United States Apnea Association is now USA Freediving!
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Sept 17, 2006
US Freediving Organization Completes National Championship with Two New US Records and Three New Australian Records Set.
The United States Apnea Association (USAA) has completed its Freediving National Championships. The competition was conducted over three days in Kona, Hawaii, USA. The competition slated competitors to challenge their abilities in breath-hold diving for maximum time, depth, and distance.
Eleven athletes traveled from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and the Bahamas to join in the competition. Andy Ross had ear problems and was forced to drop from the competition, choosing to participate in judge’s education instead. Andy was one of the judges for the competition.
The competition opened on Friday, September 15, 2006 at Jack’s Diving Locker’s Pool. Conditions were ideal. Competitors competed in Static Apnea. This competition tests the athlete’s ability to hold their breath for time while laying face down on the surface of the shallow end of the pool. The competitor declares a time they must surpass during their attempt. They are able to go further than their declared time. However, they must surface and be able to complete a surface protocol by removing their mask or facial gear, give an okay signal and state, “I am okay.” within fifteen seconds of surfacing.
Competitors have forty-five minutes to warm up and prepare for their performances. When the time comes to compete, the athletes receive a two-minute count down. They must begin their attempt within ten seconds of reaching zero on their count down or they receive penalty points. Safety is checked as the competitor progresses through their hold via signals from the athlete to a safety supervisor that is next to the competitor in the water.
Walter Steyn set a new Australian National Record with a performance of seven minutes and two seconds surfacing cleanly.
Static Apnea Results
Women
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Annabel Briseno USA 4:00 6:11 None 74.2
2 Jessica Wilson USA 4:00 6:07 None 73.4
3 Juliana Howe USA 4:30 4:32 None 54.4
4 Julie Russell USA 3:00 3:18 None 39.6
Men
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
* 1 Walter Steyn AUS 5:30 7:02 None 84.4
2 Anthony Williams NZL 5:00 6:47 None 81.4
3 Craig Gentry USA 3:00 4:01 None 48.2
4 Deron Verbeck USA 6:00 6:13 SP 0
4 Glen Garrett USA 5.00 5:03 BO 0
4 Andy Norlander USA 4:00 4:06 BO 0
* New Australian Men’s National Record
Day two of the competition was slated for Constant Weight with and without Fins. The athletes would attempt to dive to a declared depth on a single breath of air. The athletes prior to the competition reported their declared depths. Competitors test their ability to swim to depth and back with and without fins while keeping all gear in place. Upon reaching the surface the athlete must complete the surface protocol within fifteen seconds.
This portion of the competition is the most logistically intense. The event occurred at Kealakekua Bay off the shores of Kona. Two vessels provided the platform for the competition. One of Jack’s Diving Locker’s Boats was used as the competitors’ boat, while the Konaquatica Dive Center provided the platform for the safety scuba support and evacuation boat. This portion of the competition would not be possible if it were not for the services of the safety scuba divers.
The competition was using a counter balance system for the down line that the athletes would use for their dives. The athlete wears a safety lanyard that connects them to the down line. The down line has a large disk on the bottom making it impossible for the athlete to become separated from the down line. The safety divers have the ability to raise the entire competition line should an athlete be delayed in their return to the surface. The system is designed to also allow for the entire competition line to be raised to the surface by releasing the weight opposite the competition line connected through the counter balance system. This weight pulls the opposite end of the competition line through a set of pulleys lifting the competition line and athlete to the surface should anything go wrong.
Julie “Jewels” Russell set a new US National Record in Constant Ballast without Fins with a depth of 43 meters, 141 feet. This breaks Annabel Briseno’s old record of 42 meters, 138 feet. She had set this record as a world record at the time. Annabel stated, “This is a significant dive. This was a world record, Jewels did a big dive.” Australian Walter Steyn set another National Record with a no fins dive to 66 meters, 216 feet. He also established a new Australian National Record in Free Immersion with a depth of 39 meters, 128 feet.
Constant Weight Results
Women CWT
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Annabel Briseno USA 55M 55M None 55
2 Jessica Wilson USA 54M 54M None 54
3 Juliana Howe USA 52M 52M None 52
4 Julie Russell USA 40M 40M None 40
Women CNF
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
* 1 Julie Russell USA 43M 43M None 43
* New US National Women’s Record
Men
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
* 1 Walter Steyn CNF AUS 66M 66M None 66
2 Anthony Williams NZL 86M 73M -14 Short 59
3 Craig Gentry USA 30M 30M None 30
4 Andy Norlander USA 57M 33M -25 Short 8
* New Australian Men’s CNF National Record
National Record Attempt FIM (New Australian Men’s FIM National Record)
Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
Walter Steyn AUS 39M 39M None NA
Day three had the athletes slated to compete in Dynamic with and without Fins. This tests the athlete’s ability to swim underwater as far as they can while holding their breath. Some of the athletes chose to make attempts without fins as well. This is an alternative category of competition. Competitors must surface from their swim completing the surface protocol within fifteen seconds.
