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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Water sports & recreations > Swimming & diving
One Breath is a gripping and powerful exploration of the strange
and fascinating sport of freediving, and of the tragic, untimely
death of America's greatest freediver Competitive freediving-a
sport built on diving as deep as possible on a single breath-tests
the limits of human ability in the most hostile environment on
earth. The unique and eclectic breed of individuals who freedive at
the highest level regularly dive hundreds of feet below the ocean's
surface, reaching such depths that their organs compress, light
disappears, and one mistake could kill them. Even among freedivers,
few have ever gone as deep as Nicholas Mevoli. A handsome young
American with an unmatched talent for the sport, Nick was among
freediving's brightest stars. He was also an extraordinary
individual, one who rebelled against the vapid and commoditized
society around him by relentlessly questing for something more
meaningful and authentic, whatever the risks. So when Nick Mevoli
arrived at Vertical Blue in 2013, the world's premier freediving
competition, he was widely expected to challenge records and
continue his meteoric rise to stardom. Instead, before the end of
that fateful competition Nick Mevoli had died, a victim of the
sport that had made him a star, and the very future of free diving
was called into question. With unparalleled access and masterfully
crafted prose, One Breath tells his unforgettable story, and of the
sport which shaped and ultimately destroyed him.
Undressed Toronto looks at the life of the swimming hole and
considers how Toronto turned boys skinny dipping into comforting
anti-modernist folk figures. By digging into the vibrant social
life of these spaces, Barbour challenges narratives that pollution
and industrialization in the nineteenth century destroyed the
relationship between Torontonians and their rivers and waterfront.
Instead, we find that these areas were co-opted and transformed
into recreation spaces: often with the acceptance of indulgent city
officials.While we take the beach for granted today, it was a novel
form of public space in the nineteenth century and Torontonians had
to decide how it would work in their city. To create a public
beach, bathing needed to be transformed from the predominantly nude
male privilege that it had been in the mid-nineteenth century into
an activity that women and men could participate in together. That
transformation required negotiating and establishing rules for how
people would dress and behave when they bathed and setting aside or
creating distinct environments for bathing. Undressed Toronto
challenges assumptions about class, the urban environment, and the
presentation of the naked body. It explores anxieties about
modernity and masculinity and the weight of nostalgia in public
perceptions and municipal regulation of public bathing in five
Toronto environments that showcase distinct moments in the
transition from vernacular bathing to the public beach: the city's
central waterfront, Toronto Island, the Don River, the Humber
River, and Sunnyside Beach on Toronto's western shoreline.
Crowood Sports Guides provide sound, practical advice that will
help make you a better sportsperson whether you are learning the
basic skills, discovering more advanced techniques or reviewing the
fundamentals of your sport. Featured in Swimming - Crowood Sports
Guides are information boxes containing Key Points and Top Tips;
sequence photographs and detailed diagrams in colour. There is a
thorough analysis of the four strokes (Butterfly, Backstroke,
Breaststroke and Freestyle). Starts and turns analysis, including
the individual Medley are covered and valuable advice on
techniques, coaching, drills, training, tapering, nutrition and
competition psychology is given. There is also an introduction to
rules and equipment.
The Wild Swimming series travels to Italy to explore freshwater lakes, mountain and lagoons.
Dip in to the emerald-green plunge pools of Sicily and swim at river beaches in Campania. Discover the secret hot springs of Tuscany and amazing waterfalls of the Dolomiti. Explore the hidden shores of Lake Como and Garda.
Perfect for family explorers or romantic adevnturers, this stunning travel book combines beautiful photography with all the practical information you'll need to get off the beaten track, including maps, directions, grid references and walk-in times, and recommendations for canoe trips, campsites and tavernas.
From lap pools to sea pools, the ocean, waterfalls, hot springs and
rockpools, Places We Swim features 60 of the very best swimming
spots around Australia. Each destination entry includes information
on what makes the swimming spot unique, local knowledge, and things
to do, see and eat in the area. The text is complemented by
beautiful photography from some of Australia's most celebrated
lifestyle photographers, which will inspire you to see this country
in a new light. The book also profiles a range of people from an
extreme ocean swimmer to a chef that builds his menu around the
sea. This inspirational reference guide will have you returning to
the water again and again.
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