The Tías City Council presented this Thursday the III Spanish Outdoor Apnea Championship that is held for the second consecutive year in the waters of Puerto del Carmen. The championship will take place two hundred meters from the coast of Playa Chica on October 19 and 20 from approximately 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will welcome the best athletes in the Spanish territory and some of the world elite.
According to the mayor of Tías, José Juan Cruz Saavedra, "the fact that the III Spanish Outdoor Apnea Championship is held in the waters of Puerto del Carmen is an excellent opportunity for the Canary Islands, Lanzarote and the municipality of Tías to receive the focus of all those people interested in this sports modality".
"This year the number of participants who want to conquer the depths of the waters of Puerto del Carmen is increasing. In addition, there is a significant participation of women. So we couldn't have a better international speaker than this championship, so we will continue working to ensure that it remains in Lanzarote," added the mayor. Around 40 athletes participate in this edition.
Cruz Saavedra, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor Nicolás Saavedra, and the Councilor for Health, Laura Callero, excused the absence of the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Sports, Mame Fernández, and gave way to the president of the Apnea Club in Lanzarote, Elyoenai Aparicio Suárez, who added that "Puerto del Carmen is positioned as an idyllic place for the practice of apnea".
Elyonai Aparicio explained that the championship, of the Spanish Federation of Underwater Activities, is held in four categories: Constant weight with monofins, constant weight with bi-fins, constant weight without fins and free immersion.
As a novelty, he added, this championship will feature the open category where any international athlete can participate, thus doubling the participation and the possibilities of witnessing a great championship with exciting descents, apart from enjoying a tourist place like Puerto del Carmen.
"In addition, in parallel we wanted to open the championship to all citizens, so in the Playa Chica area there will be tents with members of the Pastinaca diving club for those people who wish to carry out sea baptisms (first immersion)," said Elyonai Aparicio.
After the championship, a gala will be held in the Plaza del Varadero on October 20 at 8:00 p.m. that includes an awards ceremony and projection of videos with the best moments of the event.