World's First Underwater Gymkhana (GKN DPV Racing) Open Championship — Pushing the Speed Limits of Underwater Competition

World's First Underwater Gymkhana (GKN DPV Racing) Open Championship

On December 18, 2022, the world's first Underwater Gymkhana (GKN DPV Racing) Open Championship was held at the Taichung City North District National Sports Center. A total of 9 teams entered the competition, with 21 elite divers competing under the leadership of their respective team captains. The event was elevated to a high level of professionalism and international standing by the presence of the GKN international judging panel — Jason Park, Brian Kim, and Munhong Kim — who traveled to Taiwan to officiate.

Gymkhana is originally a form of motorsport in which traffic cones and obstacles are used to test a driver's skill and speed limits. The first international Gymkhana Grand Prix was held in Taiwan, and now the first Underwater Gymkhana has also been born here — a true point of pride for Taiwan.

The competition format was divided into two categories: hand-held and tow-style. The course consisted of seven challenge stations: a forward tunnel, an inverted tunnel, consecutive slalom poles, Gate 1 — forward somersault position, Gate 2 — backward somersault position, a tornado spin, and a right-angle turn (course connector).

Each competitor had 15 minutes within which they could choose to compete directly or warm up first. Once ready, they pressed the underwater stopwatch to begin their run. During the run, competitors were required to follow the route set by the organizers, passing through each obstacle in the correct posture. Straying outside the laser-defined boundary lines was not permitted, and any failure to meet the required posture standards resulted in time penalties of varying severity. Each competitor had 3 attempts, with their best time counting as the final result.

BlueTrend also provided comprehensive technical support for the event, including the use of an underwater broadcast system to help divers hear instructions more clearly, as well as the installation of 6 underwater cameras and a production control desk to enable the first-ever live land broadcast of an underwater competition in Taiwan. In addition to a demonstration livestream held the day before the event, the underwater competition footage was streamed in real time onto a large projection screen at the venue on competition day, allowing spectators to watch the action as it unfolded. Throughout the event, team captains, family, and friends could be seen cheering at the video wall, while competitors themselves watched each other's performances on the feed and reflected on how to improve.

It was widely noted among competitors that Station 4 — Gate 1, backward somersault position — was the most challenging, as the laser boundary lines are invisible during the backward roll, making it easy to accidentally break them. Hand-held category champion Chen Yi-Wen noted that the backward somersault is not only prone to accidental contact with the lasers, but that the faster you go, the harder it becomes to maintain the correct posture — even a slight loss of control sends the DPV veering off course.

Tow-Style Category Champion

Tow-style category champion Liu Bang-Zhi also shared that compared to the invitational tournament he participated in previously, the DPV (diver propulsion vehicle) he used this time was significantly faster, making the backward somersault even more demanding. Unlike other competitors, he had to make a much wider arc during the roll to avoid triggering the laser lines, which led the cheering crowd on the sidelines to feel as though he was about to breach the surface — adding no small amount of excitement to the competition.

The DPV (Cuda-X) used by tow-style champion Liu Bang-Zhi gave the distinct impression of an underwater sports car — his speed was visibly higher than that of other competitors. Liu himself acknowledged that a faster DPV is indeed a significant advantage, but that the greater speed and water resistance demand far more refined control skills and a more streamlined underwater posture in order to perform consistently.

In the final results, Chen Yi-Wen took the hand-held category championship with a time of 2 minutes 19 seconds, while Chang Yu-Chen placed second with 2 minutes 45 seconds. In the tow-style category, Liu Bang-Zhi claimed the championship with a time of 1 minute 26 seconds; Shih Pin-Cheng earned second place with 1 minute 48 seconds; and Huang Shih-Hsuan and Lin Feng-Yi took third and fourth place with times of 1 minute 57 seconds and 1 minute 58 seconds respectively.

Hand-Held Category Champion

Hand-held category champion Chen Yi-Wen also competed in the tow-style category, and noted that each type of equipment has its own strengths — the hand-held unit is compact and easy to maneuver, while the tow-style unit offers greater speed and power. Chen Yi-Wen joked that she owes her win partly to her parents for making her so petite, adding that a smaller, lighter frame genuinely helps when piloting a DPV, as it allows the unit to reach its full speed potential. Tow-style champion Liu Bang-Zhi said the competition represented a major breakthrough for him in both DPV operation and diving technique. Although individual results are what the competition ultimately measures, the support of one's team is truly invaluable.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the organizers putting on such a professional event — they are the ones who worked the hardest, and we are grateful for the opportunity to take part in such a remarkable competition. Liu also expressed his aspiration to become a team captain in future GKN DPV Racing events, helping more people experience the joy and sense of achievement that underwater competition brings.

Starting from Taiwan, rising onto the world stage — letting the world see Taiwan.

Liao Yi-Hong, Section Chief of the Taichung City Government's Sports Bureau, attended the awards ceremony to present prizes, demonstrating the Taichung City Government's strong support for the world's first Underwater Gymkhana. GKN DPV RACING Championship President Max Wang expressed his hope that Underwater Gymkhana (GKN DPV Racing), having started in Taiwan, will go on to shine on the global stage and show the world what Taiwan has to offer. The Underwater Gymkhana series will also be heading to Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities as part of an Asia tour. Divers everywhere are encouraged to follow the official website and the BlueTrend website for updates and to register to compete.

Related links:

• GKN DPV Racing Official Website
• GKN DPV Racing Facebook Fan Page
• GKN DPV Racing Competition Rules
• 【What's This Gear #12】Underwater Gymkhana DPV Racing Format Introduction｜GKN DPV Racing Competition Introduction
• World's First GKN DPV Racing — Exclusive Player Interview: Liu Bang-Zhi
• GKN DPV Racing Underwater Gymkhana, 2022 Taiwan Invitational Tournament, Concludes Perfectly
• Underwater photography: 海人視界