The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2016

3 OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES PARTNER

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O F F I C I A L WO R L D S E R I E S PA RT N E R

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W O R L D

THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING

S E R I E S

SINCE 2009, THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES HAS PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR AESTHETIC ACTION AND DIVES OF INCREDIBLE COMPLEXITY, SPOTLIGHTING THE SPORT’S TOP ATHLETES AS WELL AS THE MOST PROMISING NEWCOMERS AND IN 2014 IT INTRODUCED A WOMEN’S WORLD SERIES. IN ITS EIGHTH AND BIGGEST-EVER SEASON, THIS RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SPORT WILL CROWN TWO NEW CHAMPIONS DURING NINE DEMANDING COMPETITIONS FOR THE MEN AND SEVEN STOPS FOR THE WOMEN. BETWEEN JUNE AND OCTOBER, THIS PURE EXTREME SPORT WILL HIT WATERS IN NATURAL AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL AS REMOTE AND ICONIC VENUES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE ESSENCE

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3 FALLING FREE AGAINST GRAVITY COMBINED WITH AWE-INDUCING ACROBATICS – THAT’S THE ESSENCE OF CLIFF DIVING. IT’S PURE. IT’S FAST AND IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. CLIFF DIVING’S BEST ATHLETES LEAP AESTHETICALLY FROM UP TO 28 METRES WITH NO PROTECTION AT ALL, EXCEPT THEIR CONCENTRATION, SKILL AND PHYSICAL CONTROL. IN LESS THAN THREE SECONDS, GRAVITY PROPELS THE DIVERS’ BODIES AS THEY FALL THE EQUIVALENT OF EIGHT STORIES, REACHING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 85KPH.

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2016

REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM #REDBULLCLIFFDIVING

TEXAS USA 4 JUNE

COPENHAGEN DEN 18 JUNE

Sﾃグ MIGUEL, AZORES POR 9 JULY

LA ROCHELLE FRA POLIGNANO A MARE ITA 28 AUGUST

PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES GBR 11 SEPTEMBER

MOSTAR BIH 24 SEPTEMBER

SHIRAHAMA JPN 16 OCTOBER

DUBAI UAE 28 OCTOBER

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23 JULY

REVIEW 6

Gary Hunt had a fantastic year winning 6 out of 8 competitions.

2015 was a ground-breaking season which smashed points records more than once and saw the highest diving complexity in seven years. Britain’s Gary Hunt laid down his legacy as a fivetime champion in 2015, with a winning streak of five consecutive victories and six wins out of eight competitions – securing 25 wins in 50 stops since 2009. Completing the 2015 World Series podium were cliff diving legend Orlando Duque and the World Series youngster Jonathan Paredes from Mexico, who secured his first-ever victory in the series during the historic event in Mostar.

Hosted across South America, the US and Europe this pure extreme sport did not only raise its bars when it came to difficulty – Blake Aldridge increased the degree of difficulty to 6.3 with his reverse 2 somersaults and 5 twists, but also awarded a Women’s World Series trophy for diving gracefully from 20m for the second time after 2014. America’s Rachelle Simpson defended her title to become 2015’s Women’s World Series champion ahead of fellow Americans Ginger Leigh-Huber and Cesilie Carlton, the first wildcard to win a stop.

Men The top 6 divers from last year’s World Series were prequalified for the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The remaining four permanent spots were selected based on the 2015 World Ranking Table, which includes all major competitions (Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Marmeeting and FINA events).

Women Based on the overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series results from 2015, the top 5 divers were prequalified for this year’s Women’s World Series. One additional permanent diver was chosen from the FINA World Cup Event in Abu Dhabi to complete the female athletes line-up.

The female Stars and Stripes line-up in Texas (f.l.t.r.): Tara Hyer-Tira, Rachelle Simpson, Cesilie Carlton and Ginger Leigh-Huber.

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ATHLETES’ SELECTION THE CREAM OF THE CROP!

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HIGH STANDARDS From an individual’s passion cliff diving has turned into a recognized sport, which draws people’s attention worldwide. “Being part of the World Series is kind of a prestige thing, it’s the top in our sport. Just like in any other sport there is the one event that everybody wants to participate in and wants to win. This is what every high diver wants to win. Not because you’re on TV or in magazines, no. Everybody in the sport knows your name after you’ve won this one,” explains Orlando Duque.

