Competative freediving Training

[flying_spanner]

Hello all.

I'm getting into some of the competative side of freediving.

My training at the moment is basically non existant, but I've so far managed a 125m dynamic and a 5.12 static.

My training schedule as it stands now is....

Every night before bed Lung stretches and breathing exercises around 20min (my mrs hates the noise these make and has banished me to the lounge to get these done:chatup)

2 nights a week Dynamics at the local pool along with Sunday afternoons (unless I get to go spearfishing instead)

Dynamic session consists of: 5 of more 50m dunamics and maybe 1 or 2 100m Dynamics but if I don't feel up to it i'll do a few 75m.

Does this schedule sound to easy? What can you suggest I do to improve?

I'm not expecting to win any comps any time soon as the likes of Dave Mullins and Kerrian Hibbs can happily swim twice as far as me.

I just wanna be able to go along to a comp and swim a respectable distance, then in the future streatch that distance out to who knows.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[bite ya]

Hi Mate, good topic to bring up as i'm roughly where you are now and want to compete next year. I would say you are training enough at the moment in terms of pool time and dry statics. I would say though that since i have been working on my cardio training i have become better in the pool and your training doesn't consist of any cardio? (or does it?)

What sort of dry static work do you do at the moment, i have been using some great stuff on line (see Trux here on DB) he has a great media site for tables. How about diet?

I only train dry tables a few times a week but have found that using crazy tables (herbert nitsch style) has streched me far more than i have done before and my contractions seem very light.

Have a flip through my blog which is on my signature below...

Would be great to get some tips from other people who are in the same boat or have competed before.

 

[azapa]

First bit of advice: get lousier pool buddies. With Kerian and Dave you have set a tough reference point.

Have you seen those old peoples water aerobics classes? well, I train with them, my "pool long" dnf seems to amaze them every time

 

[flying_spanner]

First bit of advice: get lousier pool buddies. With Kerian and Dave you have set a tough reference point.

Have you seen those old peoples water aerobics classes? well, I train with them, my "pool long" dnf seems to amaze them every time

Swimming with the oldies sort of defeats the purpose don't it? If everything is easy then how will you pregress your skills?

I learn best with a really steep learning curve. I learned to snowboard quite well in a couple of days up the mountain. It was a case of keep up or get left behind.

What I probably need to advance my freediving is for a Freediver much better than myself to move to Nelson. That way when I train with them I'll have to "Keep up" so to speak.

 

[azapa]

Spanner, it was a "joke". Sorry. I sometimes surround myself with world level athletes too. It is an awe inspiring time. They also look better in water wear than the aforementioned oldies. Most of them.

My current coach is about the best apneaist in Chile right now, and can kill me in DNF and DYN, so I do have a excellent challenge. I kick his butt in static and depth though (wonder if he's reading: Hola Herman!)

 

[bite ya]

Flying Spanner, do you keep a diary of your training and diet daily? I found this to help as i can look back and see what works and what doesn't.

If like me you are still experimenting with breath up's, diets or supplements each week you need to work out what changes you made in order that you performed good one week and poor the next.

 

[flying_spanner]

Flying Spanner, do you keep a diary of your training and diet daily? I found this to help as i can look back and see what works and what doesn't.

If like me you are still experimenting with breath up's, diets or supplements each week you need to work out what changes you made in order that you performed good one week and poor the next.

I'll have to give that a try. All my distances etc should get a noticable increase over the next month or two for a few reasons.

1) I'm just getting used to my new pair of C4's, these should be a bit more efficient than my old Esclapez Green's which had been cut down quite a bit.

2) I have a nice new Beuchat 5.5mm wetsuit, and thus am more comfortable in the water and don't get cold as easily. This won't change my dynamic distance as obviously Dynamic's are done in the pool. But my constant weight PB should get a bit deeper.

3) I'll be basically be diving constantly for the next month. I'll be down south diving with my Dad for the Christmas break, and then after New Years I'm off to a 9 day dive camp, where hopefully I'll learn heaps.

4) I have to admit that I'm not overly confident in my training buddies as safety divers. So as a result I never seem to be able to totally relax and focus on what I'm doing. At this training camp I'll be surrounded by very experienced divers, so the weight of responsibility will be able to come off my shoulders for a while and I'll be to focus solely on my performance. (Except of course when I'm acting as the safety diver for someone elses swim.)

5) The guys I regullarly dive with can't dive as deep, or swim as far as me. (don't get me wrong they're all excellent spearo's, they're just not interested in the competative side of freediving.) So I don't get to really push myself that often. At this dive camp I'm looking forward to being the worst diver in the group for a change. That steep learning curve should work just nicely.

 

[flying_spanner]

Spanner, it was a "joke". Sorry.

Don't pannic I took no offence.

I sometimes surround myself with world level athletes too. It is an awe inspiring time. They also look better in water wear than the aforementioned oldies. Most of them.

One of my training buddies is nick named "Shreck" as we reckon that the name of a big, fat, hairy, green ogre with a loveable personality fits him quite well. Only problem is maybe ogres shouldn't go out in public in speedo's.rofl

But then in all reality I'm nothing to look at in my speedo's either. The name "Mr Punyverse" is what my girlfreind calls me. It must be love:inlove

 

[bite ya]

Sounds like you have a great oppotunity to get stuck in over the next few weeks (you lucky so and so!)

Having a buddy you trust inplicitly is a must and i echo what you say, when i finally found a group of guy's i trusted i pushed myself far beyond what i was used to which gave me the confidence to go for it!

Good luck and dive safe, let us know how your trip went?

 

[chrismar]

I take it you're joining us for Dive Camp NZ then? Should be a great chance for knowledge sharing and improving all our diving.

 

[flying_spanner]

I take it you're joining us for Dive Camp NZ then? Should be a great chance for knowledge sharing and improving all our diving.

Yip I'm looking forward to it.

Dive Camp has given me the motovation I needed to spend a small fortune upgrading my gear, so it'll be good to get some miles on it.

 

[shoutatthesky]

Hey Spanner

I am in Nelson too and would be really keen on organising some regular training. My schedule is pretty hectic at the moment with a 7 day a week business but I hope to be out of that in time for summer.
Which pool do you train at?

 

[flying_spanner]

Hey Spanner

I am in Nelson too and would be really keen on organising some regular training.

A group of us train Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from around 5-30pm onwards at the ASB Aquatic Centre out at Richmond.

My schedule is pretty hectic at the moment with a 7 day a week business but I hope to be out of that in time for summer.

I know that feeling as I'm now self employed and contract my services to local building firms and aircraft maintenance hangars. Lifge is very busy.

But I've managed (for the rest of the month at least) to set aside a bit more time for training and now I also swim around lunchtime while I'm in town at the Riverside pool.

I'll PM you my contact details, and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[shoutatthesky]

Re: Competitive freediving Training

I work til around 7 every night but am usually in town on wednesdays so maybe we could meet for a lunchtime swim.
Who meets out in Richmond? Gary Fisher and Mark Roden(?) were talking a while ago about meeting out there.

Bring on summer!​

 

[flying_spanner]

Mark Roden sometimes Joines us out at Richmond. I've never seen Gary there. In the group there's also Aaron Baker (posts on Deeperblue as Shrek), Craig Weechan, and another half a dozen guys who show up from time to time.

Some nights we occupy two lanes with 4-6 divers in each lane.

A lunchtime swim this Wed sounds good just name a time that suits you. My shedule is reasonably flexible.

 

[Narsil]

About time a Nelson or Christchurch club got started... Hope you guys connect and get some training in.

Good luck,
Guy