Kona Freedive Invitational

[ADR]

Hi DB crew,

I’m currently in Hawaii for the Kona Freedive Invitational, being organized by World Record Holder - Annabel Briseno and her daughter Jessica Wilson (4th at the last world titles).

The competition is being held at the end of next week (Memorial Weekend) and includes 17 divers from the US, Japan & Australia. The judges are Kirk Krack and Martin Stepanek, who are also running freedive clinics in the week leading up to the comp.

Here is a preview of the trophies up for grabs....unfortunately, taking these pics is as close as I’ll get to them.

Prep diving is well underway and a number of national records are under threat and if all goes well maybe even a world record might get challenged. We will keep you up to date on results as they unfold.

 

[BennyB]

Hi Andy,

Good to hear prep is going well. Best of luck to the Aussie competitors (Wal Andy and Nath), i'm jealous as hell!

You're not missing anything over here, there are surfers at Bower taking on 6 foot waves!! Hence not much diving going on.

All the best,
Ben

 

[ADR]

Aloha DBers

We are having a great comp here in Hawaii! There's so many divers, it feels like a big competition, especially when I have 6 of us here at my house! The energy is great and we're pushing each other to PBs every day! but the guys need to learn to put the toilet seat down!

Aren't the trophies great! Thanks Andy for taking the photos and putting them on Deeper Blue.

holding our breath in Kona, Annabel

 

[BennyB]

Any updates on how the competition is progressing? I read about Bill's static in another thread, congrats!

I'm a little confused as I thought static is tomorrow. Does anyone know the order of events?

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Bill]

G'day Ben
It was a long day for most. If no other answers come through, let me comment. Static on Friday was, I think, 100% clean after a few appeals. Today was depth events with a mixed bag. Annabel has a pending world record. A few of the beginners, yours truly included, made classic boo-boos and the entire Ausi contingent are stuck with penalties and/or protests. Tomorrow will be static too (set up in case someone couldn't make it Friday), both dynamics and national record trials. All unofficial of course.
Aloha
Bill

 

[BennyB]

Aloha Bill,

Thanks for the update mate. You're right, it does seem like a mixed bag. Too bad to hear about all the competitors receiving penalties (particularly our down-under crew), I heard that Nathan's static appeal was successful though. I hope everyone remembers that one of the reasons they are there is to have fun, and setbacks should not dampen their spirits. Easy to say when i'm sitting in cold Sydney though :duh

Best of luck to everyone in dynamic tomorrow!

Cheers,
Ben

Ps. Annabel, wow! Congratulations!

 

[efattah]

What did Annabel do? CW or CWNF? What depth?

 

[Bill]

Eric
She did a world record performance FI and had camera problems, I think.
Aloha
Bill

 

[Longfins]

Results as I got 'em. Congratulations to all competitors and organizers!

NR = National Record P = penalty DQ = disqualification
Note: The results are in order left to right CW, Static, Dynamic.

Deron Verbeck US CW 73m Static 6:38 min Dynamic 106m
Michael Antinori US 58 5:16 125m
Will Winram Can 56 6:02 99m
Jeff Josenhans US 56 5:19 102m
Walter Steyn Aussie 73 CW NR 6:40 NR 0 DQ
Nathan Watts Aussie 38 P 5:23 87m NR DNF
Andy Ross Aussie 56 0 107
Ryuzo Shinomia Japan 0 DQ 7:13 NR 0 DQ
Bill Graham US ] 0 DQ 7:05 0
Leo Mauroka US 65 NR CWNF 0 0

Tomoko Yamanouchi Japan 42m 4:40 64
Mouna Ghossub US 17 P 4:45 0
Annabel Briseno US 75 FI NR 5:59 96m NR DNF
Jessica Wilson US 49 0 DQ 0
Juliana Howe US 44 0 0
Megumi Matsumoto Japan 53 CWNF FI 0 0