In 50 competitions between 2009 and 2015, the athletes have pushed the sport to such a high level that American Greg Louganis – four-time Olympic gold medallist and the most successful diver of all time – predicts an even brighter future for cliff diving: “This Series standardized the sport. The height is always

between 26.5m and 28m; they have the fixed degree of difficulty and a good panel of judges.

Consequently, the divers know better what to expect and can prepare better. I think it’s very possible that cliff diving becomes an Olympic sport, now that the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) has included high diving as a professional sport. There is so much more talent coming into the sport. It’s an exciting time for cliff diving.”

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series aims to guarantee the highest possible standard in this sport, spotlighting the sport’s top athletes as well as young talent and in 2014 it introduced a Women’s World Series. It provides them with a platform to excel and express their passion over and over again.

ATHLETES

OVERALL RANKINGS 2015

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As the pinnacle of cliff diving competitions, the 2016 World Series once again features the sport’s elite athletes. Ten men and six women from nine nationalities will excel in performing at the highest level and fighting for glory, challenged by a series of wildcards and also the elements. In its eighth year, the title is decided during nine competitions for the men and seven for the women.

MEN

WOMEN

1. Gary Hunt (GBR) 1320pts.

2. Orlando Duque (COL) 970 3. Jonathan Paredes (MEX) 849 4. Blake Aldridge (GBR) 820 5. David Colturi (USA) 690 6. Andy Jones (USA) 590 7. Michal Navratil (CZE) 510 8. Steven LoBue (USA) 447 9. Artem Silchenko (RUS) 410 10. Sergio Guzman (wildcard) (MEX) 349

1. Rachelle Simpson (USA) 490pts.

2. Ginger Leigh Huber (USA) 420 3. Cesilie Carlton (wildcard) (USA) 400 4. Anna Bader (GER) 310 5. Lysanne Richard (wildcard) (CAN) 290 6. Adriana Jimenez (MEX) 250 7. Yana Nestsiarava (wildcard) (BLR) 200 8. Tara Hyer-Tira (wildcard) (USA) 110 8. Jacqueline Valente (wildcard) (BRA) 110 10. Helena Merten (wildcard) (AUS) 70

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A DIVE IN NUMBERS 3 SECONDS LONG 85 KPH/53 MPH FAST UP TO 5G PHYSICAL FORCE

CLIFF DIVING SCIENCE Risks The highest risk of injury occurs during the landing phase, when parts of the body are already exposed to absolute deceleration and others, above the surface, are still at full speed.

At this point, maximum physical tension is absolutely crucial. Immediately after hitting the water, the athlete has to actively dive away to avoid compression or contortion of parts of the body due to the hardness of the water. However,

major mistakes can be ruled out because of the divers’ technical training and experience.

A pancake landing from such heights can be compared with running full speed into a concrete wall. That is why only about four dozen athletes worldwide engage in this elite extreme sport. Generally speaking, high diving over 28 metres does not bring a lot of time benefit due to the rapid acceleration; yet, the risk of injuries increases disproportionately.

Platform ˇ Stable take-off board construction ˇ Minimum length: 1.5 metres ˇ Minimum width: 0.75 metres ˇ Platform rim at least 2 metres beyond the vertical fall line

28 m 28 m | 92ft max. height

General male competitions

26,5m | 87ft min. height

23 m 21,5m | 70ft 20 m max. height

General female competitions

19,5m | 64ft min. height

18 m

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series heights

10 m Olympic Diving

IMPACT UP TO 9 TIMES HARDER THAN FROM 10M PLATFORM

Rescue Divers/Paramedics On standby next to the diving point, three scuba divers at landing point. Ambulance on standby.

Waterspray The water spray breaks the water surface and is used as a reference point for the divers, as from these heights it is tricky to identify the water level.

-5 m Minimum water depth

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LOCATIONS

The World Series returns to Wales for the third time.

In June, the 2016 World Series season kicks off at Hell’s Gate at Possum Kingdom Lake in the USA state where everything is bigger, Texas!

Two towering cliffs, rising dramatically out of the region’s first water supply reservoir, provide the platform for the season’s premiere stop.

Back in Europe, the Danish capital city, Copenhagen, provides the athletes with a panoramic view of the royal palace, Amalienborg, and the adjacent domed Marble Church when mounting the 27-metre platform on the cantilever roof of the Opera House.

The World Series’ classics are scheduled for July: cliff diving directly off the cliff face on the Portuguese Azores and La Rochelle, France, with its record crowd of 75,000 spectators.

Also on the verge of becoming an all-time favourite, but certainly the home of European Cliff Diving: Polignano a Mare, where cliffs are the foundation of everyday life, marks the halftime stop of the 2016 season at the end of August.

