O2 helps for a quick recovery after a BO, So I quess it can help in case of some tiredness to have some extra oxigen to get rested and prepaired quicker?
Following the AIDA rules, 45 min before OT the athlete must be under jury supervision, I don't think it's allowed to breath pure O2 during that time.
About the CMAS and AIDA rules discussion.
Rule simplification.
I happen to agree with Stig on the need for simplification of many of the AIDA rules.
I also agree with my coach who explains: "Freediving is not synchronised swimming or board jumping where every move is to weighted for artistic value by a jury."
Bodypart surface braking rule.
Like many of us have suffered from the infamous -heal above the water- rule, and also the anti grabbing rule.
Countering this frustration of being accused of breathing through my heal, I would rather eliminate the break through the surface rule as well as 5m grace zone. In stead I favour of a maximum of 10m of surface braking allowance in combination with a ban on using any surface swimming strokes such as chest crawl. The point is that the Intent should be to swim underwater. And offcause everybody wants to swim underwater because we're freedivers and know that there is much less water resistance underwater.
On the grabbing rule.
I would suggest a limit of two grabs, meaning one can grab with both hands the pool to pull oneself up. Going hand over hand is not practical and I think not beneficial.
This will end a lot of controversy too. And also a lot of explaining to the media.
The Surface Protocall.
Though the SP is a kind of unnatural, It serves a good purpose of keeping away many samba's and BO, and showing the beginners and media we're seeking to stay in control, worn out but not over the edge.
But I would love to know and see some data of an experiment having NO SP, like Stig suggest; just the basic survival rule to keep the head above the water.
CMAS no-samba rule.
The CMAS no-samba rule I think may be taking away those tension moments when you see an athlete struggeling to recover and do a good Surface Protocall in time.
When the sport is too sterile (similar to having no possibility of racecar accidents on the racetrack) it looses risk, tension and exitement.
Distance measurement.
The CMAS measuring in CM I find too expensive and too much a quest for unnessesairy detail.
In hight jumping they measure in CM, but when you compair 223 CM to 223M you see there is in fact the same level of detail.
On CMAS ban of deep disciplines.
Offcause Constant Weight is the most important, Freedive discipline! The Origenal challenge!
It's the place where all the other disciplines come together, only topped in purity by CNF.
AIDA has shown over the years that CW competitions can be very safe. Even now some are ventureing now into depths having deco hangs after their dives at 5m for fast(er) recovery, the vast majority still can do very happy and beautifull deep dives without the use of O2 after their dives.
On the supposed need for a AIDA and CMAS coorperation or even a merging.
I am against of AIDA being absorbed by the huge political CMAS.
Though I go against the grain of the modern New Age religeon instilled whish to become One, I do greatly value independence.
I don't expect a big burocracy to be beneficial to the sport of Freediving. The creation of 'Jump Blue', the abolishion of CW competitions and the hostile attitude of CMAS Italy twards other Freediving competitions, banning athletes who participate in AIDA competitions, does greatly worry me.
I think a fair competition between associations is good, though CMAS has a huge money power over any competing association and could buy off and work any opposition into submission. I much rather have a small group, with reachable responsive representatives serving the freedivers, not a system, where I feel we are the goverment.
Ok, we may be getting a bit off-topic here too much.
Pitty I cannot understand Itallian. I would love to communicate with them on these subjects.
Love, Courage and Water,
Kars