Christian Redl explains his new world record challenge under the ice

Christian Redl will enter the freezing waters of Austria’s Lake Weissensee with one thing in mind; to break his own under-ice free dive world record. His mission requires courage, skill and supreme fitness. Even wearing a 5mm thick wetsuit he will have to overcome bone-numbing cold to reach the record depth of 75m. Christian set the current record of 65m at the same lake 15 years ago. “The biggest challenge is the temperature,” he says. “Everyone knows the phenomenon when you get in a very cold shower, or in a cold pool after a sauna. The lung volume is reduced by a third because everything is tight in the body.” The bitter cold means Christian, who has been training for the February 24 dive for six months, can’t “warm up”. He must start his record attempt without delay, before the frigid air makes his body too cold. With a support crew of five divers, Christian will also be wearing an invaluable tool, a special limited edition Edox Sharkman II diver’s timepiece.