In September, the World Series returns to the UK and to the picturesque location of the Blue Lagoon, now a National Trust site, in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales. From there, the divers travel south to a place where diving from great heights has been a tradition for centuries: the ‘Stari Most’, the old bridge of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the country’s most recognizable landmark.

October takes the cliff diving elite to new grounds in the south-east of Japan. Sandanbeki is a cliff towering along the coast of Shirahama Town, providing an all-natural setting. The coronation of the champions will take place during the first ever World Series competition in the UAE. Spotlighting the sport’s cream of the crop, the Dubai Marina will provide the spectacular setting for the final showdown.

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RULES &

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FINAL ROUND 1 Optional Dive - 8 divers.

Divers will start in reverse order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

10 11 12 13 14

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1 dive

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ROUND 3 1 Optional Dive - 14 divers Divers will start in reverse order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

14 13 12 11 10

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1 dive

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DAY 2

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ROUND 2 1 Required Dive (DD 3.8) – 14 divers. Divers will start in reverse order from the first round’s results.

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1 dive

ROUND 1 1 Intermediate Dive (maximum DD 4.6) - 14 divers.

14 13 12 11 10

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Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Final Round

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14x

DAY 1

FORMAT Ahead of each competition a draw determines the diving order for the 1st Round. Two days of competition; 4 rounds.

MEN

COMPETITION FORMAT

WOMEN

The winner of any individual tour stop is the diver with the highest point total from this stop.

FORMAT Ahead of each competition a draw determines the diving order for the 1st Round. Two days of competition; 3 rounds.

Round 1

8x

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ROUND 1 1 Required Dive (DD 2.6)

Round 2

DAY 1

1 dive

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Final Round

DAY 2

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ROUND 2 1 Optional Dive. Divers will start in reverse order from the first round’s results.

1 dive

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FINAL ROUND 1 Optional Dive. Divers will start in reverse order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

FIVE INTERNATIONAL JURORS WILL JUDGE EACH DIVE ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: ˇ TAKE OFF ˇ POSITION IN THE AIR ˇ ENTRY IN THE WATER

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th

200 160 130 100 90 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 9 8

JUDGING

POINTS PER COMPETITION Calculation of the total score of the World Series: Points from each competition are added together. All individual competition results count for the World Series overall ranking.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY The degree of difficulty of each dive – also known as DD – is calculated by taking into account the difficulty of the execution of each manoeuvre and the junction of each element of a dive. ˇ Type of take off ˇ Number of somersaults ˇ Number of twists ˇ Position during the somersaults ˇ Type of entry

The DD in the World Series ranges from 2.6 (women) and 3.8 (men) for the Required Dives to up to 6.3 for the sport’s currently hardest dives.

According to the official Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2016 rulebook, the jury has to judge what is seen and not what wants to be seen.

Moreover, each dive has to be judged disregarding any bias toward the diver or dive to ensure an objective result.

& SCORING SCORES from 0 to 10 in half point increments.

5 scores by 5 judges

THE SUM is multiplied by the degree of difficulty for each dive.

SCORES from all rounds are cumulated for the final competition result.

Men - 4 dives.

Women - 3 dives.

POINTS will be awarded from 1st to last place, including wildcards. The winner of any individual tour stop is the diver with the highest point total from this stop.

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HIGHEST & LOWEST score are discarded.

Remaining three scores are added together.

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FIVE JUDGES 1 head judge & 4 judges per competition will be selected for each competition from a pool of 13 members. Judges for each stop will be chosen based on geographical location of the event and availability.

Claudio de Miro (ITA) Head judge, former Italian diving team member

Andrey Ignatenko (UKR) Winner of first World Series competition in La Rochelle, FRA, in 2009

Anke Piper (GER) Three-time European champion 10m

Antonio Martinez (MEX) FINA judge, organizer of high diving competitions, substitute head judge

Dmitry Sautin (RUS) Two-time Olympic Gold medallist, five-time World Champion, 12-time European Champion

Greg Louganis (USA) Four-time Olympic Gold medallist, five-time World Champion, six-time Pan American Games winner

Jeff Arbon (GBR|AUS) Participant Olympic Games Seoul 1988

Julian Llinas (ESP) FINA judge, judge at three Olympic Games

Ken Grove (AUS|AUT) Two-time Olympian for Austrialia and Austria

Marion Reiff (AUT) Participant Olympic Games Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004

Renato Rosi (ITA) Former Italian diving team member

Slava Polyeshchuk (UKR) Former cliff diver, 2011 4th overall

Steve Foley (AUS|USA) Three-time Olympian (1976, 1980, 1984) for Australia

WHEN DO THE JUDGES DEDUCT POINTS FROM THEIR SCORES?

