tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307783410210125252011-07-07T15:27:27.527-07:00martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-12493322269906854882009-09-23T15:33:00.000-07:002009-09-23T15:41:28.914-07:00

I can't wait to see thins one in 3D in cinema.teaser "Beyond Limits" from Herbert Nitsch on Vimeo.Apparently, Herbert has been working on it for quite some time now. It is about time we get something else to look at when we are home and lonely and depressed because of the absence of the sea.. something else the Le Grand Bleu and Ocean Men, that is...I do not know when it is supposed to come out

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-64522999628871478152009-09-13T11:04:00.000-07:002009-09-23T15:19:29.082-07:00

Just found this:Will try next time I'm anywhere close to the sea.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-24704984502423752842009-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T15:15:32.045-07:00

Today was another looooong day here in Århus for all competitors, judges and the organization.We started at 9:00 with the static finals. Markus took a very nice video of Georgina Miller's dive in the A-Final witch I was judging.In the B-Final, Anna took the one national record, she thought would be impossible to take for her. With a 6 min and 12 sec breath hold she was surprising herself and many

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-26699366778034278992009-08-18T15:03:00.001-07:002009-08-19T03:03:58.926-07:00

The 5th AIDA Indoor World Championship has startet.Here is just a short update. Everything seem to be running smoothly now after the usual hick-ups.I have put together a little up-date on the German team on the AIDA Germany webside.The organization has put together a YouTube channel where you can find videos from the competition.You can find the announcements and starting times for tomorrow here.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-65843327162616036502009-08-13T15:24:00.000-07:002009-08-13T15:30:49.784-07:00

As I am packing my bags to go to Aarhus for the 5th World Championships I remember how so many athletes showed up without their beloved mono fins at so many competitions including the last WC in Maribor.I came across this video which is based on a true story:Maybe we should make a song about lost mono fins some time.... Anyways, I hope none of you guys is flying United and we will all have a

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-36512900000770264752009-07-31T04:34:00.000-07:002009-07-31T04:40:26.989-07:00

One of my most favorit Swedish bands has finally come out with freediving song!Give it up for Vibafemba feat. Peter Erik Mårten Boivie under water vocals:This is so cool!!!Now we are waiting forn the first under water concert...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-41577524215352655152009-07-11T13:40:00.000-07:002009-07-11T14:00:49.371-07:00

Unbelievable dive from Anna down to 90 m... And then she dose the surface protocol in 4 s... incredible. Enjoy...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-27545308655366475902009-07-01T15:24:00.000-07:002009-07-03T09:22:38.154-07:00

Now, look at what Elisabeth did in her last training:There must be something in the water over in Aarhus. I'm so looking forward to the World Championship. I hope to see some really extrodinary performances...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-56990295104383656262009-06-30T14:03:00.000-07:002009-06-30T16:14:39.116-07:00

I really enjoyed traveling to all those competitions in the first half of this year. I was getting really good at these short term weekend trips packing all my judging stuff in one bag... untill I went to Upsala! On the trip there something strange happened. If you have traveled as much as I did, both for work and pleasure, you'd probably take pride in knowing all the safety procedures and be

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-33776128464523120402009-06-23T14:54:00.000-07:002009-06-23T15:22:59.561-07:00

Together with 23 other judges I have been promoted to Level D-Judge last week.This is an important step because it allows me to head international competitions in the future.I had been working towards this promotion at the end of last year and beginning of this year and so am very happy.I also applied for judging the World Championship in Aarhus this summer and (to my surprise) was accepted. So,

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-48166059739956669812009-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:002009-05-25T13:56:58.705-07:00

A Counter Ballast System (CBS) is a safety system for competitive freediving.The idea is to have a fast system for the retrieval of a freediver at depth. The freediver is connected to the rope by a lanyard. In case of an emergency at depth, the counter ballast is released on the opposite side in order to pull up the bottom weight of the rope and the freediver hanging on the bottom by means of his

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-92014997108070799132009-05-07T01:22:00.000-07:002009-05-07T01:30:46.965-07:00

