Rob King has done it yet again. He has set a fourth US national freediving depth record in the discipline of Variable Weight (VWT) to a depth of 85 meters (278 feet) on April 9, 2009, at Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island in the Bahamas. Rob’s record occurred outside of competition at Vertical Blue as this discipline is not allowed during competitions. This discipline challenges the freediver to use weight or a sled to reach depth and then self power back to the surface. This performance surpasses the previous record of 65 meters set by Deron Verbeck in June of 2007.
Two AIDA International judges from the United States judged Rob’s performance. Grant Graves , USAA president, and Linden Wolbert, AIDA Judges, validated the performance as following all AIDA and USAA rules and regulations for a record performance.
Rob made the round trip in two minutes and twenty-eight seconds. Rob used the competition bottom plate to ride to depth as it was dropped from the surface to depth. Upon reaching depth, Rob hand pulled on the line to return to the surface. He provided a quick and easy surface protocol, where he proclaimed; “I like it this way, so much easier than swimming.”
Rob stated, “Thanks to Grant, Linden, Kerian, Simon, Will W. and Joy for making it all work today. And hats off to Deron Verbeck, the previous record holder and, though not currently competing, still in my opinion the strongest all-around free diver the US has produced.”
Rob currently holds four US Freediving National Records all in depth disciplines. In addition to Variable Weight, he holds Constant Weight, Constant Weight No Fins, and Free Immersion records. He has secured all of the records at Vertical Blue except Constant Weight No Fins that he set last April in Grand Cayman.
Rob is taking part in Vertical Blue, an annual freediving competition hosted by world record freediver William Trubridge. The competition concludes on April 11, 2009. The competition is seeing big results for many athletes from around the world. It is likely there will be even deeper depths reached by Rob in the coming days. http://www.verticalblue.net.
The USAA is a nonprofit association founded on the democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally. Founded in 2003, the USAA consists of an active membership dedicated to furthering freediving in the United States and abroad. For more information about the USAA, the U.S. National Freediving Team, and membership please visit http://www.usfreediving.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. For more information about AIDA please visit http://www.aida-
-END-
Freedivers are being filmed on location in the Bahamas by under water film production company BlueEyeFX. Based in Egypt and headed by British born Deborah Metcalfe, BlueEyeFX is documenting all attempts at Vertical Blue 2009 – the invitational freediving competition held at Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas.
Images and video footage of the world record attempt is available to download via FTP:
Blueeyefx.tv
User ID: blueye
Password: B1u3y3fx
All credits BlueEyeFX Productions
