Two Freediving World Records Attempted In Cayman Islands

[Kirk Krack]

START PRESS RELEASE

Two Freediving World Records Attempted In Cayman Islands

Saturday, April 1st through Friday, April 7th, two freediving world records and one national record are poised to fall in the Cayman Islands with members of the Performance Freediving Team.

Mandy-Rae Cruickshank of Canada and Martin Stepanek of Czech Republic have been training in the Cayman Islands since March 5th in an attempt to break the freediving world records of constant ballast (kicking down to depth and back with weights under your own power). Mandy-Rae must achieve a depth of 87m / 285ft on one breath of air, the equivalent of a 29 story building while Martin will be attempting 106m / 348ft or a 35 story building.

Mandy-Rae is thirty-one years old and resides in Vancouver, Canada. Freediving competitively since 2000, Mandy-Rae has held six world records including the constant ballast world record where an athlete swims to depth and back with fins and retains their weight. In March 2004 in Grand Cayman she achieved a depth of 78m / 256ft surpassing Tanya Streeter's record of 70m / 230ft.

Joining Mandy-Rae is team member Martin Stepanek of the Czech Republic who currently resides in Ft Lauderdale, FL. Martin is twenty-eight years old and a seven time world record holder currently holding three world records including constant ballast without fins at 80m / 262ft surpassing Herbert Nistch record of 66m / 216ft.

Both Mandy-Rae and Martin are working 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. AIDA Level A Judges Dimitris Vassilaskis (Greece) and Cedric Palerme (France) will be the officials in attendance ratifying the attempts and ensuring the strictest of safety protocols are followed.

Partnering with Performance Freediving diving International is Dr. George 'Doc' Lopez who is fofty-eight years old and is the founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of ICU Medical Inc (NASDAQ; ICUI). Doc is joining Mandy and Martin in Cayman for his third year and is again attempting a US National record for the United States Apnea Association (USAA). Doc, a highly successful CEO, is also a bluewater world record spearfishermen currently holding the world record for Black Marlin. Doc is attempting to break the US National record of free immersion (pulling to and back from depth without fins) with a performance of 51m / 167ft.

Freediving or breath-hold diving as a sport is where athletes compete in disciplines involving time, depth and distance with different sub categories in each. The competitive world of freediving emerged in the late 1940's and today is enjoying unprecedented growth and booming popularity with underwater enthusiasts the world over. Although freediving as a sport is relatively new, freediving as a means of sustenance can trace its roots back 4500 years.

Along with ICU Medical Inc, Stingray Watersports of Grand Cayman is 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.

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 garnered 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 cellphone
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com

Full streaming video, training diaries and pictures are available at www.performancefreediving.com.

END PRESS RELEASE

Kirk Krack

www.performancefreediving.com
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com
604-628-7416 Vancouver Office
954-302-2791 Ft Lauderdale Office
604-862-5868 Vancouver Mobile
345-322-4526 Cayman Island Mobile

 

[island_sands]

Good luck to All.... will be standing by watching the progress.

Regards to all in Cayman

 

[Stephan Whelan]

DeeperBlue is now on location and covering the event. Check out the homepage for ongoing coverage.

 

[Kirk Krack]

Day One Record Attempts: One World Record and Two National Records

START PRESS RELEASE

Day One Record Attempts: One World Record and Two National Records

It was no April Fool's. Martin Stepanek, Mandy-Rae Cruickshank and Dr. George 'Doc' Lopez achieved record depths on their first day of 'Sink Faze Cayman 2006' in the beautiful Cayman Islands. All record performances were witnessed by AIDA International Judges Dimitris Vassilaskis (Greece) and Cedric Palerme (France) who also ensured the strictest of safety protocols were followed.

For the third year in a row members of the Performance Freediving Team, in conjunction with ICU Medical Inc., have spent four weeks training on Grand Cayman Island, all toward a week of record attempts in the sport of freediving / breath-hold diving. Freediving traces its roots back over 4,500 years. The competitive sport has been developing seriously since the late 1990's.

First up today was Czech freediver Martin Stepanek, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Martin lost his World Record of 103m /338 ft in the Constant Ballast discipline to Carlos Coste of Venezuela last August, but reclaimed it today with a dive of 106m / 348ft. Martin's dive lasted 3 minutes 52 seconds. Martin Stepanek is twenty- eight years old and is now a now an eight-time world record holder.

Next up was thirty-one year old Mandy-Rae Cruickshank, a resident of Vancouver, Canada and a six-time world record holder. Mandy-Rae used today's event for World Record training, but in so doing broke her 2004 Womens Constant Ballast World Record of 78m / 256ft and set a new Canadian National record with an easy 80m / 262ft dive in a time of 2 minutes 36 seconds. Mandy-Rae is now positioned to challenge the current Womens Constant Ballast World Record (held by Natalia Molchanova of Russia at 86m / 282ft) at any time during the Sink Faze event this coming Monday through Friday.