And yet another post about Fredrick's pictures.The man keeps coming up with more and more fascinating images from his time in Dahab, most of them featuring my beloved mermaid.Here are his 10 favorites. Maybe he earns an entry in the Apnea Photo Award 2009. Which one is your favorite? I like number 1 best.Freediving in Egypt by Fredrik Naumann - Images by Felix FeaturesI have not figured out how

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-55255184122781046072009-04-27T01:06:00.000-07:002009-04-27T02:03:47.999-07:00

Fredrik, our photographer turned freediver, has published some more pictures of the last days of diving.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-60389759746674620182009-04-26T06:37:00.000-07:002009-05-13T06:29:08.710-07:00

Today was a good day for the freediving in Norway. On her second dive, Elisabeth went down to -40 meter without her fin. That is 15 meters deeper then her previous record. The dive took over 2 minutes again as she is swimming with her turtle style. But according to Elisabeth it felt easier then her -35m training dive two days ago. This was also Elisabeths first competition dive with only a

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-23925494339338436542009-04-26T00:52:00.000-07:002009-04-26T01:13:07.679-07:00

I just got the news and want to share it with you. Today at 9:21 am CET, Elisabeth dove down to 65 meters and returned the tag to the judges at the Buzzy Blue Hole competition. Her dive time was 2:40 min. She says that her legs where getting quite tired so she had to slow down but all went well.I am so happy!Elisabeth will rest now and attempt another national record in the afternoon. She will go

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-42904981404624823092009-04-25T13:55:00.000-07:002009-04-26T01:19:44.127-07:00

Fredrik Naumann is a Norwegian photographer who is following Elisabeth, shooting her in different locations and editing articles for the Norwegian press.When I met Fredrik for the first time last year at the Aarhus Triple Challenge 2008, I remember he was overly anxious about his scuba tanks. I must admit, I was messing around with them using 'em for getting the pool side BBQ started...In any

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-38809354505557140582009-04-23T13:58:00.000-07:002009-04-26T01:27:36.146-07:00

While Elisabeth is down at the Bizzy Blue Hole, I am sitting here in my flat hunting for a job.I must say, it is quite challenging and takes a lot of concentration to not think of them in Dahab. Especially when the go diving with sharks.But while Elisabeth is diving deeper and deeper (doing her PB of last year's BBH today, 61m) I am very happy that people like Daan are looking after her.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-15358172435052964272009-04-09T05:53:00.000-07:002009-04-09T16:01:47.293-07:00

When I saw the remarkable pictures of the Vertical Blue it struck me that there is no dedicated Photo Award for apnea pictures.So, let’s change that. It is just an idea but let’s see where it is going.Rules:1. The photo's theme/motive must represent apnea/free diving2. The photo must be taken in the calendar year 20093. The photo should be taken in apnea4. Any photographer can participate with a

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-88840880576657693242009-04-06T09:08:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:14:07.416-07:00

Lars has just published a video of our Open Masters Cup here in Berlin. Maybe we should do more of this kind of filming so we can show the world what a wonderfull athmosphere we have at the competitions.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-8963150355591994952009-03-31T14:53:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:14:34.795-07:00

Now look at that... I don't really know where that came from but the good vibes at the training with Anna and Elisabeth must have had an effect on me.I usually take the role of the whip swinging coach, these days, making them do another dive and telling them what their arms, legs and bums are doing when they should be doing something completely different. One time, when they were really fed-up

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-2836595941800545472009-03-25T03:08:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:14:56.389-07:00

As you may or may not have heard, Anna has announced a National Record attempt. Well, in fact, she announced three.After vaporizing the women’s depth records last year she is now turning to the pool disciplines. She announced to break all static (6'07"), dynamic (134m) and dynamic without fins (99m).Now, Anna is not known to be a very big fan of the pool. So how is this possible? One thing is

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-16297113447599029102009-03-11T16:32:00.001-07:002009-03-11T16:47:13.220-07:00

Thomas was diving to the maximum depth of -52m in a 3mm suit.Thankfully he decided to put it on this time. The day before he tryed the same without it...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-35478532833911198442009-03-08T14:50:00.000-07:002009-03-11T02:40:03.376-07:00

