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DEJA BLUE V
Performance Freediving Competition
Grand Cayman, May 11-17
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DBV Ep. 2 "Testing the Waters"
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Welcome to the second week of Deja Blue V!
Now into the second week of training for Deja Blue V, nearly all the Competitors and Safety Divers have checked in at the Coconut Bay Condos. A total of 18 divers will be competing in six freediving disciplines:
Constant Weight
Constant Weight No-Fins
Free Immersion
Dynamic Apnea
Dynamic Apnea No-Fins
and Static Apnea
Protecting the Competitors are 6 highly trained Safety Freedivers, and 8 Deep Divers on rebreathers. In the next issue of the Deja Blue News Report, we'll get an inside look at the safety management of deep-freediving competitions.
This week, athletes will train all six disciplines in the pool and in the ocean to prepare for the competition, May 11-17.
As the training days progress, we'll keep you posted on scores,
news, and stories from Deja Blue V!
Here's a peek at what we've seen for Depth Dives by the 7th ocean training session.
Name | Depth | Ted Harty | 68m/225' - Constant Weight | Kurt Randolph | 50m/164' - Constant Weight No-Fins | Ricardo Paris | 40m/132' - Constant Weight | Michael Harmsworth | 38m/125' - Constant Weight | Ben Weiss | 30m/100' - Constant Weight | Vernon Scholey | 33m/109' - Constant Weight | John Hullverson | 30m/100' - Constant Weight No-Fins |
Name
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Depth
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Carol Schrappe
| 68m/225' - Constant Weight |
Mandy-Rae Krack
| 63m/208' - Constant Weight |
Shell Eisenberg
| 56m/184' - Constant Weight | Adriana Brandao | 48m/158' - Constant Weight |
Jen Balfour
| 43m/142' - Constant Weight | Claire Paris | 40m/132' - Free Immersion |
Ashley Baird
| 40m/132' - Free Immersion | Francesca Koe | 35m/116' - Constant Weight |
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Geared Up
In each DBV News Report we'll take a closer look at what equipment the competitors are using for their dives.
Freedivers gearing up on the shoreline are typically equipped with long-blade bifins, nylon reinforced wetsuits, waist-belts with lead bullets, and mask & snorkels. This gear is great for recreational freediving and spearfishing. However, in competitive freediving, athletes use specialized equipment to maximize streamlining and energy efficiency. Fins
| DBV Competitor Francesca Koe with Glide Monofin |
Most competitive diving is performed in a Monofin. Monofins have one large blade where both feet attach, resembling a dolphin tail or whale fluke.
Competitors typically use dolphin-kick rather than a flutter-kick during a target dive. Using flutter-kick concentrates the majority of the generated workload on the legs, which can cause lactic acid burn and fatigue. Powering the dive with dolphin-kick utilizes more muscle groups. This way, the workload is distributed more evenly across the body, allowing the diver to stay energized during long target dives.
Monofins allow for powerful dolphin kicking. The large surface area of the blade gives the diver with more distance per kick. Monofin blades are made from different materials and have stiffnesses. The most common fin used this year at Deja Blue, is the carbon fiber or fiberglass Waterways Glide Monofin.
| Safety Freediver Chris Bustad with Moana Waterman carbon fiber Bi-Fins |
Monofins are excellent for diving straight up and down, however, they're not ideal for non-vertical maneuverability. Because Safety Freedivers need to perform more functional tasks underwater at the competition, they are wearing freediving long blade bi-fins. The long blades of a freediving fin gives the Safety Divers power behind their kicks, and allows them to skull mid water-column, move horizontally, and easily tread at the surface should they need to support a blacked-out or fatigued Competitor. The bi-fin favorite among PFI Staff is Moana Waterman carbon fiber fins.
| DBV Ep. 1 "Gearing Up" Teaser video from the first few days of training at Deja Blue V By Matt Charlton & Andrew Hogan |
The PFI Online Store has high quality freediving equipment available. Talk with one of our Instructors and find the right gear for you. Click Here for the PFI Online Store.
