Home Tournaments Calendar Weather Merchandise Sponsors

Go Back   Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum > International Tournaments > CMAS World Freedive Spearfishing Championship

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 6 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
Old 10-07-2007, 11:27 PM   #1
Sheri
So Little Time
 
Sheri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Boca Raton
Posts: 949
Pan Americans

Just heard from the guys! They just finished the Pan American two-day meet in Higuerote, Venezuela. The US World team (Miguel/Mojarra Guinovart, Harolf Dean, Mikey Hickey, and Hank Juntunen) placed high enough to qualify for a position at Worlds 2008....yay!

They only have 25 slots at Worlds, so not all countries can go. They allow 5 countries from the American continent, so based on this meet, the top 5 can go. It was a difficult tournament with few and spooky fish. Mojarra and Mike were sick to their stomachs...told 'em not to drink the water. These guys worked hard and sacrificed a lot just to get there. Unlike most other countries, these guys have to pay their own way AND miss several days work/pay. Anyway, good for them. Worlds (men and women) will take place at Isla Margarita, Venezuela, on November 2008.

This is the best picture I have. This was at the opening ceremony. From left to right: Hank, Mike, Erick Salado (team doctor), Mojarra, Haro, and Pepin Fernandez (team captain).
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	menteamps1.jpg
Views:	1878
Size:	83.5 KB
ID:	62676  
Sheri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 07:13 AM   #2
jfjf
.
 
jfjf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Palm Bch County
Posts: 11,256
Re: Pan Americans

Great News! Congratulations Guys!
jfjf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 09:22 AM   #3
Marco
Registered User
 
Marco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: North Miami, Florida
Age: 58
Posts: 2,868
Re: Pan Americans

You can find much more info here: http://www.pescaloapulmon.com.ve/
__________________
Marco

A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work
Marco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 09:53 AM   #4
Scott
S. Tremaine
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ask TOMOL
Posts: 1,092
Re: Pan Americans

oh yeah http://www.pescaloapulmon.com.ve/chicas.php#

and the lineup-

A continuación la posiciones de la primera jornada.

PAIS ---------------- Nombre ------ Punt ----- Punt.

Venezuela -------- Rafael Alcala-- -11595 ----- 100,00
Brasil ---------- Gabriel Barra-- -9770 ----- 84,26
Brasil ---------- Fernando Thoni- -8420 ----- 72,62
Brasil ---------- Paulo Longo---- -8230 ----- 70,98
Chile ----------- Jorge Rodriguez - -6375 ----- 54,98
Chile ----------- Miguel Soto -5090 ----- 43,90
Chile ----------- Franco Bosquez -4785 ----- 41,27
Colombia -------- Freddy Charris -3815 ----- -32,90
Venezuela ------- Robert Baldan -3085 ----- 26,61
Peru ------------ Carlos Fung -1000 ----- -8,62
Peru ------------ Rafael Herrera -2000 ----- -17,25
USA ------------- Mike Hickey -2000 ----- 17,25
USA ------------- Harol Dean -2595 ----- -22,38
Venezuela ------- Jony Reyes -4790 ----- -41,31
Peru ------------ Paolo Corbatto -5000 ----- -43,12
USA ------------- Miguel Guinovart -5000 ----- -43,12
Colombia -------- German Lemaitre -6000 ----- -51,75
Scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 05:52 PM   #5
Dave Edlund
Registered User
 
Dave Edlund's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Los Gatos, California
Age: 67
Posts: 595
Re: Pan Americans

I'm so proud of you guys! I know you worked hard to qualify for the World Spearfishing Championships in November, 2008 in Venezuela. Now you have a year plus to get ready for the big dance and the chance to compete against the top 20 spearfishing teams in the World! I am out of town now, but look forward to hearing the details of the PAN-AM spearfishing qualifier in more details soon!
Dave Edlund is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 07:51 PM   #6
DRSALADO
Team Maverick America
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami Lakes
Posts: 47
Thumbs up Re: Pan Americans

They worked their behinds off to place at the Pan-Am.
Now on, starts the count down for the worlds.
I feel confident that we can get at the top notches at the worlds.
I feel very proud of the team.
Good Luck
DRSALADO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2007, 10:38 PM   #7
ApneaSpearo
surfunc
 
ApneaSpearo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Miami ----> Boston
Posts: 1,067
Re: Pan Americans

congrats, I hope someone can post some stories from the competition when they return to the states. let's hope that team USA can have a strong finish at worlds as well.
__________________
If any of the images from my posts don't load correctly you can find them at https://imgur.com/user/ApneaSpearo/submitted/oldest

Videos available at https://www.youtube.com/user/ApneaSpearo/videos
ApneaSpearo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 10:04 AM   #8
frogman
Registered User
 
frogman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Boca Raton
Posts: 468
Re: Pan Americans

Great work guys!
The team is made up of some the top S. Florida divers. This bodes well for the Worlds since it will be similar conditions/fish.
Good luck!
__________________
"The greater the ignorance, the greater the dogma." William Osler
frogman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 10:21 AM   #9
Rinaldo
Extreme Freediver
 
Rinaldo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 1,120
Send a message via AIM to Rinaldo
Re: Pan Americans

Great job !!!
Give hope to many South Floridians !
Rinaldo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 11:51 AM   #10
Asturven
Registered User
 
Asturven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 270
Re: Pan Americans

Do not worry Guys,

In Margarita there are a lot more fishes than in Higuerote.