DOS & DON’TS

Powerless If the arms are clearly extended above the head at the entry.

For incomplete handstands, as the body should come to rest in a vertical and straight alignment for no less than two full seconds before initiating the action of the dive.

“Flying” dives should display a full 90 degree rotation upon takeoff before executing the described position .

If an obvious break of straight position occurs after at least one complete somersault has been performed in either tuck or pike position.

A break in position at or just before entry, an intermediate break of position and if a dive is done in a completely different position than announced.

WHAT THE JUDGES DO NOT WANT TO SEE AND WHAT THEY REGARD AS MISTAKES: Powerless take-offs, incorrect distance to the platform.

Unaesthetic execution, open or crossed legs, unpointed toes, legs that are not straight in pike or layout position or entry phase.

Short and non-vertical entries, under or over-rotated entries.

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If the arms are away from the body but below the head at the entry.

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THE TROPHY OF LELE KAWA

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THE SILK RIBBON OF CLIFF DIVING EXCELLENCE THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS’ TROPHY It’s the award every cliff diver wants to win, but only the best of the best will receive the World Series overall title in honour of the great Hawaiian chief King Kahekili who first leaped from the holy cliffs of Kaunolu, the birthplace of the majestic sport of cliff diving. The old Hawaiian principles of ‘mana’ (power) and ‘pono’ (balance) were crucial when ‘leaping feet-first from a high cliff into the water without making a splash’ which is the loose translation of the Hawaiian act of ‘lele kawa’, which was born on the islands in the midst of the Pacific in the 18th century. They are principles that have been upheld and are today prerequisites for the sport of cliff diving. It was from a rock made of lava that the last independent ruler of Maui, King Kahekili, dove in the late 1700s.

Kaunolu on the south coast of the island of Lanai, contains the largest surviving ruins of a prehistoric Hawaiian village and is the place where it all began. The diving site has always been regarded as holy and up until today the chief’s name has been inextricably linked with the earliest beginnings of this extreme sport. In the Hawaiian culture, spiritual and physical art are interwoven, as Hawaiian historian Luana Kawaa explains. “In order to be physically sound and solid, the spiritual part had to be in ‘pono’, as well, so that the spirit could travel out onto these rocks, and if they had lived a good, moral life, when the spirit leaped, their ancestors would come to greet them and bring them to the ancestral world.

For Kahekili to come to his diving point and be able to walk out into an area that was ‘kapua’ or forbidden to mankind, and for no harm to come to him as he jumped off these cliffs, then when his warriors saw this, they realised the amount of spiritual power that Kahekili had to possess in order to do that. That made him godly. And the chiefs were really thought to be the gods here.”

Legend says that Kahekili used cliff diving as an initiation rite for his warriors. He required them to follow his example by jumping off cliffs in an effort to prove their loyalty. Historians see a competitive idea behind these leaps: “We don’t know if he actually required his warriors to do it, but he challenged them. And in our culture, when you think about that, requiring somebody to do something is one thing, but when you challenge them to do it that is when you get the real participation.”

ATHLETES, WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN LISTED ON THE TROPHY SO FAR: MEN ORLANDO DUQUE (COL) 2009 GARY HUNT (GBR) 2010 GARY HUNT (GBR) 2011 GARY HUNT (GBR) 2012 ARTEM SILCHENKO (RUS) 2013 GARY HUNT (GBR) 2014 GARY HUNT (GBR) 2015 WOMEN RACHELLE SIMPSON (USA) 2014 RACHELLE SIMPSON (USA) 2015

The trophy is reserved for only the year’s best male and female athlete.

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Real participation is demanded by the athletes of the World Series to be awarded the trophy, created by the Hawaiian artist Kuaho Zane. The overall form references the shape and stance of ki’i or wooden images, traditionally carved as three-dimensional representations of gods and protective ancestors called aumakua.

The trophy with its asymmetric, cliff like top is completely printed on the right side – similar to the tattoo that completely covered the right side of Kahekili’s body. The base is made of Koa wood and symbolizes the feet of both the ki’i and the diver who must hit the water feet first.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series takes up the challenge to establish which single athlete has enough ‘mana’ and ‘pono’ to perform the best ‘lele kawa’ and take the 2016 overall victory.

3 positions A sequence of the below (3) positions.