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DBV Videos
| DBV Promo "Pool" |
| DBV Promo "Ocean" |
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Competitor Introductions Each week we'll be profiling different freediving Competitors to get to know the personalities of Deja Blue V
Ricardo & Claire Paris Deja Blue V is Ricardo and Claire's second PFI organized competition. Last year, at Deja Blue IV, both divers achieved new Personal Best (PB) performances in every discipline! With very busy professional lives, the couple is excited for two weeks off, relaxing and freediving in Grand Cayman. Claire is a Professor at the University of Miami in Marine Biology and Coastal Oceanography. Ricardo operates their company, Vortex Freediving. Vortex Freediving is a Miami based company that teaches Performance Freediving International Freediver certification courses. The couple shares a fascination for the natural world. When they're not diving, Ricardo and Claire sail on their boat, Bellatrix. They also regularly practice yoga, hike, and cycle. Both Claire and Ricardo love Constant Weight No-Fins (CNF) freediving. Ricardo says, "The simpler the better. [No-fins] is what feels most natural." This year at Deja Blue, they are practicing diving with a nose clip with Fluid Goggles, rather than a mask. Transitioning to new equipment can be very challenging, but they're hoping that the new gear will allow them both to dive deeper! |
DBV Roster
See more of the competitors listed below and results on our website.
EVENT ORGANIZER & ADMINISTRATION:
-Kirk Krack
-Mandy-Rae Krack
REGISTERED COMPETITORS:
- Mandy-Rae Krack - CND
- Michael Harmsworth - CND
- Carolina Schrappe - BRZ
- Adriana Brandao - BRZ
- Ted Harty -USA
- Shell Eisenberg -USA
- Francesca Koe - USA
- John Hullverson -USA
- Claire Paris - USA
- Ricardo Paris - USA
- Vernon Scholey - IRL
- Ben Weiss - USA
- Wes Lapp - USA
- Robbie Lapp - USA
- Kurt Randolph - USA
- Jen Balfour - CND
- Humberto Sciano - CHL
SAFETY FREEDIVERS:
- Garo Hachigican - USA - Dept. Head
- Dr. John Shedd - USA - Lead Medic
- Robert Lee - USA
- Chris Bustad - USA
- Jackie Troller - USA
DEEP SAFETY DIVERS (Rebreathers):
- Bill Coltart - CND - Dept. Head
- Sharon Morgan - Canada - Lloyd Muckle - Canada - Chuck Williams - Canada - Dr. Kirk Sundby - Canada - Bill Nadeau - Canada - Matthew Addison - USA - Georgia Hausserman - USA
BOAT CAPTAIN:
- Duncan Heard - CYM - Stingray Water Sports
AIDA JUDGES:
- Grant Graves - USA
- Carla Hanson - USA
MEDIA TEAM:
-Andrew Hogan - CND - Videographer & Editor
-Matthew Charlton - CND - Videographer & Editor
-Tad Masek - USA - Project AFIP Developer
REGISTERED JUNIOR COMPETITORS :)
- Kaila Krack - CND - Age 4
- Zan Lapp - USA - Age 9
- Avalon Masek - USA - Age 8
- Aura Masek - USA - Age 5
- Camryn Bro - CND - Age 4
- Daniela Heard - CYM - Age 7
Some of the divers above are joining in for just the competition week, May 11-17. Most will be training for 2 - 3 weeks! As we proceed in the training days, we'll keep you posted on the group's dives and experiences. Follow us on Twitter and Like us on FaceBook to stay up to date.
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Marine Wildlife Artist
Guy Harvey
Guy Harvey is known all over the world for his stunning marine life artwork. Spending his childhood in Jamaica, Guy developed a passion for the sea and ocean animals. His first showcased artwork included pen drawings inspired by Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. Since these early exhibitions, Guy's artwork has evolved to floor-to-cieling mural painting, underwater photography, clothing screens, and print work. With his art studio in Grand Cayman, we hope to see guy at one of Deja Blue V's ocean sessions!
Performance Freediving thanks Guy for helping sponsor Deja Blue V. To see artwork and read more information about Guy Harvey, Click Here.
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Deja Blue V Schedule
Interested in diving with PFI? Here's the event schedule
Week 1- April 27-May 3
Training, Ocean & Pool
Week 2- May 4-May 10
Training, Ocean & Pool
Week 3- May 11-May 17 Competition! Ocean & Pool
Training and competition weeks are open for registration! Join us for one, two, or the full three week event! What could You do with 15 ocean training sessions?
Click Here for more information on how to register for Deja Blue V!
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PFI is proud to have the following as Partners for DBV
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For more Updates and Photos and follow our Instagram @performancefreediving
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Hope you enjoyed the newsletter and be sure to stay in touch with us! There's always something new and exciting to do with PFI and we'd love for you to join us. See you in the new year!
Sincerely,
Performance Freediving International
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