Just a quick one from Oslo. The competition is over and all are warm and safe. For an organizer/judge this is the most important.But I must admit, apart from being cold and wet, it was a lot of fun.For you to have an idea of the set up here comes the video:We had three competition dives. Since the deepest dive counts and we weighted CNF with 1.35 points per meter, Stig was taking the lead by

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-45088279893735783542009-02-27T15:58:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:14:46.127-08:00

Things are running good for the Oslo Ice Challenge. Today, Steinar and Bjarte went out to prepare the fied for us (pictures). The best tool at this point is the snow shuffel.We are looking at 30-40 cm of Ice under 60 cm of snow. Thats enough to make for nice benches for spectators who just need to bring something to put under the bud...I like the set-up. This will be the closest one can ever get

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-64806582376183990922009-02-03T11:00:00.000-08:002009-02-06T06:15:31.728-08:00

After hurting my shoulder in a snowboard accident this winter I was forced to drop my training for the 100m DNF completely and turned to more judging.It started with the 8ème Coupe des Dauphins where I had the chance to be judging one of the most controversy discussed performances ever.Christian Maldamé showed us how delicious a real Swiss cheese fondue can be and that it is possible to freedive

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-45646300386903501282009-01-26T15:55:00.000-08:002009-01-26T15:56:59.718-08:00

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-53133405349736315012009-01-20T09:30:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:15:28.358-08:00

Berlin Masters Cup 2009I have just put out the word, the registration form for the 11th Berlin Masters Cup in online. After a few hick-ups and the usual back and forth with the schedule and even a most unusual sabotage attack we finally made it. According to the number of people that where bugging me about this it should be sold out quite soon. It is funny though that the once who where writing

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-6253638990389231022008-11-30T14:53:00.000-08:002008-11-30T15:10:38.159-08:00

I always said, if you are a freediver and there is a freedive competition within your reach, there is no question. You must go and you must and you must compete.Why? Simply because there aren’t enough opportunities for meeting with all those cool but crazy people that I now call my friends.That being said, there seemed to be no real chance for me to go and do just that at the 4th Dutch Apnea Open

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-62240344388956226672008-11-04T01:06:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:16:03.203-07:00

On Monday I had the chance to be part of a photo and video performance the Word Wildlife Foundation (WWF) was organizing here in Berlin. The event took place at the Stadtbad Schöneberg and involved six freedivers being body painted as fish and swim into a net under water.The performance was supposed to symbolize the bycatch that is making up to 100.000 tons of fish, that is a third of the overall

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-79180092929087337582008-10-31T02:59:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:16:44.747-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that I was doing 4:16 min static and 75m DNF (dynamic no fins) in training on Wednesday. That is only 0,6 points less than my performance in the RMC. I am very happy I was able to repeat that. It shows me that I am on the right track. I found my way back into static and want to continue doing 75m dives in training in order to go further.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-84280173807992482152008-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:002008-10-28T16:37:54.336-07:00

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-61265965411388290542008-10-27T13:41:00.000-07:002008-10-27T17:02:20.686-07:00

Another one down... but for a long time this is the first competition with two successful dives.I was taking away the pressure of the static dive by reducing both my announced performance and my own expectations. After all, I was there for the dynamic dive. So with an astonishing late and relatively short worm up of only three dives around 2min I got to 4:09 min and only stopped because I wanted

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-21600303329360364262008-10-23T15:56:00.001-07:002008-10-23T15:56:34.938-07:00

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-73625554617832224992008-10-20T10:03:00.000-07:002008-10-20T10:38:20.771-07:00

The reason why I did not write anything about this wonderful event is simply because I was even more unfortunate then in Dahab.Just before the first competition I caught a virus. I felt a little weird in the morning. Would not eat at all. And then after announcing the performances I felt like all energy was drained from me. I really had problems to keep myself upright. No good!That was it for me

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-15026765026319995772008-10-15T11:30:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:12:46.618-07:00

Only 4 weeks to go and we still have very little registrations for the Long Night of Apnea.Please register now or we will have to cancel the competition.Register here!or send an email to m.mueller@aida-deutschland.deThe LNA is the competition with the longest tradition. This year it is the 11th time national and international athletes come together for STA, DYN and the world famous

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-15667907124811636792008-08-27T08:54:00.000-07:002008-08-27T09:00:42.906-07:00

I have just been looking at my list of personal bests (no, not because I am so much in love with myself but because I am worried) and I have decided that next time I go in the water I will crack that free immersion record. -33 m was just a little try when I had nothing else to do. It is in no relation to the other targets I have hit and it has been lingering around here for moor than a year now..