PIKE With knees straight but a tight bend at the hips.

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DIVE POSITIONS

STRAIGHT with no bend at the knees or hips.

Tuck Body folded up into a tight ball, hands holding the shins and toes pointed.

FREE Body position is optional but the legs shall be together and the toes pointed.

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BARANI One somersault forward rotation with a 1/2 twist. Used as an entry manoeuvre, it gives the diver the best view of the water.

BLIND ENTRY The last time the diver sees the water is at least half a somersault before entry and so lines up “blind”.

FLYING Describes dives consisting of at least one complete somersault performed in the straight position for no less than 90°. The straight position must then be followed by either tuck or pike position.

TWIST A twist is any movement during a dive that occurs when the diver rotates around an maginary vertical axis that runs from the head to the toes. Up to five revolutions can be performed in competition and can be added to dives in the forward, back, reverse, inward and handstand categories.

DIVE ELEMENTS

Find out more and watch the video at www.redbullcliffdiving.com/about

DIVE GROUPS

FRONT, Group 1 the diver takes off facing forwards and rotates forwards.

BACK, Group 2 the diver takes off with his back to the water and rotates backwards.

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EACH ONE of the groups 1-4 can also incorporate an axial twisting movement and will therefore be considered among groups 5, 6, 7 and 8.

REVERSE, Group 3 the diver takes off facing forwards and rotates backwards.

ARMSTAND, Group 9 the handstand can be executed from either the forward or backward direction and can include twists as well.

INWARD, Group 4 the diver takes off with his back to the water and rotates forwards.

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PERMANENT DIVERS

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IN 2016 THE WORLD SERIES FEATURES TEN MALE ATHLETES OF SIX NATIONALITIES THROUGHOUT THE NINE COMPETITIONS, AND UP TO FOUR WILDCARD DIVERS PER STOP.

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USA RUS GBR USA GBR MEX CZE COL MEX USA

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Andy JONES Artem SILCHENKO Blake ALDRIDGE David COLTURI Gary HUNT Jonathan PAREDES Michal NAVRATIL Orlando DUQUE Sergio GUZMAN Steven LOBUE

Representing United States Date of birth April 21, 1985 Height/Weight 1.82m/81kg City of residence Santa Monica, California Profession Stunt Performer and Cirque du Soleil Performer

ANDY JONES

JUMPING OFF 90 - 100 FOOT CLIFFS WEARING NOTHING BUT A SPEEDO ON A REGULAR BASIS IS PRETTY CRAZY. – WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE?

Achievements 2015 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Azores (POR) 2014 5th Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Texas (USA) and Yucatán (MEX) 2011 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston (USA, wildcard) 2007 University of Utah ‘Diver of the Year’

Final Rankings Year

9 2014

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Secret passion Film production Started cliff diving in 2008 Favourite cliff diving spot Lake Powell, Southern Uta Favourite dive Flying back somersault In the World Series since 2014 Best result in a World Series competition 3rd place

”Can you just keep your feet on the ground for a second?”

Andy Jones’ father used to say when the Cirque du Soleil performer was still a little boy. The enthusiasm to jump from somewhere is still unbowed, only the living room couch has been exchanged for the 27m platform. The deadpan American combines his height and free-running passion to produce a unique diving style.

After getting his first taste of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2011 as a wildcard in Boston, USA, the 31-year-old continuously worked on his performance and was nominated for a permanent place on the tour in 2014. After a successful requalification for 2015, the autodidact film producer got his first podium in the off-the-cliff competition on the Portuguese Azores.

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ARTEM SILCHENKO

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MY BIGGEST COMPETITOR IS MYSELF. ALL OTHER ATHLETES ARE JUST GREAT DIVERS!! – WHO’LL BE YOUR MAIN COMPETITOR IN 2016?

Representing Russia Date of birth February 3, 1984 Height/Weight 1.81m/80kg City of residence Voronezh Profession Coach

Secret passion Chess, scuba diving Started cliff diving in 2004 Favourite cliff diving spot Yucatan, Viking Cave (THA) Favourite dive Flying front, Inward In the World Series since 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Artem Silchenko, the 2013 World Series champion, combines perfectly diving grace and strong willpower. The Russian’s credo is “I will do everything to win”. His signature dive – back armstand with two somersaults and two and a half twists – has a blind entry, a rarely-executed manoeuvre where the diver sees the water for the final time at least half a somersault before his entry and so lines up “blind”. The proud father of a boy is also the holder of the highest score ever for a single dive in a World Series event – 183.00 points and four 10s from the judges achieved in Copenhagen in 2013.

