William Winram | Classic Constant Weight World Record
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Classic Constant Weight World Record

Going the distance with a pair of fins

Roatàn, Honduras, May 25, 2013

 

The first edition of the Caribbean World Cup is happening this year from May 20th to 30th. Passionate organizer Esteban Darhanpe has organized this event supported by a very dedicated group of volunteers who travelled to the Central American paradise Roatàn, one of Islas de la Bahia, to provide safety and logistical support.
Among the freedivers who entered in this competition, several big names with nationalities from all corners of the planet: Iru Balic (Venezuela), Ryuzo Shinomiya (Japan), Robert King (USA), William Trubridge (New Zealand), Carlos Coste (Venezuela), Walid Boudhiaf (Tunisia) to name only a few.
In the warm clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, everyone is attempting to break their personal bests and many national records fell everyday of the competition.
William Winram dove on day 1, 2 and 3 of the competition. “The first day I was attempting the record but got stopped by heavy current so decided to abort the dive. On the second day sinuses got stuck and I turned not wanting to injure myself. Had I known I was at 92 meters on that dive I would have gone to the plate so it was nice to finally make the dive and the world record on day 3.”
Nearly 10 years to the day when the last bi-fin constant weight dive was realized by Czech world record holder Martin Stepanek (93 meters at the Freediver Open Classic in Limassol, Cyprus on May 29, 2003), William Winram dove to 94 meters with a pair of fins, something today most competitors would not even consider, having mostly all switched to wearing a monofin.
The dive took 1 minute and 49 seconds during the descent, 1 second to turn at 94 meters of depth and 86 seconds during the ascent back to the surface. After a very quick and clean surface protocol, judges Grant Graves and Linden Wolbert validated William’s performance with a white card.
AIDA Canada member Søren Frederiksen is a seasoned freediver. He is an AIDA Instructor for the Freedive Toronto club and was part of the safety freediving team during the World Championships held in Dean’s Blue Hole, Bahamas in 2009. Søren said:

“William Winram was in a great mood and very relaxed chatting to the safety team on the catamaran before his dive.

After a few warm-up dives and some rest he left the surface for a historic 94 meter bi-fins dive.
Looking relaxed and not too fast of the surface we saw him sinking into the deep blue.

After waiting for 2 and a half minutes I went down as the first safety to meet William. After 15 meters I could already see him coming up, which means that he was around 45 meters so I tried to swim down as fast as possible, he was early. At 25 meters I met William who was looking strong and I was happy to see the tag sticking out of his hood.

Congratulations on an amazing dive and to a great diver.”

 

Team Canada 2012 member Natalie Doduc, who also provided safety during William Winram’s dive said: “When I met William for the first time, I was attending the 2010 Swiss freediving championships and I was fairly new to the sport. He was volunteering as safety for the competitors braving the dark cold waters of the Lake of Zurich. His presence then made a great difference in my ability to relax. I am so glad that today I was able to return the favour and provide safety for him”.
While the competition carried on May 27, 28 and 29, William actually had to leave Roatàn after his performance to get back to Montreal where he will be lending himself to the promotion of the upcoming IMAX film Great White Shark 3D.
The movie opens in Montreal’s Science Center IMAX theater on May 31.

Many thanks to:

Black and white photos © Lia Barrett

Fins manufactured by Trygons

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