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-58512402871546778802008-08-21T12:29:00.000-07:002008-08-26T13:19:34.538-07:00

This was a nice dive! A very nice dive, indeed!After my rather confused training dive in Wildschütz I wanted to know whether I can do the same in competition.When we got to the platform I was calm and focused, when I went to the line I was picturing the dive. Five seconds after TOP I was going down. No problems coordinating swim strokes and equalization. below 15m I started sinking and before I

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-40651271912188034802008-08-14T08:24:00.000-07:002008-08-14T08:30:21.382-07:00

The dive school at my favorit trainig lake has made a long plan come true and sunk a station for decompression to -8m depth.Now this is too tempting for a bunch of freedivers not to go and check it out.And then, allways remember to breath out on the way up... ;)They are sinking another, even bigger station this week. I can't wait to go and dive in...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-29559190215606316612008-08-11T07:35:00.000-07:002008-08-13T01:44:48.185-07:00

Long time no news from the diving Martin but I'm busy.On Saturday, my sweet mermaid convinced me to try something really crazy. Diving without fins...So far I have been successfully avoiding that discipline arguing that everything that moves under water has some sort of fin so why shouldn’t I? But I had left my mono fin on land and had done a 40m dive with the bi-fins so I thought... what the

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-90233043223389449312008-06-06T14:00:00.000-07:002009-04-25T14:40:56.738-07:00

Last weekend I was lucky enough to participate in the coolest pool competition there is.See the video, it was just great. Usually pool comps are indoors and after 2 h your head is aching because of the air and you are getting cold quite easy.But not this time! Fresh air, relaxing in the sun and enjoying the sunlit water. Not to mention the bbq by the pool after a long competition day.Thank you

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-35209803604675974592008-04-16T12:32:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:39.851-08:00

This was my day! Everything, really everything worked just how I wanted it. My tactic retreat yesterday was just the best thing to do. I was busy anyways because of both safetying and judging in the water. But it was good not to rush the big dive and get some rest.Then, when I woke up this morning I felt so confident, it was almost scaring me. The training dive to -45m felt more stressful than

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-60073662434574779442008-04-14T14:52:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:40.815-08:00

Today, I felt like I had some strengh back and so schedueled a training dive.I prepared quite intensive for it because I do not have so many days left to do what I came here for.With the wonderful help of my loveley mermaid, I managed to dive down to -45m which is my personal best from last year. The dive went all well until the last 2 meters where I could not equalize any more and then I forgot

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-23014922911858111942008-04-13T13:20:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:41.077-08:00

So now I have finally made it out to the El Dorado of the freediving world. Dahab really rocks and I had a very good first training reaching -40m easily.BUT then... Dahab is unfortunately a place where you get diarrhea as well. And that is no good for freediving . So I was totally paralyzed yesterday and had to skip training today as well.But then I was getting in the water to have a go at the “

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-52465029742454144882008-04-04T08:08:00.000-07:002008-04-04T11:23:44.054-07:00

On my journeys through the world wide web, I have just come across a wonderful website about IWASE Yoshiyuki (岩瀬禎之) and his work. Taken between 1931 and 1964, his pictures are a very rare documentation of the life of Japanese Ama (海女) who most people know as "pearl divers" but where in fact also harvesting seaweed and sponge.In most documentations and literature about freediving these women are

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-59533262349923977812008-03-20T10:21:00.000-07:002008-03-20T14:54:36.678-07:00

The size of the goals is that of a normal standard ice hockey goal. Seems like the austrians had those as a left over from the under water ice hockey.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-77384563071254588682008-03-20T03:34:00.000-07:002008-03-20T13:58:04.450-07:00