2015 was the epitome of a rollercoaster year which climaxed with a torn calf muscle during the penultimate stop. Knowing the Russian’s ambitions, he’ll come back stronger in his 8th World Series season.

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Achievements Record holder for the highest scoring dive in a World Series event of 183.00 points Winner of ten Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions between 2009 and 2014 2015 3rd FINA High Diving World Championship 2013 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

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Final Rankings Year

BLAKE ALDRIDGE

I’M STILL LEARNING NEW DIVES AND UNTIL I HAVE TWO DIVES THAT I CAN HIT FOR 9S ALL THE TIME, WINNING IS A LONG WAY AWAY. – WHY IS THIS GOING TO BE YOUR SEASON?

Secret passion Improving at whatever I try.

Golf, fishing, building Started cliff diving in 2009 Favourite cliff diving spot Thailand Favourite dive Reverse 2 s/s 5 twist In the World Series since 2012 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Achievements 3 times world medallist Former world champion 2014 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Havana (CUB) 2008 Olympic finalist

Final Rankings Year

9 2012

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Representing Great Britain Date of birth August 4, 1982 Height/Weight 1.70m/65kg City of residence London Profession Olympic diver

The finalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Blake Aldridge will be competing in his sixth year after finishing on a personal best 4th overall rank in the previous season. In 2014, the competitive Londoner joined a select group of athletes after winning the first World Series stop in Cuba.

The 33-year-old, a former British diving world champion, who was also Tom Daley’s synchro partner at the Olympic Games in Beijing, did his first dive from 27 metres in June 2011 at the World Series competition in La Rochelle and has been wanting more ever since. The passionate fisherman has introduced two of the hardest dives in the sport: the back armstand dive, with four twists, with a degree of difficulty of 6.2, and the reverse 2 somersault with 5 twists, with a degree of difficulty of 6.3.

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DAVID COLTURI

SUCCESS CAN BE A FLEETING MOMENT, BUT THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE SHOULD BE AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. – YOUR GOAL FOR 2016?

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Representing United States Date of birth April 30, 1989 Height/Weight 1.73m/70kg City of residence Los Angeles, California Profession Cliff diver

Former US national 10m champion David Colturi became the youngest diver to appear in a full World Series in 2012 following successful qualification from Australia and went from strength to strength in his debut season to finish 5th overall.

The World Series’ sunny boy, set his ambition early in 2014, doing lead-ups for the famed triple quad - a dive with a degree of difficulty of 6.2 that only World Series champion Gary Hunt had been able to master until then. Inevitably, performing the complex dive in competition produced some up-and-down results, but David Colturi saved his best performance for last, securing fifth place overall. From 2nd to 10th was his range of results in the previous season and thus made him finish in – what a surprise – 5th overall for the fourth time in a row.

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Secret passion Learning new languages and instruments Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Krabi (THA) Favourite dive Reverse double with four twists In the World Series since 2012 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Achievements 2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Cartagena (COL) 2013 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving in Malcesine (ITA) 2009 3rd World University Games 10 meter synchronized and Team Award

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Final Rankings Year

GARY HUNT

I FEEL LIKE I’VE FOUND A GREAT RHYTHM IN MY TRAINING AND I’M MORE AND MORE AT EASE ON THE PLATFORM.– WHAT’S YOUR ‘MAGIC’ KEY TO SUCCESS?

Secret passion I secretly dream of becoming a clown Started cliff diving in 2006 Favourite cliff diving spot Yucatan, Mexico Favourite dive Back 1.5 piked from 10m In the World Series since 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Achievements 5-time winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Winner of 25 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions between 2009 and 2015 2016 winner FINA High Diving World Cup 2015 FINA High Diving World Champion

Final Rankings Year

9 2009

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Representing Great Britain Date of birth June 11, 1984 Height/Weight 1.75m/68kg City of residence Paris Profession Cliff diver

He’s the only athlete who’s competed in all 50 World Series stops between 2009 and 2015 and he’s won half of them – Gary Hunt, 5-time World Series champion. There has been virtually no stopping the 32-year-old ever since he finished runner-up in the first World Series in 2009. In 2015 his winning streak was only broken after five successive victories – the longest so far.

No other diver in this series has more wins to his name than the multi-talented Brit – 25 to date.

Keen to push the boundaries, the ‘brilliant Brit’ settled old scores with the venue in Polignano a Mare, Italy in 2015 by successfully performing a running take-off – a technique that only he has ever attempted and is another link in the chain that connects Olympic diving with cliff diving. Along the way, he also bettered his own point record by 14.30 points to hit an all-time high score of 548.20 points.