Glen Garrett set a new US National Record in Dynamic No Fins with a performance of 105 meters, 344 feet. Glen had been training and attempting to break this record for the last two years. He previously held the record and has recaptured it. This is his first performance in competition over 100 meters. This is a very significant milestone for Glen. Making it even more impressive, Glen a resident of Wyoming is over fifty years old. Establishing a new senior record at the same time.
Dynamic with and without Fins Results
Women Dynamic
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Jessica Wilson USA 50M 110M None 55
2 Annabel Briseno USA 40M 106M None 53
3 Juliana Howe USA 75M 102M DQ 0
4 Julie Russell USA 75M 138M BO 0
Women Dynamic No Fins
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Annabel Briseno USA 75M 88M None 44
2 Jessica Wilson USA 75M 81M None 40.5
Men Dynamic
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Anthony Williams NZL 100M 185M -5 87.5
2 Glen Garrett DNF USA 50M 100M None 50
3 Craig Gentry USA 50M 81M None 40.5
4 Andy Norlander USA 50M 64M None 32
5 Walter Steyn AUS 55M 200M DQ 0
Men Dynamic No Fins
Place Name Nationality AP RP Penalty Points
1 Walter Steyn AUS 60M 107M None 53.5
*2 Glen Garrett USA 50M 105M None 52.5
3 Craig Gentry USA 25M 48M None 24
* New US Men’s National Record Dynamic No Fins
Jessica Wilson and Craig Gentry are the 2006 US Freediving National Champions. Jessica squeezed out a victory over her own mother Annabel by the smallest margin possible, 0.2 points. This is literally one second of Static performance. This is the closet margin of victory ever in a US competition. Craig completed the competition with three solid performances. By scoring in all three events he was able to secure his victory.
Craig said, “I was just happy to be here, I had no idea I would have a chance at the championship. It was a great competition.”
The US Freediving Team is selected based on performances at the US Nationals or any other AIDA Ranking List competition. The application period will remain open until October 1. Athletes will apply for membership on the team. The team will represent the United States at the 2006 Team World Championships in Hurghada, Egypt in December.
All who participated enjoyed the competition. Anthony Williams from New Zealand said, “This was one of the best competitions I have ever been in. I am glad I came. Thanks mate.”
Final Results
Women
Place Name Nationality STA CWT DYN Points
1 Jessica Wilson USA 73.4 54 55 182.4
2 Annabel Briseno USA 74.2 55 53 182.2
3 Juliana Howe USA 54.4 52 0 106.4
4 Julie Russell USA 39.6 40 0 79.6
Men
Place Name Nationality STA CWT DYN Points
1 Anthony Williams NZL 81.4 59 87.5 227.9
2 Walter Steyn AUS 84.4 66 0 150.4
3 Craig Gentry USA 48.2 30 40.5 118.7
4 Glen Garrett USA 0 DNS 50 50
5 Andy Norlander USA 0 8 32 40
NA Deron Verbeck USA 0 Withdrew
National Champion
The competition was officiated over by USAA/AIDA judges Grant W. Graves, Moran Morton, Andy Ross, Deron Verbeck, and Mouna Ghossoub.
The USAA would like to thank all of the volunteers, staff, organizers, and safety personnel. The competition would not have been possible without the support of Jack's Diving Locker, The State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation, County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation Aquatics Division, Big Island Marine, Yamamoto, Doc's Pro Plugs, Dorothy Browne, Glennon Gingo, Jimmy Guerreiro, Melissa Swinson, Rhonda Hilton, Carlos Mazo, Sho go Motoi, Warren, Jim Holt, Nassim Haramein, Leo Mauroka, Keiko Lathrop, Trish Hancock, Darin Geliga, and all other support staff.
The USAA is a non-profit association founded on a democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally. Founded in 2003, the USAA brought together a diverse group of 21 founding members, all interested in the development and growth of freediving. In just six months, this highly dedicated group was able to create an association recognized as the voice of freediving in the United States by the international community. The association has grown to one hundred members with continued growth expected. USAA will be sending a full team to the World Championships in Hurghada, Egypt this December. For more information about the World Championships please checkout www.aida-egypt.org
The International Association for the Development of Freediving (AIDA) is the international sanctioning body for freediving, individual and team competition, and freediving world record attempts. AIDA nationals are individual associations that represent freediving and AIDA in their country, similar to Olympic Organizing Committees. AIDA World Team Championships will be occurring in the beginning of December of this year in Hurghada, Egypt. For more information about AIDA check out http://www.aida-international.org or about the AIDA World Team Championships check out www.apneaegypt.com
Contact Information:
Grant W. Graves, President
United States Apnea Association, USAA
3642 Seahorn Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
Email: makog@aol.com
Phone: 310-560-6104
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