Thursday 6th October 2005

Andy and Irvine were on-board for a mix of statics and dynamics; Steve G, Lucia, and Persy mainly static, and Fred and Mark mainly dynamic.

Fred was a clear winner in the bubble ring competition, with Mark and Irvine clearly needing to practise more.

As for Persy, and her latest static PB....I won't say what it was, in case she doesn't want it broadcast, but it was impressive. Watch out, female freedivers. There's a new girl on the block.

Thursday 29th September 2005

A quiet night, with Lucia, Irvine, Andy, Fred and Mark all doing their thing. For Lucia and Mark this was statics only, and for the other boys a mix of dynamics / statics.

The main performance of the evening was Irvine's tremendous bubble-ring, the likes of which have never before been seen. Unfortunately I missed the event, but others didn't, and waxed lyrical on its production for many seconds.

Thursday 22nd September 2005

Welcome back to Theo, after his excellent performance in Nice, and a big welcome to Grace and Fred, who did their induction with us. Also bobbing and sculling, were Persy, Lucia, Irvine and Andy. Good Luck to Grace with her next induction, at Cambridge University, and hope to see you again around Christmas time. Fred we hope to see back a little sooner :-)

Thursday 15th September 2005

Ann-Marie, Matt, Lucia, Persy, Irvive, Andy, Darren and Mark all doing a mixture of dynamic and static in buddy pairs. ( Most of us starting out with the intention of just static, end changing our minds toward the end. ) Pool nice and warm again for the second week running. Will it last?

Thursday 8th September 2005

Pool nice and warm tonight, with a good mix of numbers and disciplines. Persy and Lucia worked on their statics, and Liz, Mark, Irvive, Matt and Darren all mixed statics and dynamics. Lucia was rightly pleased with her static PB, and Liz made a double PB in both disciplines!

Thursday 1st September 2005

Steve will be supervising / doing pool inductions ( at least 3 newcomers expected ). Anyone wishing to come along, please post a comment. Anyone wishing to come along who hasn't been before, and doesn't have AIDA qualifications, please mail Steve G beforehand.

Thursday 25th August 2005

Persy, Nick, Paula and Irvine mixed statics and dynamics, with Lucia, Livvy and Mark doing statics only. I know some of you didn't get to do exactly what you had wanted initially, so I have a few suggestions for the future:

1. The earlier you arrive, the easier it is to get the right buddy ( as long as everyone else does, of course! )
2. If you are doing statics, then wear a wetsuit so that you don't have to abandon your buddy to warm up.
3. Consider doing just one discipline per session ( or make sure your buddy wants to do exactly the same mix of statics and dynamics that you do ).

Just a few suggestions really. Congratulations to Persy for getting her 2nd PB in 2 weeks, and being patient about the pairing situation.

Thursday 18th August 2005

Well, the girls are doing something right! Persy and Anne-Marie both put in blistering performances with their statics, and made PB's. Lucia was close to hers. Andy made a good PB this week ( as in wobble-free ). Steve and Mario were quietly doing their statics, and I didn't hear how they got on, but as for Nick, Irvine and Mark, we all need to give our backsides a bit of a kick. No-one seemed to be up for dynamics, other than Irvine who had a quick splash at the end.

Thursday 11th August 2005

Attending tonight were Lucia, Irvine, Andy, Mark, Anne-Marie and Matt. No takers for dynamics; everyone was face down and bobbing. Another PB for AM, who is looking on-form for her forthcoming International in Renens.

Thursday 4th August 2005

A big welcome to Persimone, Liv and Ben, and also my student Steve Tucker. Steve G busied himself with pool inductions for the newbies, while I did Steve T's AIDA instruction.

Irvine and Liv paired up for a mixed session, while Lars and Anne-Marie worked with their respective coaches in statics. This serious coaching stuff must pay dividends, as I gather they both came away with PB's.

