Team Sharkbait

This is a post by Sanne Buurma.

As this was the section in which I would focus on the technique aspect of my freediving, I put all of these into my training. The specialized training section focuses on:

• Technique
• Speed
• Stroke
• Depth

This week and last week I didn’t really wanted to push my mental limits in preparation for the competition, so I chose to only go for the static in the pool which resulted in a nice reassuring time of 5 minutes 09 seconds. Enough for me to still enjoy and reassuring me on the current path.

Technique

Arms stretched OK

Tuesday I put all my effort in getting my new arm stretch in my system. I have to keep telling myself now, RIGHT over LEFT and Lock right thumb. But today Jorg and I went out for the speed, stroke and depth training and by my own surprise I kept doing it the other way around… So it’s not hard coded yet, but I’ll give it some time and all be well. The other focus point is my leg stroke, which used to have a huge scissor in the technique and on top of that I might not have put the maximum force in the stroke at the time. So tuesday I really focussed on these points by thinking back to my breaststroke fins training. Which really helped me on finding the proper point of scooping the water.

Speed check
For the speed check I had been timing my dives and after today’s training with Jorg we decided on the following times, divided into the different parts for DNF:

• Inhale & immerse: 3 seconds
• Push off & lane: 25,5 seconds
• Turn: 1,5 seconds
• Coming up & Elbow on edge: 1,5 seconds

We calculated the time I had to do over a 50 meters DNF in a somewhat slower execution style: 3 + 25,5 + 1,5 + 25,5 + 1,5 = 57 seconds. And as the calculation was put to the test, it actually was a perfect hit, where I did it in 57 seconds exact. Even though the DNF I do is somewhat slower as I am capable of doing (Push-off and Lane in 22 seconds), this totally makes it feel more relaxed. For now we set the speed check at: 50 meters / 57 seconds = 0,877 m/s.

Strokes count
Tuesday I counted my strokes in a 20 meter pool and came to 2 strokes with the new alignment weight of 3 kilograms around my neck. Today in the 25 meter Tongelreep pool I did two different speeds and the slower one which I’d like to go by now takes me about 2,5 strokes and the somewhat quicker version I’ll need 3 strokes. Which already is a big improvement and showing the alignment is working out.

Depth control
As an added control measure Jorg also spotted my depth, which varied throughout the training of today, but overall this had to do with the lack of reference as the 25 meter pool in the Tongelreep is also 5 meters deep. I think I’m much better in a pool of about 1,8-2 meters in depth to control my depth and not loose too much effort on that point.