't but I'll eat My words and jump in the fjord in My boxers or something.

[apneaboy]

Sorry Norway, from the whole of the UK

See ya

[Adrian]

The British, for me, have always been very passionate about their sports, take football or now the F1 races, (they have always had good racers). Curiously though, I think the spirit is exemplified by astronomy. It's a country covered by clouds most of the year, but probably one that has the most amateur astronomers per capita than most other countries with much clearer skies. Meaning that difficult conditions are no impediment once there is a genuine interest developing. Consider the harsh conditions for freediving there, cloudy wet days, cold seas, strong tides and generally bad vis - and yet there you are, pushing forward your sport, never better said, against wind and tide. So my hat's off to British, Welch, Scottish and Irish freedivers and spearos, your numbers are going up and soon you will have a large enough critical mass to be able to hold regular well attended competitions.

[alix.leclerc]

Originally Posted by Adrian

The British, for me, have always been very passionate about their sports, take football or now the F1 races, (they have always had good racers). Curiously though, I think the spirit is exemplified by astronomy. It's a country covered by clouds most of the year, but probably one that has the most amateur astronomers per capita than most other countries with much clearer skies. Meaning that difficult conditions are no impediment once there is a genuine interest developing. Consider the harsh conditions for freediving there, cloudy wet days, cold seas, strong tides and generally bad vis - and yet there you are, pushing forward your sport, never better said, against wind and tide. So my hat's off to British, Welch, Scottish and Irish freedivers and spearos, your numbers are going up and soon you will have a large enough critical mass to be able to hold regular well attended competitions.

*does a little dance for the uk*
We have a tough time and we love it!

[fcallagy]

For the record I was hoping to attend this event as I really enjoyed the double dip and hope to return to it next year again. I could not attend as its Nicola's birthday that weekend (shes turning 30 but don't tell any one shes pissed off about it)originally I heard it was to be in September. Inmho medical cost is not an issue nor really the cost of the event if you are travelling from abroad another 10 pounds would not make a huge difference in the overall scheme of things if it helped the organisers break even. As a relative outsider I did get the family feeling at the dip and there were plenty of people there who were not regular saltfree attendees. This was one of the overiding reasons i went to meet other freedivers and see them competing and see what i could learn from them.

One point that I have noticed that seeme new to me. I have been reading diving magazines for 6 years Dive, Diver and Sport diver as I have been a scubie for a while. Its really only in the past 2 years that it seems they have some mention of freediving every month whether its about a new record set by Liv or Sara or a journalist actually attending a course. Before this we might get a mention every few months. If an article about a course is published there usually is a contact address but with the recent
records set I didn,t always see a contact address or maybe I just missed it. I think the vast majority of scubies respect what freedivers do and have a curiosity about it.
Just asking were these magazines contacted to cover these comps? Maybe they were and weren't interested? If the overall profile is raised it might help the organisers actually make a few pound or at least let them break even.

[dolphindiver]

I know I only started this freediving this year but I really would like to do some competitions, I only really push myself if there is an air of competition.

The reason I didn't enter this one is because there is no pool training in my part of the world so I only do depth stuff at Chepstow, I haven't done static since I did my 2* course and my local swimmiing pool get upset if you do whole lengths underwater too often.

Having said that its a real shame this has been canned and I now wish I had signed up for it = it would have been an experience even if I had only done 1 length of the pool and matched my previous PB on static.
Next year - I'll do it.

[jayhem]

Originally Posted by jome

Give you an example, we have for 2 years in a row organized a 24h dynamic relay "world record" attempt. Not very serious, rules are simply all travel must be under water without breathing equipment. Style is free, participation is voluntary etc, no bureaucracy...You just show up, swim as much as you like and enjoy the company.

This event has proven to be a huge success. We have had people coming in that previously had absolutely no interest in freediving at all, but the bar is so low (no minimum distance is required) that we've had participants from 12 to over 60 years with various levels of experience. Some dive 12 meters, others 100.

That sounds really fun, something to think about for next year! I can imagine that even being a "not very serious" event, all the safety aspects would have to be pretty seriously planned and implemented to manage BO's, dehydration, cramps etc. Can you tell us more about it?
The most challenging thing in the UK would be to find a pool ready to host an 24h event. All public pools close really early over here, especially on weekends. Sport is not the most popular activity at night

JM