Thursday 28th July 2005

A quieter evening than anticipated, with Dynamic training the order of the evening. Paula and Nick paired up, with Paula doing a PB in DNF. Well done Paula! Mark busied himself with getting Nicky, Lisa and Nick through the final pool modules of their AIDA ** course. All did extremely well, especially with the rescue scenarios. As a reward, they now get to spend the weekend in a flooded quarry in Wales....

Thursday 21st July 2005

A slight change of plan for tonight. I have only just found out that Steve G is planning on doing pool inductions for a group of five. Added to the three students I am instructing, this will make things a little congested in the shallow end. We will do our best to accommodate everyone, but it may make dynamic training a little difficult just for tonight.

Apologies in advance for this - I will make sure that we avoid double training sessions on the same night in future.

*** Latest News 14:50 21/07/2005 ***

Bombs have disrupted London's transport system again. I am currently confined to my place of work until further notice, and may not be able to make it to the pool tonight. However I shall be attempting to get there, and have checked with the swimming pool, who tell me that they expect to remain open this evening.

I suggest that you only attempt to come along tonight if you are prepared to take a chance with being able to dive or not.

Any of my students who are unable to attend will have their pool modules rescheduled for a later date. In a worst case, it will be acceptable to do your pool modules after your open water.

Jonny's LMC gets out of control....

DSCN0223
Originally uploaded by Larsz.

Thursday 21st July 2005

Mark will be teaching students tonight, so if anyone can supervise, please mail him. Anyone wishing to come, please post a comment. Next newcomer induction evening planned for Thursday 4th August.

Thursday 14th July 2005

Whew, what a scorcher of a day, and what a pleasant way to cool down in the evening. Jonny and Nick combined a spot of statics with dynamics, Lars was on paparazzi duty with his snazzy new u/w camera, and Mark was back on statics again, spotted by Laura.

As well as seeing the Elk and snapping great Dane, we also saw Lars put in a static PB at the end of the session.

Last but not least, congratulations to Lars on his recent engagement, and Jonny on his recent marriage. And to Nick for not losing his locker key.

Thursday 7th July 2005

Because of today's disruption in central London, unfortunately tonight's training session will be cancelled.

Thursday 30th June 2005

Everyone has their post-session wind-down. For most it's a warm shower and a chat about things freediving related. Not so for Nick. He has now come up with a new activity - running around the whole pool complex in his trunks, frantically looking for a lost locker key. I've maintained for some time now, that apnea has no detrimental effect whatsoever on memory.

Earlier in the evening, while I was training Rurik for his AIDA **, Nick, Irvine, James and Robin all busied themselves with dynamics. Rurik's dynamic rescue demonstration ( by me ) was a perfect example of how *not* to do it, and something I may well incorporate into future courses. Cramp-locked calf muscles do not contribute to successful rescue scenarios....

Well done to Rurik for completing his AIDA ** Freediver pool modules, and good luck for the NDAC open-water session.

Thursday 23rd June 2005

Statics all-round it was. Robin and Neale returned after their diving sabattical, with Steve and Mark managing a couple of breath holds between phone calls.

Numbers down a bit, but I suppose everyone was out celebrating seeing Stepanek getting beaten by a Brit. Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!

Thursday 16th June 2005

With James supervising, Paula and Mark finished the pool modules for Paula's AIDA ** Freediver course. Good Luck to Paula for the remainder at the NDC.

Thursday 9th June 2005

I'm looking for a volunteer to supervise this session. I will be at the pool, but busy running an AIDA training course with 2 students. If you don't mind collecting money and just keeping an eye on things, please drop me a mail.

...post session...
Welcome to Paula, Jonathan and Rurik, who all underwent the first part of their AIDA ** Freediver training courses. Thanks to Sam for helping out with the training, and to Theo for keeping an eye out for all of us. Last but not least, good to see Anne-Marie again after her successes in Nice.

And Good Wishes to Theo for his wedding this weekend.