Will Trubridge (NZL) and Alena Zabloudilova (CZE) were named the Constant Weight Without Fins (CNF) champions at the 2011 Aida World Championships on the first competition day, September 19 in Kalamata, Greece.
Newcomer Zabloudilova performed extraordinarily well to win in her first major depth competition. Zabloudilova, who has been competing in pool competitions for seven years, achieved her target depth of 56m without penalty. The dive was also confirmed by a regulation Suunto D-Series dive computer. Following the dive she said, “I was very nervous at the start but once I started the dive I was concentrated. I felt good. I was very relaxed. It was one of the best dives of my life.”
Windy Timmermans (NED) claimed second place with a depth of 52m and Irina Karina (RUS) came in third with a depth of 48m. The current world record holder, Natalia Molchanova (RUS), attempted to improve on her record of 62m with a target depth of 64m and completed the dive. However on reviewing the footage of her dive, judges disqualified her for pulling on the rope outside the two-meter ‘safe zone’.
Sara Campbell (GBR), a former world record holder, announced a 65m attempt but did not start as she was feeling unwell.
William Trubridge, the current world record holder (101m) in this discipline, successfully defended his title with an easy dive by his standards. The Kiwi diver successfully reached his target depth of 93m to finish ahead of Michal Risian (CZE) and Morgan Bour’chis (FRA), who completed depths of 84m and 80m respectively. Michal Risian tied his new continental record at 84m that he made at the Mediterranean Cup and said he just wanted to have a 'sure dive’.
Trubridge overcame a nervy situation during preparations.
“I had a scare six minutes before the dive when I flooded my sinuses and eustachian tubes by tilting my head back (to empty bubbles from my cap) without having my nose clip on. This meant I was blowing water out my nose for most of the remaining minutes and during the descent I had to force equalization already at 10 meters. I was pretty much resigned to the fact that I would be turning early when the ears inevitably got stuck with all the water and mucous. Luckily it became easier to equalize, and when I turned at the plate I knew it was going to be a clean dive, so I settled in and enjoyed the ascent.”
William Winram (CAN), currently ranked second in the world to Trubridge, announced a depth of 88m but lost his mouthfill during the dive, could not equalize and was forced to turn in early.
The next competition day is Thursday September 22 when divers will challenge for the Constant Weight (CWT) World Championship title.
Click here for more information and statistics on the winning dives: www.movescount.com/members/AIDA_WC_2011_CNF
Details from William Trubridge’s winning dive can be viewed here: www.movescount.com/moves/move2865701
CNF Overall Results Men
1. TRUBRIDGE William (NZL) 93m
2. RISIAN Michel (CZE) 84m
3. BOUR’CHIS Morgan (FRA) 80m
4. MATEUSZ Malina (POL) 77m
5. KODERMAN Antoni (SVN) 74m
CNF Overall Results Women
1. ZABLOUDILOVA Alena (CZE) 56m
2. TIMMERMANS Wendy (NLD) 52m
3. KARINA Irina (RUS) 48m
4. TAPANI Sofia (SWE) 47m
5. ZHARKOVA Natalia (UKR) 46m
Images by Nicholas Kouvaras