Sunday, November 15, 2009

a matter of national record

After a 2 year drought in PB's and records and repeatedly swimming into a gigantic 'NO' in my head, i finally managed to get out of the slump i was in freediving wise. I did this by taking a step back instead of continually pushing myself to move forwards. I played safety and let the hunger to dive and compete grow. I then started doing longer dives, not aiming to improve myself in meters, but in mentallity. With this better, more relaxed metallity came the meters, and slowly i got near national record territory again. I fucked up in my first competition coming back, again staring blindly at the bright light of the record which makes the tunnel look so far. But i learned and forgot about records in my next comp, where i immediately did a PB, 2 meters shy of that national record. It looked like that was going to end the year for me and i was fine with that, but then at the very last minute i got a chance to go to Berlin for the 12th Long Night of Apnea. I was nervous as hell before the start, which is a good sign -before the break i was dreading the dives. I visualized, did all the mental preparation i need and learned from the excellent freedivers in my life, and when it was time, i let myself do it. It was a tough dive, but i fought and managed to stay calm nonetheless and came up when i'd done enough. A PB AND a national record. Couldn't have hoped for a better way to end the season. I am a lucky and happy man.

7 comments:

William Winram said...

Hey Daan, Great Story!!! Huge Congrats on your national record! Glad you finally found the right combination to realize your goals.

Cheers,

William W

Friedpod said...

bravo!

Andrew McGlinchey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jade said...

The removed post was me as Andrew was logged in I had not noticed it was not me.
Wou houuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. Congratulations on that awesome dynamic National record and PB.
From Asia a little dance for you and much deserved applauds.

Anonymous said...

well, 69 is what you do best my love

Kars said...

Hi Daan Congratulations, you finally did it, and more importantly you made a huge mental improvement, who said freediving wasn't good for the brain?

Anyway, want to share the Eindhoven pool with me and Judith Friday?

I can bow pretty deeply to the master! the new and righteous Record holder Dynamic :)

Kars

Anonymous said...

..and i love sending you apples. The year you've experienced bring joy to my heart. I'm so proud of you Spankie.

Love forever,
Your baby Sparkly

Ps.'Spankie and Sparkly', it could be a comic.ingsiat