Klara swimming back from the platform
Another nice day for a competition. Sunny, slight breeze, 28 deg water.
All in all, many successful dives today and no blackouts which is what we like to see.
My star of the day was Carla who did her first ever CWT dive to 50m after a one hour session with me yesterday.
What a way to kick off her CWT career. ROCKING!
Kathryn McPhee deciding to sit this one out due to feeling sick.
Junko got a red card after an airway dip at the start and Jana turned early on her dive.
Both Sara and Natalia seemed to do very easy dives to secure their spots in the finals.
But, I guess by now, all the above is ancient history.
Tomorrow the big guns roll out for the glamor event, Mens Constant weight.
Same format with the top 6 deepest men fighting for the medals, and what a battle we have on hand.
First up is Johan (SWE), announcing 100m and trying to become the 11th 12th man ever to triple digits. He has made this dive before, but unsuccessfully. (thanks for the correction Will)
Mighty Mouse prepares for her dive.
Next, Ryuzo (JAP) with a 101m target.
I have seen him in action before at VB 08 and 09 and know that this is a reasonably sound depth for him to work for.
Alexey (RUS) and Guillaume (FRA) and William Trubridge have set their depth at 102m.
I believe that both have done deeper, so again, playing it safe (relatively speaking of course)
Lastly, Carlos Coste (VEN) and Herbet Nitsch (AUT) both do not need introduction and are more than capable of making those depths with relative ease I believe.
Any of the above failing to make depth means that there are a number of 90+m divers waiting in the wings for their opportunity to be part of the top 6.
Its going to be exciting.
As for me, well, in an unusual turn of events, I have been offered a lifeline of sorts.
Sebastian is running a mini comp for National Record attempts under Sweden AIDA.
Very kindly, he has offered me a invitational spot in this comp, so that I can attempt to make my 72m CNF dive again, thereby gaining a ranking from a successful dive.
Kerian joins the Swedish National Team and tries to blend in
Of course I am thrilled to be able to have another crack at getting a white card.
I believe that I have identified what went wrong with that perticular dive, therefore I am truly excited to go again.
I was contemplating diving in the mens CWT event without fins, but the ranking would not count as a CNF dive, therefore it would be a wasted exercise.
So with the knowledge that I do get to have another crack at CNF, I decided to nominate fairly shallow in CWT (75m) and use it as equalization practice for the following day.
Also, in order to compete, I had to join AIDA Sweden, and as a result of this, I am an honorary member of the Swedish National Team.
I even have the hat to prove it, which was presented to me today by Christian Earnest (Aka CarpMan”). They truly are lovely people, despite the rumors I have heard (wink).
So, its onwards and upwards for this guy.
We will see what the next couple of days bring, then its PARTY TIME.
Here are some more pictures from the last few days.
Tara has reformatted them for me into a Gallery.
And further images can be found on the Gallery page!
My descent to 72m. Looking pretty good if I do say so myself.
Anders showing his big guns. (Swe)
Christan Ernest (Aka ZCarpman)
Klara right after her successful 60m CWT dive to gain a place in the finals
The Spaniard Mens Team
Carla getting ready for her dive.
hehehe Kman, so now he’s a CNF beast all over a sudden!!! Good for you and “muy buena onda” as we say here for your invitational dive with the SWE’s. I here that Carlos is doing his dives WITH MASK, true or false? I am not too good at maths but a sphera mask must need almost 1.5 Ltrs of air to equalize at that depth???? Crazy.
I guess you can tell looking at my arms and shoulders that I am a ‘butterflier” YIKES!
Johan would actually be the 12th (officially). Frederico Mana was the eleventh after Walter. There have been others (like Umberto) who have done 100m CWT in training.
Ah Carla, don’t be put off, stronger arms aren’t putting me off either. I prefer to see a brilliant character in a fine body, rather than ‘perfect’ measurements but with a poor character.
I always tell young girls it’s better to have a nice smile than having 10 layers of expensive make up.
I bet you already got a nice boyfriend or husband!
Take care, you’re in a privileged place!
Kars