by maxwell

In this article, freediver William Trubridge discusses his sport, the limits he must go to, and the existential conflict inherent in every dive.

During the descent I have to be completely at peace with the idea that what I will do will kill me if I only do it long enough. [In the descent] if I do nothing, and continue falling, then I die. Instead I have to judge it exactly right so that when I turn around my desire to live matches precisely the extent to which I have dared to kill myself.

...

Freedivers do die, but just like in other sports like mountain climbing the rest of us still return to dance along that thin line, and in so doing taste our own existence.

I first read this fantastic piece six years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I hope some hubskiers get some enjoyment out of it.