On Saturday, June 30th, the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer will gather the elite of French free diving for an exceptional day organized by the FFESSM and sponsored by actor Jean-Marc Barr.On the agenda
Wednesday, June 27th : gathering of the organizing committee.Thursday, June 28th : sea outing for equipment tests, rehearsals, calibration.Friday, June 29th : organization team meeting – General rehearsal « in situ » – Evaluation of safety divers and equipment tests in the competition area. Welcoming competitorsSaturday, June 30th : French championship events, followed by the award ceremony and the closing meal.Sunday, July 1st : fallback day in case of bad weather. Many activities on the harbor will be offered throughout the weekend.
Free diving events
The discipline involves reaching a depth in free diving, in a natural environment, using only muscular strength. The descent and ascent are done by swimming along a safety line.
Men and women will participate in 3 events:
– Constant weight with monofin;
– Constant weight with bi-fins;
– Constant weight without fins.The headliners of this championship 50 competitors will be present, including:
– Alice Modolo, world vice-champion 2012, French champion 2017 (constant weight monofin), French record at -74 meters in 2017 (constant weight monofin), French record at -60 meters in 2017 (bi-fins)– Arnaud Jerald, bronze medalist at the 2017 CMAS European Championships with -92m in constant weight with bi-fins (French record), French champion 2017.– Thomas Bouchard, bronze medalist at the 2017 CMAS European Championships with -70 meters in constant weight without fins, French champion 2016 and 2017.
– Stéphane Tourreau, vice-world champion in CMAS free diving in 2016 in Kas, Turkey (constant weight monofin), French champion 2016 (constant weight monofin).
– Rémy Dubern, world champion 2015 in constant weight without fins, in Kas, Turkey, triple French champion FFESSM 2013 (CWT – monofin), 2015 and 2016 (CNF – without fins). – Arthur Guérin-Boëri : five-time world champion (pool and sea), world record holder of Jump Blue, dynamic apnea (first man to reach 300 meters in the pool), and dynamic apnea without fins (first man to reach 200 meters in the pool). He has just broken the world record for ice diving and is now focusing on depth, in the specialty of constant weight without fins (breaststroke).
The championship live!To maximize media coverage of these championships and ensure athletes’ safety, competitors will be followed live throughout their performance by a unique underwater camera in the world, the Diveye camera. The live coverage will be provided on the competition boat, but also live on the internet and Facebook. It will be possible to watch the competition live in a public space located on the harbor.Closing evening with Jean-Marc Barr! The award ceremony will take place in the gardens of the citadel. It will be followed at 9:30 pm at the open-air theater by a documentary screening on free diving and then the screening of the film The Dolphin Man, in the footsteps of Jacques Mayol. The evening will conclude with a discussion between actor Jean-Marc Barr and the spectators.
Visit the championship websiteOpening photo © William Rhamey – Azur Diving