Last on the competition line was Dr. George 'Doc' Lopez, Founder/CEO and Chairman of the Board for ICU Medical Inc. Doc has been a team member with Mandy-Rae and Martin since the Cayman 2004 event. He has been training for the discipline of Free Immersion and over the past three weeks had achieved a depth of 49m / 161ft. Today Doc targeted a depth of 51m / 167ft to beat the current United States Free Immersion record of 50m / 164ft held by Bill Graham of Kona, Hawaii. With today's successful performance Doc has now reclaimed his US National Record title in Free Immersion and is looking forward to setting the bar even deeper over the remaining Sink Faze event days.

These priority record goals met today, the first event day, the team members have gained a big morale and confidence boost and with three more record attempt opportunities remaining, greater and deeper feats are expected from the Performance Freediving Team. The next attempt days are Monday April 3rd, Wednesday the 5th and Friday the 6th.

Sink Faze will be featured on Monday (April 3) morning's live broadcasts of NBC's The Today Show and on the ABC network's Good Morning America.


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 of Grand Cayman in 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. Provding 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 garnered 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 cellphone
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com

Full streaming video, training diaries and pictures are available at www.performancefreediving.com.

END PRESS RELEASE

Kirk Krack

www.performancefreediving.com
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com
604-628-7416 Vancouver Office
954-302-2791 Ft Lauderdale Office
604-862-5868 Vancouver Mobile
345-322-4526 Cayman Mobile

 

[samdive]

Go Mandy!! good luck!!! we are watching and crossing fingers and paws for you

Sam and Deepest Bear

xx

 

[Kirk Krack]

START PRESS RELEASE

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 of Grand Cayman in 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 garnered 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 cellphone
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com

Full streaming video, training diaries and pictures are available at www.performancefreediving.com.

END PRESS RELEASE

Kirk Krack

www.performancefreediving.com
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com
604-628-7416 Vancouver Office
954-302-2791 Ft Lauderdale Office
604-862-5868 Mobile

 

[Kirk Krack]

START PRESS RELEASE

Day Three Record Attempts: Martin Resets World Record Depth, Doc Breaks Own USA National Record

On the third competition day for Team Performance Freediving International (PFI) Martin Stepanek (CZ) has added another 2 meters to his World Record in freediving's Constant Ballast discipline. Taking one breath of air at the surface and holding it for 3 minutes 50 seconds (3:50) Martin today surpassed his April 1st World Record (106m / 348ft) and reached a depth of 106m / 348ft. Constant Ballast is considered the purest of the freediving disciplines, requiring immense physical preparation, mental focus and flawless technique. A Constant Ballast freediver is required to swim to depth and return to the surface under his own power without disposing of weight during the dive.

Also resetting his own record today was Team Performance Freediving's Dr. George 'Doc' Lopez, Founder/CEO and Chairman of the Board for ICU Medical, Inc. Doc, a resident of Orange County, California had set a US National record of 51m / 167ft in the Free Immersion discipline on April 1st, followed by an aborted April 3rd attempt to the 53m / 174ft mark.This morning Doc successfully reset his own record in the discipline of Free Immersion, pulling himself down a cable to depth and back up under own power, without fins, to 53m / 174ft. His dive lasted 2 minutes, 33 seconds (2:33). Doc's innovative style of Free Immersion uses a head-up posture for both descent and ascent, which facilitates equalization of pressures at depth.

Canadian Mandy-Rae Cruickshank of Vancouver, Team PFI's female star, took today off from training and competing. She had trained for two consecutive days and yesterday executed a successful Constant Ballast freedive to 85m / 279ft. Mandy-Rae's recovery interlude today is in preparation for an attempt on the 87m / 285ft mark and a new Women's World Record. Her calculated dive time for this record attempt will be 2 minutes , 50 seconds (2:50). Mandy-Rae is a six-time World Record holder and set her first World Record in September, 2001 in the discipline of No-Limits (riding a weighted sled to depth and a balloon of air back to the surface) at 136m / 447ft. In April 2004 she broke the Women's Constant Ballast World Record held by American Tanya Streeter with a dive to 78m / 256ft.

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 and is a professional Mixed-Gas Diving Instructor Trainer. Kirk has trained/coached and/or worked with other world record holders such as Tanya Streeter (USA), Brett LeMaster (USA), Karoline Meyer (Brazil), Eric Fattah (Canada) and Pipin and Audrey Fererras (Cuba/France) in addition to Martin, Mandy-Rae and Doc.

No event of this magnitude utilizing eight safety rebreather divers, three safety freedivers, five videographers, two emergency medical technicians, three boat captains and numerous other support staff would be possible without the generous financial sponsorship of ICU Medical Inc . Also supporting the event is Stingray Watersports of Grand Cayman in 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 . A spectator boat is furnished 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 garnered 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 cellphone
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com

Full streaming video, training diaries and pictures are available at www.performancefreediving.com.

END PRESS RELEASE

Kirk Krack

www.performancefreediving.com
kirk.krack@performancefreediving.com
604-628-7416 Vancouver Office
954-302-2791 Ft Lauderdale Office
604-862-5868 Mobile

 

[trux]

... Martin today surpassed his April 1st World Record (106m / 348ft) and reached a depth of 106m / 348ft ...

That is apparently a typo, but most of us know it was 108m anyway I just hope you fixed the typo before sending this Press Release to the media