DEJA BLUE V

Performance Freediving Competition

Grand Cayman, May 11-17

Articles
:: Geared Up
:: Teaser Videos
:: Meet the Competitors
:: DBV Roster
:: Photo Album
:: Guy Harvey
:: Comp Schedule
DBV Ep. 2
DBV Ep. 2 "Testing the Waters"

 


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.
 
NameDepth
Ted Harty68m/225' - Constant Weight
Kurt Randolph 50m/164' - Constant Weight No-Fins
Ricardo Paris 40m/132' - Constant Weight 
Michael Harmsworth38m/125' - Constant Weight
Ben Weiss30m/100' - Constant Weight 
Vernon Scholey33m/109' - Constant Weight 
John Hullverson30m/100' - Constant Weight No-Fins 


Name
Depth
Carol Schrappe
68m/225' - Constant Weight
Mandy-Rae Krack
63m/208' - Constant Weight
Shell Eisenberg
56m/184' - Constant Weight
Adriana Brandao48m/158' - Constant Weight
Jen Balfour 
43m/142' - Constant Weight
Claire Paris40m/132' - Free Immersion
Ashley Baird
40m/132' - Free Immersion
Francesca Koe35m/116' - Constant Weight

Click Here for more details on Deja Blue V!




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
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.
DBV Videos

DBV Promo
DBV Promo "Pool"
DBV Promo
DBV Promo "Ocean"

 
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.
Photo Album 
Images from Deja Blue V training and competition
Competitor John Hullverson ascending from a Free Immersion dive with Safety Freedivers Dr. John Shedd and Chris Bustad
Photo by Ted Harty

Kirk Krack and daughter Kaila (Age 4) during an Ocean Training Session. Kaila touched the plate at 1m!
Photo by Jaokim Hjelm
Competitor Shell Eisenberg freediving through Tarpon Alley on a "day off" 
Photo by Andrew Hogan
Competitor Mandy-Rae Krack after competing a successful deep dive.
Photo by Joakim Hjelm
Heading out to the dive site with Stingray Water Sports 
Photo by Chris Bustad
Photographer Matt Charlton shooting for DBV videos!
Photo by Chris Bustad

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.
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!
                                        PFI is proud to have the following as Partners for DBV

                                           
   
  

                  
                


 
For more Updates and Photos Like us on Facebook and follow our Instagram @performancefreediving
 
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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