SURF SURVIVAL
Find comfort in discomfort!
Dive into the exhilarating world of big wave surfing with our Surf Survival course – a 1 day workshop designed to meet the diverse demands of one of the world's most challenging activities. From serene, leisurely rides to explosive, fast-paced, and extreme experiences, surfing encompasses a spectrum of intensity.
Regardless of your surfing proficiency or the waves you conquer, honing your breath-hold and how you move underwater will significantly enhance your safety and enjoyment of surfing.
Drawing upon years of expertise in breathing techniques and high-performance training, we've crafted a workshop tailored to elevate your capabilities, ensuring peak performance when faced with the inevitable challenge of being submerged under a wave.
Torquay, VICÂ
Location:Â The Sands, Torquay
Dates:Â Feb 23, 2025 (9am - 4pm)
Investment:Â $275Â
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“To sit in silence at the shore, watch the waves and hear the surf, is to appreciate the very breath and heartbeat of the earth.”
Doe Zantamata
AFTER COMPLETING THE COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TRAIN WITH MICHAELA ON A WEEKLY BASIS
Please bring your own swimming gear – goggles, swimmers, short wetsuit
| Minimum Age | 16 |
| Days | 1 |
| Theory & Land exercises | 3 hours |
| Pool Training | 3Â hours |
| Min/Max number of participants | 5Â -Â 8 |
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BOOK NOWAbout Michaela
Michaela is no stranger to challenging athletic feats. Born in land-locked Slovakia, she moved to Australia at age 19 where she fell in love with freediving, the sport of diving underwater without breathing apparatus. Now, thanks to many years of hard work and dedication, Michaela can swim 200m underwater, can hold her breath for six minutes and is a qualified freediving instructor and coach.Â
On November the 17th last year, Michaela set a new Guinness World Record by swimming over 2.5 km underwater in less than an hour at Charlestown Swim Centre in Newcastle, NSW. The challenge consisted of 101 laps of a 25-metre pool, coming up for breath for no more than 7 seconds at each end of the pool. Imagine enduring 101 consecutive waves crashing on top of you, with the task of swimming 25m under each and every single one!
She used the DNF (dynamic-no-fins or underwater breaststroke) technique which is considered to be the most difficult form of freediving since no fins are used, just a well-trained mind and body working in harmony with each other. She held her breath for 42 of the 60 minutes, which tested her body’s ability to tolerate high CO2 levels to the maximum.
She uses the same skills in the surf when body boarding, body surfing or catching waves on a surf ski.
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LAND SESSION - WIDEN YOUR HORIZON
- What’s dive reflex and learn how to use it’s power in the surf
- Learn how to strengthen breathing muscles for more powerful and efficient breathing
- Practice pranayama and learn which are the best stretches to increase lung flexibilityÂ
- Master recovery breathing so that you can recover quickly and most effectively between sets
- Train your autonomic nervous system to switch from sympathetic to parasympathetic state
- Learn about the benefits of cold exposure
- Learn what gives you the urge to breathe and why
- Discover many other routines that you can easily implement in your daily life to enhance your life and enjoyment in the surf
We're all equal before a wave.
Laird Hamilton
POOL SESSION - FIND COMFORT IN DISCOMFORT
The pool training is a fun but challenging experience as we do everything on a passive exhale (so that you’ll be ready for much more difficult situations in the surf). The exercises build up to the point that you’ll feel as if you are caught under a large wave and you'll be able to control your body & mind.
Please download and fill in the APNEA INTERNATIONAL ENROLMENT & MEDICAL form before attending the course, click the below button
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
The Surf Survival course was the perfect introduction to understanding the power of breathing, getting the most out of every breath and staying calm for long periods under the water. It is a breath of fresh air for emerging ocean swimmers looking for real usable tips to reduce anxiety in the surf and develop skills to be more efficient under the water.
Andre Slade, Owner Ocean Fit
I have just done a freediving Stage A course with Michaela and it was an amazing experience! She is passionate and very considerate to everyone's needs so despite the tricky weather we have had a great time.
Petr Lan
Loved doing the course with Micheala, she is extremely professional, patient and approachable! What an asset she is to Australian Freediving!
Irene Lowrencev
It’s amazing how much you can get out of a one day course! Definitely will be lots more confident and calm during big hold downs from now on
I’d strongly recommend it for surfers of all levels who want the confidence and ability to push themselves in bigger waves. Plus it was a really fun day.
Tim Dickson, Manager - Slimes Boardstore
Had an awesome day in Adelaide, amazing instructor, learnt heaps about breath holding techniques and surf survival skills, highly recommend this to anyone who loves the ocean. Thanks so much, Michaela, so glad I came!
David Green
I am so glad to have taken this course with my son because I know he and I will be equipped with this knowledge of safe and disciplined freediving.
As a GP, I know her teaching of physiology and emergencies to be spot on. If you want to freedive well and safely, I highly recommend you take this course and practice, practice practice!
Marie Shieh
I didn't have much to say about her perfect technique and steely determination in the training tables!
William Trubridge
That was an amazing session this morning! Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge, and I know this partnership will not only lead to increased swimming performance, but also to improved physical and mental health benefits for my team. You're amazing! :)