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JONATHAN PAREDES

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MY MAIN GOAL FOR 2016 IS TO TRY AND BE A BETTER ATHLETE, A BETTER PERSON AND KEEP ON WORKING ON MY MIND. – YOUR GOAL FOR 2016?

Representing Mexico Date of birth August 14, 1989 Height/Weight 1.65m/62kg City of residence Mexico City Profession Cliff diver

“Be a better athlete, be a better person.” The 26-year-old’s motto is philosophical as much as it is ambitious. The athlete who broke Gary Hunt’s winning streak in 2015 by taking an early lead in the competition in Mostar and performing his comparably easy diving programme superbly, is definitely on the right track. Jonathan Paredes has shown a constant upward move in the rankings, disregarding his failed dive in last year’s opener: The winner of the 2015 qualification competition, who first shot to prominence during the Italian stop of the 2011 World Series when a few days before his 22nd birthday the Mexican wildcard landed a dive on his tailbone and then almost made it onto the podium, has finished 3rd overall in his 3rd full season. The World Series’ rising star is hard on the heavyweights’ heels.

4 2013

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Secret passion American football Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores (Portugal) and Chichen-Itza (Mexico) Favourite dive Double front and one and a half twist In the World Series since 2013 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Achievements 2016 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup 2015 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar (BIH) 2015 2nd FINA High Diving World Championship 2015 & 2013 winner qualification competition Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

3 ´15

Final Rankings Year

Representing Czech Republic Date of birth June 5, 1985 Height/Weight 1.84m/85kg City of residence Prague Profession High diver, stuntman

Secret passion Handstands, adrenaline sports.

Started cliff diving in 2004 Favourite cliff diving spot Natural cliffs Favourite dive ‘Superman’, running take-off dives In the World Series since 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

Achievements 7-time Czech high diving champion 2012 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Corsica (FRA) 2011 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in La Rochelle (FRA) 2011 Winner Marmeeting

Final Rankings Year

7 2009

Ever-present in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series since the first competition back in May 2009, Czech Michal Navratil has established himself as one of cliff diving’s most consistent athletes.

Famous for his extrovert character, “Supratil” – so called because of the Superman-style dives he performs following competitions – had the worst imaginable start into the 2015 season: only a few days before the first competition, he injured his shoulder – diagnosis: torn biceps tendon from shoulder plate. Giving up is no option for the super fit athlete and so he competed until the end and showed some strong performances with three 4thplaced finishes at the business end of the year.

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MICHAL NAVRATIL

I COMPETED LAST YEAR WITH A TORN BICEPS TENDON FROM THE SHOULDER PLATE ALL SEASON AND STILL MADE IT TO THE TOP 10.– WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE?

ORLANDO DUQUE

GETTING INTO CLIFF DIVING AND BELIEVING THAT IT COULD BE WHAT IT IS TODAY. – WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE?

Representing Colombia Date of birth September 11, 1974 Height/Weight 1.75m/72kg City of residence Honolulu, Hawaii Profession Cliff diver

38

Secret passion It’s a secret!

Started cliff diving in 1997 Favourite cliff diving spot Hawaii Favourite dive Back twists In the World Series since 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

He is a legend, and the iconic figure of the sport. He is cliff diving and cliff diving is his life. “The sport chose me. I went around doing other things; I didn’t like any of them. When I ended up diving, I was like ‘this is it!’”. With 13 world titles and two Guinness world records to his name, Colombian cliff diver Orlando Duque has proved his tremendous ability time and again from 27 metres, reaching the very pinnacle of his sport over the last 15 years.

In 2013, in Barcelona, he became the winner of the inaugural FINA High Diving World Championship and, despite turning 40 years of age in 2014, he continues to compete at the top of his discipline. A fact convincingly proven during the previous season, where the Hawaii-resident finished six out of eight competitions on the podium and became overall runner-up to Gary Hunt for the third time.

1 2009

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Achievements Thirteen world titles Winner of eight Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions 2015 & 2014 winner FINA High Diving World Cup 2013 FINA High Diving World Champion 2009 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion

2 ´15

Final Rankings Year

Secret passion Dancing Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Mostar (BIH) Favourite dive Back 4 somersaults tuck In the World Series since 2015 Best result in a World Series competition 2ndt place

Achievements 2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar (BIH), first wildcard on the podium 2015 8th qualification competition Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Cali (COL) 2014 qualified for the World Cup in Kazan, Russia

Final Rankings Year

10 2015

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Representing Mexico Date of birth February 23, 1991 Height/Weight 1.75m/70kg City of residence Mexico City Profession Diving coach

SERGIO GUZMAN

IT LET’S ME DEVELOP ATHLETICALLY AND PERSONALLY. IT OPENS MANY DOORS. – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO TAKE PART IN THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES?

