Sneak Peek 1 / 2015

W O R L D R E C O R D AT T E M P T

JOHANNA NORDBLADLongest swim under ice - breath held - female

W O R L D R E C O R D AT T E M P T

JOHANNA NORDBLADLongest swim under ice - breath held - female

P H O T O G R A P H E R E L I N A M A N N I N E N

Finnish freediver Johanna Nordblad has been freediving at a top level since the year 2000. This time the challenge was not just to freedive. She did a World Record Attempt, female record, diving under ice for 50 metres without fins or a diving suit.

It’s not an official record yet - freediving associations like AIDA International don’t recognize under ice diving as a discipline. If this dive is recognized by the Guinness World Records then Johanna will be in the Guinness Book of Records along with Stig Severinsen. Severinsen has the male World Record in this discipline 76,2 metres from 2013. Nordblad did her record attempt under the ice of lake Päijänne in Finland at the Päijänne on the Rocks event where as

W O R L D R E C O R D AT T E M P T

JOHANNA NORDBLADLongest swim under ice - breath held - female

usual freedivers from Finland and around the world had gathered to dive.

– I was nervous about the record attempt, even though the distance of the dive is not a problem and I like being in cold water. But when the water temperature is 2 degrees, anything can happen.

The dive was also more challenging because of the fact that it was done without any extra weights which means that is very difficult to obtain a good swimming position and the dive has to be done with empty lungs. The dive was done in a swimsuit, swimming cap and a diving mask.

– The start was delayed a little but it didn’t bother me. There’s always surprises at competitions. You don’t have to worry about them, just concentrate on your own dive.

– At the finish I went past the final hole in the ice. I didn’t check the bottom rope before the dive, I know there was marks on it but during the actual dive you can’t stop and start checking for too long.

– I was still going to dive for the next marking but that was already the end camera after the last hole. So I had to turn back and then come up. Lucky my

safety diver Antero Joki was alert and pulled on my lanyard.

– On year 2004 I did a World Record diving in a pool with fins. Then I did 158 metres. In 2013 World Championships I did 192 metres, but then it was only good for seventh place.

video by Daan Verhoeven

Video of dynamic with fins 192 m, 2013CLICK THE VIDEO TO START.

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THEVIDEO IN NEW WINDOW.

A black hole. And I should jump in there and dive? Looks a bit scary to me.

W O R L D R E C O R D AT T E M P T

JOHANNA NORDBLAD14.3.2015 FINLAND

Lucky there’s more of those holes here. They almost look like some worm holes.

I will jump in the first one and hey I will come up from the next one. Or the one after that.

This is the last one. The first hole, then the 25 m hole, 40 m hole and 50 m hole. In distance it’s not long, but it looks a bit daunting looking at the holes.

And then there’s even one more hole, for the camera. Maybe I just fit out of that one as well.

Ice is thick and beautiful. A dive shop from Lahti, EW Dive, has made these perfect holes.

I had imagined the water being a little bit clearer. I’m trying to make friends with this first hole and imagine myself jumping in.

The water is 2 degrees at the surface and also 2 degrees in the depth of 3 metres where I’m supposed to be diving.

All the safety measures have been thought of carefully.

All the spectators probably think this is more dangerous than what I am thinking.

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About an hour to go before the dive. I’m copying one of the best freedivers in the world, Mikko Pöntinen: I pull my hood all the way to cover my eyes and I hide there.

Thank you Mikko for your example, it’s very safe and cosy here.

About 15 minutes before the attempt I will change my gear.

I put my swimming cap on and my Suunto computer on my wrist.

Back to the relaxation mode.

Everything should be ready. I start my way to the first hole.

Kaj Toivola has built my most important safety gear. It’s a 3 metre long lanyard that is attached to my waist. The other end of it will be attached to the safety rope going from the first hole to the last.

I have my towel, my diving mask and my lanyard with me. That’s all I need.

There’s lots of people around the starting hole.

I’m nervous. The water is so cold. I’m sure of that. And on top of that I’m thinking that to obtain the best possible diving position I have to dive the whole way with almost empty lungs.

The final check, I want to make sure about the safety rope and my diving rope, that everything is correct.

It still looks like a big black hole.

I do my familiar preparations that I do for all my dives. I breath and concentrate.

I’m not nervous anymore. Everything is fine.

Even when the start is delayed by 20 minutes it doesn’t bother my concentration.

Official witnesses Jukka Teriö and Tuomo Riihilahti.

Male World Record holder for under ice diving, Stig Severinsen has come to see me dive and the cameraman for Matila Röhr Productions, Teemu Liakka, is filming the start.

video by Kaj Toivola and Matti Tuulensuu

CLICK THE VIDEO TO START.

Kaj Toivola has his camera in front of the hole. The first 25 metres my first safety diver Matti Tuulensuu films me swim. Ekaterina Romanova is helping at the start and keeps me on track about time.

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THEVIDEO IN NEW WINDOW.

On the surface the spectators follow me slip in the first hole.

When I start diving everyone runs to next hole which is in 25 metres. Antero Joki, who is my safety diver from 25 metres onwards is waiting for me, sitting at the edge of the hole.

I swim past that hole and everyone watching come to the last hole which is in 50 metres.

Antero Joki swims behind me and films the last bit of my dive. On my right there’s my other safety diver, Aki Mäenpää, with his scuba gear and a scooter ready to save me if there’s any problems.

video by Antero Joki

CLICK THE VIDEO TO START.

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THEVIDEO IN NEW WINDOW.

At the surface. Everything is good. The banging sound of the ice under the surface sounded like a magical song sang by whales. The dive was perfect.

There was some confusion with the marking lights of the rope and I went past the last hole and almost all the way the camera. Lucky my safety diver noticed and pulled my lanyard.

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The water doesn’t feel that cold anymore. And the sun on the surface feels warm.

Everything went well and everyone watching can relax now. Especially my sister who is always nervous when I dive.

Thank you safety divers!

We are thanking everyone who were there organizing and assisting at the event, all the cameramen and all the sponsors and spectators who made this happen!

Thank you Stig Severinsen for all the last minute advice and help!

This day was perfect.

Underwater photographers Pekka Tuuri and Juhani Vöihkönen were under the ice photographing my dive. It defi-nately wasn’t the easiest job in these circumstances. Next time I promise to dive a bit slower for you!

Thank you Ekaterina for all your help!

This has been tested now. Diving under ice I mean.

Maybe next year I will do this again.

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