As Elisabeth posted on her blog, the Oslo Freediving Club took a trip last weekend to the Training facility of the Norwegian Navy in Håkonsvern, Bergen.Georgios posted a video on YouTube now and I hate myself for being stuck here with work. I so much wanted to be there with these guys.Anyways, I hope to see some of them in Dahab at the Bizzy Blue Hole and one day get another go on this beautifull

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-39340636435821266112008-03-18T10:05:00.000-07:002008-03-18T10:36:59.856-07:00

Ok, so here is the first draft of the rule set:Size of the field: 5x10mWe will be playing two half times of 20 minutes.Both teams consist of three players. Two of them will be playing and one is going to be exchanged. Very likley we will be exchanging a lot.There will be no corner balls but free kicks. The penalty kick will be from 1,1 meters. There will be not goal keeper. In the event of a

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-48358029248776262412008-03-15T16:33:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:41.629-08:00

Just when I thought things were getting kind'a quiet I got a call from the notorious self made freediving professional Christian Redl.As the season for underwater ice hockey seems to be over, the publicity expert has been thinking up a new thing. This year Austria and Switzerland will be hosting the UEFA European Football Championship. What reason moor you need to think up underwater football?And

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-5848889716428458492008-02-25T02:58:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:19:17.254-07:00

The results are online. I will write a little more about the comp when I find some time... there must be some left somewhere, I just cannot find it under all those papers on my desk.... ;)

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-68901174444251964172008-02-23T02:25:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:19:38.586-07:00

As promised, here is the link to the TV spot featuring Anna von Boetticher - and me sitting in the back ground....You will need to download the Real Player to view the video.Enjoy...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-25021454458506072022008-02-21T04:06:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:20:10.032-07:00

Yesterday, Anna asked me if I could assist her during a shooting for a Berlin based TV station.The rbb is planning to broadcast a 3:30 min report on Anna right before the German Championship this Friday, 18:30 am. I will post the link here once the clip is online.The shoot was taking place in Berlins biggest facility for indoor water sports, The Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark. It

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-85174232362109568632008-01-28T08:18:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:26:43.837-08:00

One of the good things when attending freediving competitions is that you meet a lot of friendly people and very often you hear them saying things like "...hey, you should come to our competition..." or "...yeah, and you can stay in my place..." and usually you would be thankful but not take advantage of the offer.Well, this time, I did. And it was great! Geneva is a lovely city, easyjet is

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-66413092348494333002008-01-07T17:03:00.000-08:002008-01-07T17:59:18.593-08:00

Looking back at the last year there where some very cheerfull moments and also some quite doulbtfull ones. Here is one that I kept thinking about for quite some time.At the Rhein Main Cup (RMC) I was judgung both static and dynamic dives. On the picture above you see me giving a red card to an athlet after he had completet what could only be called a perfect dive. How did that happen?Well, at the

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-88822649995199336412007-12-31T10:19:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:26:44.432-08:00

Hi Everyone. It is time to send some greatings to you all. I hope you had a nice christmas with all your loved ones and did not eat too much so that the next dive/competition will not be influenced too much.The winter makes it usually a bit difficult to train but as you can see I found myself a new water sport I can enjoy. It is just a bit funny that when ever you want to do soemthing with that

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-56677475753690998142007-12-02T08:30:00.000-08:002009-04-23T13:03:55.280-07:00

Very long have I been searching for the perfect freediving song. Now, Eva found it! And it comes with an freediving video as well. Enjoy!Thank you, thank you, thank you, Eva!!!

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-36780538110205793542007-11-19T12:04:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:13:13.943-07:00

It was a very welcome surprise when I got the email four days before the competition. Sevens athletes from Venezuela where asking whether they could still sign up for the LNA. I forwarded the mail and was assuming they were on a round trip or coming through Germany on their way back from the World Championship in Egypt or something like that.But NO! These guys came just for this one competition!

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-589408067499320242007-11-12T10:36:00.000-08:002009-04-06T09:13:52.003-07:00

At last, all that training was worth it. Last weekend was the 10th time that the Long Night of Apnea took place here in Berlin and I had a wonderful competition with two new PBs and a little red card.It started all really well. I did not train static at all during the last weeks and so I did not put too much stress in there. Announced 2 min and told Elisabeth, who was coaching me, to give me a

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-82797336853061843032007-11-06T13:30:00.000-08:002009-04-26T06:52:57.980-07:00

Ok, you want more mermaid pictures? Here is one of my favorites.This photo I took with my mobile phone just when she came out of her Silver medal winning 174m dive. I am so proud!

