Return To The Deep   30 Jun 2016

Return To The Deep

7.40am Thursday, 21 July 2016, TVNZ Breakfast

Refusing to accept the limits, nor rest on his current world records, 17-time world record-holding freediver and current freediving world champion William Trubridge will attempt the ultimate sequel. At 7.40am Thursday, 21 July 2016, Trubridge will freedive completely unassisted to 102m in a single breath, into the deepest blue hole on earth. Kiwis will be able to tune in to TVNZ Breakfast to see William’s attempt.

Trubridge’s two most recent records, back-to-back successful dives at the Vertical Blue event in May, were achieved at Deans Blue Hole in the Bahamas. His second dive was to an incredible depth of 122m / 400ft in The Free Immersion (FIM) discipline - where he uses a rope to assist with descent and ascent.

Dean’s Blue Hole will again be the stage where William attempts a freedive of the purest form, the sequel to a dive not achieved in December 2014. It was then that Steinlager Pure brought William Trubridge to the attention of New Zealand, as Kiwis and fans around the world held their breath as he plunged into the dark waters of Dean’s Blue Hole.

Steinlager Pure is proud to be standing with William and applauds his determination to return to the deep, holding true on his promise to New Zealand to dedicate his next attempt to all of the fans. Michael Taylor from Steinlager says, “The world record attempt in July is the Gold medal attempt for Will – the ultimate free diving discipline – clearly his recent dives are a sure sign his current form is on track to give it his best and make good on his promise.”

“Trubridge embodies the type of New Zealander that Steinlager supports, as they stand up on the world stage and take on the seemingly impossible. We wish him all the very best in his training and will be behind him every nail-biting second of the way.”

In 2014 William was painstakingly close to the world record 102m freedive, he made it to the marker with what seemed like ease and it was only in the last 10m of his ascent that the hurdle proved insurmountable. William started pulling on the safety rope and was assisted to the surface by safety divers; he’d come so close. Trubridge says, “I gave that dive my best shot, and I knew as soon as I got back on the pontoon that I would go down again. I’m determined to do it, even more encouraged by the support New Zealand showed me!”

On 21 July 2016 William will plunge into the depths again, in an awe-inspiring and death defying feat. With two bare feet and one breath of air, William will descend into the dark salt-water sinkhole, to give fans an idea of the depth, it’s the equivalent of two Tane Mahuta’s, New Zealand’s largest Kauri tree*!

For the first 10m, the air in his lungs still buoyant, William will pull hard with his arms. After 15m the air will start to compress, making him less buoyant. At this point gravity takes over, and Williams’ weightless body will sink deep into the darkness. By the time he hits the marker at 102m, his chest will have shrunk to less than half it’s original size, his heart will be beating at a mere 25 beats per minute (well below the average resting heart rate of a fit adult). There will be no light, no sound, just the dark.

Steinlager Pure will be with all of New Zealand, rallying the support to will our world champion to the depths and back. Join Steinlager Pure on the journey.

Save the date: 7.40am Thursday, 21 July 2016, TVNZ Breakfast

www.steinlager.co.nz

www.williamtrubridge.com

ENDS

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