apnea planet

Herbert, the Austrian dive machine, sets new world records:

Herbert Nitsch, a former swimmer, achieved the first ever Austrian WORLD RECORD in one of the eleven Apnea disciplines. Beating the old record by 6meters, he did a131meter dive in Dynamic without fins. A competition in Geneva/Switzerland, the Dolphins Cup, was the frame for his record. The 25m pool the place. This meant 5 laps and six meters to improve a since 1993 unbeaten record.

Apnea Planet:	Last year, at the same competition, you could already dive a distance of 100m. How have then been you preparations?
Herbert Nitsch:	I did prepared myself for the dynamic with fins contest, without fins I just tried only once in Vienna. During warm up time I practised turns and at the contest I simply did go ahead.

AP:	This year again Dolphins Cup, at first announced for static, dynamic with fins (DF) and dynamic without fins (DWF), later reduced for static and DF. Than, following your request, everybody could choose between DF and DWF.
HN:	Yes, I am planning for a long time to do something at DWF but my training plans have been crossed by "having no time" and "being sick". But in any case I wanted to do something in this discipline.

AP:	What happened during static, the first contest of this competition?
HN:	Basically, I have been determined to reach a good time in static too, for the case of a good result in dynamic, to have still the chance of a good place in the combinations score. My prepare time was not perfect, the water coolish, in the 2 minutes before Official Top there was an discussion in French language with the safety diver. At the end of the attempt there was no willpower to fight and I came up after 5:28. After I felt very angry that I did not have the will to fight longer.
AP:	So you have been really fed up after you static.
HN:	Demotivated, very demotivated. I thought that will not be something with such a static and I will try to reach the 100m of the last year.

AP:	How could you nevertheless motivate yourself?
HN:	I did think to myself, that I will at least prepare myself in a proper way because many times I make a "wischi -waschi" preparation and think it will work somehow.
AP:	How did this preparation look like?
HN:	One hour before my starting time I began to do different breathing practises, Guy-breathing, belly - chest breathing and got my equipment ready, so that I have just to grab my things after and fix the weight around my neck.
AP:	Nice joke.
HN:	No, I am not joking. It is a question of balance. My feet are heavier and my lung is lighter. I used a piece of a bicycle inner tube filled with lead. About 30 cm long with 1,2kg and fixed with tape.
AP:	How did it go on?
HN:	If I prepare myself so long, I really cause that the surroundings fade out because I am so concentrated on my breathing, that my brain slows down and my horizon is reduced totally.
AP:	Does this mean everything runs in slow motion?
HN:	No, not so extreme. I perceive everything, but through a filter.
AP:	Than you went in the water...
HN:	...and did set up the swimming goggles and pulled the bathing cap deep in my face to reduce my horizon even more. My breathing was very quiet, which is not really typically for me, unless I am prepared orderly. I felt very fine and was thinking, after breathing so much, I will feel no pain, main issue is to succeed. I made 5 or 6 carps and started the dive quietly and harmoniously close to the bottom. The turns I did blind following the ground marks and directly at the first turn I just could push myself with the toes. I stopped nearly and was immediately demotivated, shit, but who cares, go on diving. After the half of the distance the breathing stimulus became so strong that I was thinking it is not even possible to reach the100 meters. Then I speeded up, and the point came where I felt it was possible to go on again. After the 125m turn I pulled through the arms one more time, some extra meters that it is more clear, and then better exit, now I have the world record, not to risk anything. After the exit I did feel so fine that I had the impression there where still reserves, that I could have finish the lane.
Herbert's exit at the end of the performance was sudden and abrupt. He jerks his goggles and cap from his head and gave the agreeded control sign for this competition, finger to the nose. Congratulations and exultation in the hall. While there is roaring spirits later, Herbert is quiet and secluded. He can not really believe it yet. Then there always stays the fear at dives like this that you did not count the laps correct and you exit to early.

But Herbert´s dynamic story does not end here. He was already inscribed for another competition in Germany, and the main topic of the following weeks was of course can he improve the DF record too? On 24. February it was showtime. After the third turn in the 50m pool he swam over the 164-meter mark on the bottom, did some more strokes with his monofin and surfaced. Again his exit was clear and perfect. As he told us later, his breathing preparations have been very long and good again, and he had the same strong breathing stimulus after diving about 75 meters, but he was prepared for that from the last time.
Herbert´s next plan is to go for a new world record in constant weight/freshwater. (-66m held by the German Benjamin Franz)

AP:	What depth do you think you will make?
HN:	-67 meter
AP:	And what depth do you want to make?
HN:	I want to make -1000m ---- (laughing)
AP:	This year or next year -----(laughing)
HN:	Well, I want to brake the record, and would like to brake even the sea record of -81m, but I am happy with anything between.
AP:	Is there only constant weight on your plans or do you think about libre, variable and no limits too?
HN:	I am thinking about all this world records but I have not tried anything else than constant weight.
The event for the constant weight world record attempt will be on the weekend of 16. + 17.June. ApneaPlanet will be there and report.
Facts: Dynamic Apnea with fins, Men Old: · 164 m, Andy Le Sauce (France), 25.05.1996, Réunion Island, France (AIDA) New: · 170 m, Herbert Nitsch (Austria), 24.02.2001, Berlin, Germany (AIDA) Dynamic Apnea without fins, Men Old: · 125 m, Frédéric Cocuet (France), 1993, France (AIDA) New: · 131 m, Herbert Nitsch (Austria), 27.01.2001, Geneva, Switzerland (AIDA)