Inscriptions closed

Imagine some of the greatest international freediving champions in the world: Martin Stepanek (Czechlosovakian freediver, multiple world record holder), Carlos Coste (Venezuelan freediver, multiple world record holder), Guillame Nery (French, constant weight world champion), Patrick Musimu (variable weight “no limits” record of 209 meters), Mandy-Rae Cruickshank (constant weight female world record of 88 meters), William Trubridge (constant weight record of 82 meters without fins), …

Add some of the most important Italian freedivers in the world: Umberto Pelizzari (16 attempts with 16 world records in all the different freediving disciplines), Michele Tomasi (CMAS dynamic apnea world champion ), Paola Parenti (CMAS female world champion of Jump Blue), Paola Tagliabue (CMAS female dynamic apnea world champion), Stefano Tovaglieri ,…

Now combine these names with those of the best spearfishermen of all time: Stefano Bellani, Renzo Mazzarri, Riccardo Molteni, Maurizio Ramacciotti (all at some point world individual or team champions of spearfishing),…

Then, add some of the best researchers and technicians of the freediving world: two Apnea Academy researchers, Dr. Nicola Sponsiello and Dr. Danilo Cialoni (organizers of the “Blue 2005” World Conference), Prof. Di Prampero (one of the greatest world experts in physiology), the University researchers Prof. Guido Ferretti, Prof. Frederic Lemaitre, and Prof. Tino Balestra (Dan Europe). The technicians Kirk Krack (trainer of athletes such as Stepanek, Cruickshank, Le Master and others), Mimmo Blanda (trainer of the Fipsas national team), Walter Mazzei (trainer of the Italian monofin team), the head of Milan Lab athletic trainers (physical trainer of Milan F.C.)

Relators' Curricula vitae

No, it is not a movie! Apnea Academy is gathering all these luminaries for the International Conference “Apnea Training” to be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro on the 1st and 2nd December 2007. These speakers will bring their vast knowledge and experience together to discuss training techniques and theory for both freediving and spearfishing. The conference will be closed with a reasoned summary of the issues discussed that could serve as general guideline for the future.

During the two-day session the participants will have the opportunity to interact, discuss and question all the champions, coaches and scientists: in particular, on Saturday afternoon, from 5 pm to 8 pm, the olympic swimming pool of the GeTur centre will be open to let athletes and participants hold a training session and try the different equipment available.

On Saturday evening, from 9.30 pm to 11.30 pm, all the athletes will show their most significant videos and answer the public’s questions. One of the aims of the Conference, in fact, is to create the opportunity for quality exchange.

Apnea Academy is bearing the organisation of the event, which aims to fill the cultural vacuum that still exists in the world of freediving and spearfishing.

How to train, for how long and with what workloads; how to design a complete training schedule; how to dive just to have fun or to win a competition: these are the issues that will be discussed in detail and clarity.

In the world of freediving and spearfishing, we have few certainties and there are gaps in our understanding. We may not find any ‘ultimate truths’ during this conference, but we will be able to establish clear training guidelines, that aren’t just based on theoretical math models or psysiological assumptions. On the contrary, the training programs will be suggested by athletes who dive every day to improve their performance.

Everybody is invited: professional and amateur spearfishermen and freedivers, technicians and trainers, individual athletes and all the sporting organisations and associations that deal with apnea.

The chairman of the discussion will be Umberto Pelizzari, supported by all his staff.

The official languages of the Conference will be English and Italian.

Apnea Academy would like to thank the athletes, trainers and researchers who have accepted our invitation to the Conference “Apnea Training”.

Furthermore, we would like to underline that all the people that will take part in the meeting will do so for no financial reward or payment.

This shows once again that in the fascinating world of apnea you share a desire for knowledge and cooperation with even the most famous personalities of the sport.

After “Blue 2005”, the 1st scientific conference on apnea, “Apnea Training” will be a milestone in the development of a “culture of freediving”.

Download Inscription Form