A local freediver is about to get her first taste of competition. For the first time since taking up the sport in 2013, 31-year-old Madeleine Clough of Grande Prairie is in Dominica for the Blue Element Freediving competition.
Clough has never competed in any type of competition before and says she’s excited to give it a try.
“It’s a steep learning curve and I’m really looking forward to just figuring out how it’s judged and how it’s run and just being amongst the atmosphere of other freedivers.”
Clough took up the sport while on a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. For this competition, she arrived on the island, located in the West Indies, in mid-October in order to give herself time to prepare.
“I arrived about a month ago and started getting back into training just to get used to the depths because there’s a lot of adaptation to the changes in pressure when you’re freediving.”
Overall, she says she’s excited to learn about how to compete.
“Training sessions are a lot more laid back, there’s a lot less people around, it’s easier to relax. Whereas, when there’s a media team always around, in the water, above you and judges watching you it’s a little bit more of an intense atmosphere, harder to relax. I’m just looking forward to how I react to that whole new atmosphere.”
The event runs from November 20th to the 27th.