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-25151512298670590792007-11-01T15:44:00.000-07:002007-11-01T15:49:47.933-07:00

During the last weeks it happened ever more often that people would tell me "Yeah, I was reading that on your blog..."But hey, how can I know people read what I publish when noone is leaving anything here. So please, tell me how you liked what you read. Tell me what you want more and what I sould stop. More videos/ less videos. More pictures, more personal stuff, more official stuff...I need your

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-2715094043736286312007-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:49.306-08:00

It is Saturday morning, 6 o'clock and the alarm is waking me up. There must be a mistake why would it do that? It is time to get up to go to training.So me and Elisabeth grab the mono fins and get going after a small breakfast. We meet outside the pool of the FEZ Berlin with a bunch of fin swimmers who look equally happy about the fact to be starting training on a Saturday morning close to 8

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-10652620310059306812007-10-21T11:33:00.000-07:002007-10-23T12:20:19.046-07:00

I totally forgot to post the second wreck dive that me and Elisabeth did in Croatia this summer. So here is a little teaser in case you are not decided about where to go on your next free diving holydays.The Baron Gautsch was an Austrian cruise liner that happened to run into a freshly laid-out mine field just at the beginning of the conflict that later developed to World War I in 1914.The day we

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-21755565512646196012007-10-20T14:24:00.000-07:002007-11-01T15:53:07.462-07:00

So today was the first training after I cought a cold in Danmark. I was really not happy about the fact that I did not get to train too much lateley because the Long Night of Apnea is drawing ever closer. But then!!! HAHA! After the usual warm-up (400m swim) and bustimng my ass doing the dolphin kick without a fin (8x25m) I did my technique training with the fin (6x50m) and that felt so good and

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-29200642984422978282007-10-15T15:29:00.000-07:002007-10-15T15:40:48.983-07:00

When I was in Lysekil I participating in the first real life test of a counter ballast system (CBS) and it became clear to me that we will need more of these tests in order to gather more information and gain a better understanding of how these things work.As I have been building a CBS on my own for the competition in Wildschütz I was even more curious (and a little nervous) about the outcome of

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-69131491131455002562007-10-14T14:03:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:49.557-08:00

When I was in Lysekil at the Nordic Deep I had some nasty encounters with that wobbling mass that is called a fish… jellyfish. (The English language is so poor that they have to call everything that lives in the sea a fish… tsiss…)I was not very happy about that meeting and it left a somewhat negative impression on me. I was quite happy to know that my next competition in Wildschütz would be in

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-45290085034484617032007-10-04T04:59:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:49.721-08:00

No, this is not a scene from a competition. This is a very normal training day in the Århus Freediving Club, Denmark. As my most favorit mermaid is studying here I have the chance to train with these guys and I would be stupid not to take that.I totally understand now why the Danes are the reigning team world champion! The atmosphere is just wonderful and very productive. It is actually hard to

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-39202560583413216942007-10-01T23:52:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:49.838-08:00

This weekend I had the pleasure to be a athlete again at a competition. That was quite nice after being involved in organizing and judging the last couple of weeks.Due to the lack of training (just started a new job) my performances where lousy (except for one PB in DNF)! For some reason I had in my head that there will be a second attempt for static on Sunday which made me give up my "first"

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-54693727031896990172007-09-25T04:52:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:50.028-08:00

As one of the appointed judges was unable to make it I was asked to judge at the Rhein Main Cup (RMC). I heard a lot about the supreme organization of this competition but still was astonished to find it exceed the expectations. One can learn a lot from just visiting the event.With Susan Kluytmans, Pim Vermeulen and Hans Pütz I had three very experienced judges on my side. It was a pleasure

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-8753635183698901422007-09-15T03:04:00.000-07:002007-09-15T03:10:34.711-07:00

