Rule Britannia: Mermaid is Thy Name
Posted By Paul Kotik on 7 November 2005
Paul: I'm interacting here with Sam Kirby and newly-crowned SaltFree Mermaid Mandy Buckley.
The United Kingdom has this damnable, insufferable habit of doing things right. And first. And, until they can’t be bothered any longer and move on to some other fantastic thing, best.The SaltFree Mermaid project is a perfect, and classic example of British industry, innovation and élan. We all know that freediving is still in its infancy, still an eccentric sport practiced by a handful of people, and that out there in the vast ocean of humanity there are freediving stars undiscovered. SaltFree, that august society of intrepid souls who dive in water – well, if I were served my martini at that temperature I’d have no complaint – has actually gone and done something about it. This despite being completely mad - that water is cold, I tell you. Why, it's but a great hole in the ground off somewhere in the wildnerness. Don't know what it is, exactly, but it is not a tropical ocean.
Sam Kirby, the Duchess of SaltFree, and Mandy have generously given of their time and attention in preparing this global roll-out of the United Kingdom’s new reigning Mermaid. The language difficulties were ever present, but I believe the conversation which follows demonstrates that any obstacle can be overcome with good will and open hearts.
Sam: After several months of ad posting, email applications, phone calls from people desperate not to miss the deadline, pool trials and quite a few virgin plunges into the depths of the NDAC in Chepstow, SaltFree has finally chosen the Mermaid for 2005/2006.
From around 30 initial applicants, Mandy Buckley from Crewe in Cheshire was our final choice, for a variety of reasons. Mandy showed great potential in the pool, with some strong static and dynamic performances, and took to the monofin like the proverbial duck to water. She was also a mean underwater hockey player. Over a couple of meets at Chepstow, Mandy showed us she was just as comfortable in the colder waters of the lake. All of the SaltFree divers involved in the selection agreed that Mandy had the right level of ability, enthusiasm, drive and madness to be the perfect choice. She also had a great name for a female freediver!.
Paul: Indeed. Perfect, another Mandy. Queen Mandy II, perhaps ? Where, then, is our Mermaid at this point in the process ?
- Bookmark with :
- what are these?