Will be a total different scenario too, several isles and a really strong current. You will be getting in and out of the boat all day long.

Congratulations

Ivan
Asturven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2007, 12:21 AM   #11
Sheri
So Little Time
 
Sheri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Boca Raton
Posts: 949
Re: Pan Americans

To summarize, our guys had very little scouting time, viz was less than ten feet the first day, fish were sparce, they weren't used to judging fish size in kilos (that hurt 'em bad), and several were sick. But they're glad they went, and they came home a lot smarter. They kept up a great attitude and are so charged up for next year.

Coincidentally, I was invited to Isla Margarita during the same week. I got to spend time with Pedro Carbonell, Alberto March, and dive with Joseba Kejereta (this year's National champ from Spain). They will be the team for Spain next year. Pedro has won World's 3 times, so he's like the Lance Armstrong of spearfishing. Alberto March has won Worlds before too, and he's known as probably the world's deepest spearo, comfortable at 40 meters (told me at dinner he's been bent eleven times). Joseba is a world traveling social butterfly, taking a sabatical from work to be a spearfishing vagabond, trading fish for shelter in third world countries. Fascinating guys...what an honor that was. (By the way, I was scouting for future Expo speakers, as well as fish...)

I can see why it's hard for Americans to win at Worlds. In countries like Spain they are used to spearing in tough conditions (very deep and spooky fish) which breeds great athletes, plus, they are completely sponsored and paid so they can spend a lot of time scouting. They have VERY strong support from their government, sponsors, public, etc. In contrast, the US guys are financially stressed trying to scrape up enough money for a single trip. But.....don't underestimate the underdogs!!!! They are world class divers with a lot of talent and a lot of heart.
Sheri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2007, 07:25 AM   #12
Asturven
Registered User
 
Asturven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 270
Re: Pan Americans

Sheri,

In fact that was the second visit of Pedro to Venezuela this year.
I have some pictures of the first one, and after a couple of days they found the "tricks" to fish there.

The main characteristic of Pedro is that he adapts very quickly to the new places, in fact he won the three World Championships in a very different scenarios.

March is just of another World, he is capable to fish all morning in 130 fts with a minimum surface recovery time.

How was everything for you? Did you dive at Los Frailes?

Cheers

Ivan
Asturven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2007, 06:02 PM   #13
Sheri
So Little Time
 
Sheri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Boca Raton
Posts: 949
Re: Pan Americans

Hi Ivan, sorry for trhe slow response. Yes, we did dive at Los Frailes. Have you been there? I thought it would be like Florida. I think it's actually worse than Hawaii for small and spooky fish, and I hardly saw any groupers or snappers. The main fish they like to eat is barracudas (picuas), and they are sooo wary there. I got a big one after stalking them all day long. This kid wanted to hold my cuda for the camera and was bragging on me, saying "la mujer" landed the biggest fish. I guess I scored one for womankind that day. Never thought I would earn such respect by spearing a cuda!

All the Venezuelans were super nice, and there's a talented crop of young guys who will give everyone a run for their money at Worlds. I was extra glad that I can speak Spanish, so I could understand all their stories and get to know them and the Spaniards. It's such a small world when you have a common passion like spearfishing. There's a couple of Venezuelan women too who were away at the Pan Americans, and I hear they are real good. Looking forward to meeting all of them. Should be fun.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC00627ps1.jpg
Views:	1337
Size:	87.3 KB
ID:	63583  

Last edited by Sheri; 12-12-2007 at 12:57 AM.
Sheri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2008, 02:31 PM   #14
keysdiver0106
WWW.SPEARCRAZY.COM
 
keysdiver0106's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Marathon
Age: 39
Posts: 386
Send a message via AIM to keysdiver0106
Re: Pan Americans

Ya you definitely wouldn't get that kinda credit here...Then again I can see hawaiins wishing they could shoot our Parrot fish too. Thats why diving all over is so cool tho!!!

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE EXPO
keysdiver0106 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2009, 07:56 AM   #15
arindam.0000
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
Re: Pan Americans

what a big fish yar like me?or not..
arindam.0000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:14 AM.


The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Social Media Forum Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2002 - 2014 Spearboard.com