As I am planning to move my blog to a different provider I have registered this URL in order to have one refferenc for you to go to.Blogger has no statistic and so I am getting no feedback how many people are reading this and what they are interested in the most.I am not so sure when it is going to happen and where I move to but if you use this URL, you will allways be directed to the right site.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-24406412000595373492007-09-03T15:05:00.000-07:002007-10-02T13:21:48.714-07:00

What a wonderful day to go training. It was all rainy all day long. So I got my suit and headed for my peace of paradise... the pool!After the usual static training (two warm up dives and three dives with at least 2 min fighting to 4'+) I went to practice the mono technique a little moor. Elisabeth taught me a quite nice way to check myself and focus on different aspects.So I started with 200m

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-89534724187938839732007-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:002007-10-20T15:37:26.979-07:00

I am going to order another big, big number of those nose clips. The clips are made of a special kind of plastic that is used for medical implants. The guy who makes them is doing this after work and mostly for the fun of it. He actually works as a dental technician, I think.So if you want one, choose your colour and let me know to which competitions you are going next.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-69996687775817525172007-08-29T08:28:00.000-07:002008-03-21T08:34:53.934-07:00

Today, the Oppland Arbeiderblad, one of Norways largest news papers features an article about a young and quite successful freediver. Check out the copyright for the picture.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-34002188748352350512007-08-27T10:21:00.000-07:002007-10-02T05:33:41.743-07:00

At Nordic Deep I had the opportunity to judge for the first time.I was judge in the water fro the deep dive comp and judging the static comp on the 18th.I am very happy about having the opportunity to work with such an experienced team as there is in Lysekil. It made me feel very calm and reassured.So this is two points and a little step closer to judging my first world record attempt… sometime

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-10685911012577677792007-08-22T08:07:00.000-07:002007-10-15T05:31:04.970-07:00

Much has been said about the effects of the lanyard and the CBS but I know of no real field test, not until now. After a long competition day, Sebastian Näslund, organizer of the Nordic Deep, decides to change that. He asks me to fix a lanyard around his waist and the bottom plate to be dropped to 50m. He instructs the boat crew of when to release the CBS and then he goes down. Stig Severinsen

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-68636027021022669732007-08-19T07:55:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:50.651-08:00

Today was the last day of the competition and Elisabeth and me where going into the water with high expectations. Elisabeth wanted to dive to a personal best to 57 m after her 54 m dive yesterday and so set a new national record. I wanted to coach her on this dive and then later ether safety dive or even judge again as I did on yesterday.The sea was actually very calm today and it all looked like

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-37297652692511961332007-08-16T08:02:00.000-07:002007-08-23T06:00:48.631-07:00

Yes, I did it! It was not as easy as usually. I had a lot of air in my mouth when I came to 37m but could not equalize any longer. But I wanted the tag so I took the risk and dropped the last meters without. That of course did not feel so good and made my ascend much more hectic then it usually is. On the way up I felt that I was holding two tags in my hand. I had grabbed and ripped off what I

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-77766693026822657152007-08-06T06:54:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:50.750-08:00

After a very long and very tiring weekend in Hemmoor I came home with a big smile on my face.The reason for this is easy to guess. I did dive to a new personal record of -45m!We arrived in Hemmoor on Friday night and jumped in for a night dive. On Saturday we did one very nice dive at the Rüttler, a concrete building (thingy) under water starting at -18m going down to -32m and I picked up a nice

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-76451020625309830362007-08-06T06:34:00.000-07:002007-08-23T06:41:55.099-07:00

As of today I am a member of the board of AIDA Germany. My official title is Vice President Public Relations. Is'nt that great!?!It is incredible how easy one can obtain such a position these days… I had prepared a speech and a presentation; I was ready to answer questions about my freediving past, my family, my plans for the future, my vision for AIDA… all in vain. All I had to do was say “yes”

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-20179457269981228412007-08-02T15:32:00.000-07:002007-08-03T01:15:46.798-07:00

Yes, now it is official, I will organize a deep diving competition this year.God knows what drove me to start the idea but now it is actually running and a lot of people are helping me.I have posted a thread on Deeper Blue for more information and I will talk about the difficulties, an organizer faces, here.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-86078612309678990632007-08-02T12:15:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:51.381-08:00

When you think of a world championship, you'd think of world class athletes, world class judges, world class safety and world class organisation. Well, not in Egypt you don't...I applied for the safety after having funktioned as safety diver at various indoor competitions in Berlin and at the German Championship 2007. The organizer spoke very highly about the safety teams and what the plans where

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-37233067587964194112007-07-31T02:31:00.001-07:002007-07-31T02:47:10.918-07:00

125 m deep, 300 m wide and purley made of coral... I am searching for tickets right now. Who wants to come?

