Barbórka Silesia Cup in Freediving 2017 - report

Last weekend, in Rybnik, freedivers met for the eighth time to compete in the team competition of the Silesian Barbórka Cup. In the swimming pool in Boguszowice nearly 50 competitors competed in 3 disciplines – DYN (dynamic in fins), DNF (dynamic without fins) and STA (static).

The competition was international and among the participants there were representatives of Germany, Great Britain, Scotland and Norway. What proves the growing popularity of freediving in Poland, however, is the increasing number of newcomers, which grows with every new competition.

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The competition was a team competition and freedivers formed teams of three. In order for a team to be included in the general classification, there had to be at least one woman in each team. Thus, 10 teams were formed, consisting of more and less experienced competitors. There was no nationality criterion and one team could include representatives of different countries.

In the team classification, the first two places were won by teams consisting of the national team from the last World Cup in Turku – “Do your best, forget the rest” composed of: Magdalena Solich-Talanda, Michał Dąbrowski and Mateusz Malina and “Samba de janeiro” created by Julia Kozerska, Krzysztof Dąbrowski and Karol Karcz.

The fight for the remaining places was very fierce. Eventually, the 3rd place was taken by “No tea, no free” for which Justyna Oleś, Michał Bochenek and Jacek Polak fought, and only 5 points behind them “Water Monkeys Freebody”, that is Agnieszka Kalska, Marcin Baranowski and Michał Mrozowski.

The competition was full of life records, but also a lot of colourful cards. Often because of a technical error, or simply because the right moment to surface was missed.

The closest to the record result was Magdalena Solich-Talanda, who in her first start reached 225 metres in the monoplane. Only 7 metres less than the current Polish record in this discipline and this brought a deserved victory in this competition as well as first place in the women’s general classification. Second place was taken by Agnieszka Kalska, and the third place on the podium went to Beci Ryan from the “London Freediving” team.

Among men Mateusz Malina was the winner, less than 30 points behind – Michał Bochenek. Third place was achieved by Krzysztof Dąbrowski only 5 points ahead of his team mate – Karol Karcz.

A separate ranking classified the performances of rookies – the first place was won by Marta Kolasińska from “Freebody Poznań” team, and the second place was taken by Anna Kin from “Blackout” team. Men’s rookies classification was won by Tomasz Połata, second place was taken by Cezary Łyniewski from “Freebody – Eko Basket Team” and third place by Tomasz Ratajak representing “Freebody Poznań” team.

It was a historic freediving competition in Poland, which, apart from the largest number of rookies and a high total number of competitors, was reported live via the Internet.

The competition was covered by the Diveye team, which deals with the professional transmission of freediving events from underwater, thanks to a specially constructed and dedicated robot.

Here the coverage took place just under the water and from above the surface, with commentary and interviews with the athletes led by Radosław Gaca. The coverage is available for replay at Diveye’s fanpage.

The competition would not have taken place without the involvement of many people, and above all, the organizers. Polan Freediving Associationd and MOSiR in Rybnik, judges, assistants and belayers, medical security and the main sponsor BANDI and others who funded valuable prizes for all participants.

Next year the St. Barbara’s Cup will certainly be held again, around the Miner’s Day. Until then, however, we have a number of other freediving competitions, about which we will not fail to inform you.

The next one is on 27th January, on Lake Hańcza. Weather permitting, these will be “Extremallne” dives on one breath – because on time and under ice! We already invite everyone to follow this “blood-chilling” event.

Photo: Agnieszka Kalska, Patrycja Radiowska-Polak