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-89415918054528858352007-07-21T15:03:00.000-07:002007-07-21T15:22:11.103-07:00

Today at training I did a wonderful -40 m CWT dive. The thing that makes me feel so good about it is the fact that this was really easy!I had a very good feeling when I first dipped into the water. My first preparation dive, I wanted to do to -20 m. It all went so smoothly that I had to stop myself at about -27 m.Today I really felt like I am actually gaining onto my big goal this year - to hit -

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-7172805765084034042007-07-20T03:03:00.000-07:002008-12-12T19:26:51.645-08:00

We are missing our beloved turtle (green). She was last seen on 28th of June at the pool of the Horizont Appartment Resort in Pula. She ran away while we where busy training for the WC. If you find her, please bring her back to us.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-28997774940632325262007-07-18T10:41:00.000-07:002007-07-19T07:16:58.114-07:00

I am putting a number of videos on YouTube. Most of them are taken in Pula, Croatia, where I spend a wonderful week with Elisabeth diving at night, on wrecks and inside caves and tunnels.Most of the more intersting ones I could not upload so far as they are more then 100 MB big. It bugs me, though, as I know quite a number of videos on YouTube that are much longer. I have to find a solution here.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-15814881934478124492007-07-17T15:44:00.000-07:002007-07-19T07:17:19.952-07:00

And one more with 25m.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-8989591644172729062007-07-17T04:24:00.000-07:002007-07-17T08:15:29.635-07:00

... was the 7th Berlin Master Cup in February 2005 and it was a total disaster.I was very inexperienced in freediving competitions and had only been safety at two events the previous year. I was quite happy about my training results (STA: 4:02, DYN: 82m) at the time and wanted to show that... It all went wrong.For static I did not have a coach (mistake #1) and could not understand my count down

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-41849444901636042832007-07-03T04:17:00.000-07:002009-04-26T06:53:23.276-07:00

After a very intense course with „The President“, Bill Strombörg, I am now an AIDA international level E judge.I am looking forward to use these skills in the future and travel to all those exotic places on the expense of the athletes… ;) I'll give some cards in return...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-31855832252553478972007-06-29T05:22:00.000-07:002007-08-23T04:15:38.064-07:00

This video we took at a dive site in Pula, Croatia. There we found three tunnels. The shortest and shallowest was in -3m depth (video). As we went through the second one (this one), I saw a sort of window in the upper corner. Needless to say that we had to find out what that was (video). And then the whole thing got really crazy. We went back (video) and forth, back into the cavern (video), back

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-21327232959906419992007-06-28T10:27:00.000-07:002007-08-23T04:14:33.137-07:00

The sea was kind of choppy and the rope was going down at a 30° angle but we had our first wreck dive at a beautiful wreck south of Pula.The Draga was a stone freighter until it sank to 39 m depth. We did not went down to her all the way since the current was making preparations for the dives difficult and the rope (though we used it to pull down) was going down with quite an angle. So we went to

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-20142596147148530302007-06-17T08:07:00.000-07:002009-01-27T13:14:19.324-08:00

This is the safety and jury from the German Championships 2006. I was helping the organization as one of the safety divers (very left). That experience helped me a lot gaining more knowledge about freediving competitions and safety procedures.I safetied all three disziplines (DYN, STA and CWT/CNF). I'm happy that I only needed to act once when an athlet BOed after surfacing.

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730778341021012525.post-70682691206253726142007-06-01T10:03:00.000-07:002007-08-23T04:12:36.960-07:00

This is my first entry. You should not see any entries older then this. If you do see any entries older then this one, something if definately wrong.Give me some time to figure this thing out and we can start with the good stuff.I have a lot to tell...

martin_gkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138926633367974714noreply@blogger.com0