This young man has left a quite mark during his first year as a non-permanent diver in the World Series! Sergio Guzman became the first ever wildcard athlete to finish on the podium – 2nd place for the Mexican in Mostar in only his fourth showing and, to top it off, he had the honour of the season’s final dive during 2015’s showdown in Bilbao in front of the Guggenheim Museum and some 60,000 spectators. As of this season, the passionate and talented dancer is the latest addition to the World Series’ permanent divers line-up.

With a full season ahead of him, the youngest athlete on tour knows that fame won’t come without pain. “Perseverance and hard work is the key to success; and I feel more confident and experienced to meet this new challenge,” the 25-year-old says.

STEVEN LOBUE

AS ALWAYS, I WILL BE BATTLING AND COMPETING WITH MYSELF. – WHO’LL BE YOUR MAIN COMPETITOR IN 2016?

Representing United States Date of birth June 17, 1985 Height/Weight 1.61m/62kg City of residence Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Profession Diving Coach

40

Secret passion Watching cartoons Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Thailand Favourite dive Quint half In the World Series since 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Have you ever imagined what the wickedest year in your career would look like? Fails, pains and disappointments for most of the time and then, when you’ve almost capped off the year, you suddenly come back and shine. That’s how Steven LoBue would probably summarize his 2015. The season started with a not-completely cured hip injury and climaxed with the infamous platform hit in La Rochelle, France where the Fort Lauderdale based athlete came out with only a scratch on his forehead – a minor miracle. The rollercoaster rider continued until the very end. In Bilbao, Spain, when he’d just learned that he’d become a father in the spring – “the craziest thing I’ve ever done!” – and when he thought the season was over, Steven LoBue flipped and twisted to victory…

10 2011

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Achievements Winner of 3 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions 2012 3rd qualification competition Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Cattai (AUS) 2011 7th qualification competition Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Cattai (AUS) 2004 Olympic Trials finalist

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Final Rankings Year

WILDCARDS Alessandro De Rose, ITA JULY 2, 1992

These athletes will get a chance to prove their talent, improve their diving and certainly spice up this year’s competitions. We proudly present the wildcard divers for the 2016 season.

Anatoliy Shabotenko, UKR MAY 10, 1989

Andrei Mikau, BLR JANUARY 2, 1990

Cyrille Oumedjkane, FRA APRIL 5, 1976

Igor Semashko, RUS JUNE 27, 1976

Jorge Ferzuli, MEX MARCH 11, 1981

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Alain Kohl, LUX AUGUST 25, 1982

SO ORDEM E PRO

GR

ES

SO ES

GR ORDEM E PRO

Jucelino Junior, BRA AUGUST 17, 1983

Kris Kolanus, POL OCTOBER 22, 1986

Kyle Mitrione, USA MARCH 17, 1988

Mat Cowen, GBR JUNE 19, 1988

Miguel Garcia, COL MARCH 20, 1991

Sasha Kutsenko, UKR FEBRUARY 17, 1983

Todor Spasov, BUL JUNE 26, 1978

Viktar Maslouski, BLR DECEMBER 28, 1992

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Jose Wilker, BRA MARCH 15, 1989

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PERMANENT DIVERS

0 1 6 43

– W O M E N

SIX PERMANENT ATHLETES OF FOUR NATIONALITIES AND UP TO TWO WILDCARD DIVERS HAVE 20M TO DISPLAY THEIR DIVING GRACE AND SHOW ACROBATIC COMPLEXITY.

MEX USA USA AUS CAN USA 44

Adriana JIMENEZ Cesilie CARLTON Ginger HUBER Helena MERTEN Lysanne RICHARD Rachelle SIMPSON

Representing Mexico Date of birth January 20, 1985 Height/Weight 1.58m/50kg City of residence Mexico City Profession Professional athlete

Secret passion Cheerleading Started cliff diving in 2013 Favourite cliff diving spot Yucatan, Mexico Favourite dive Triple reverse In the World Series since 2015 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

Achievements 2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series in São Miguel, Azores (POR) 2014 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series in Yucatán (MEX, wildcard) 2004 19th 10m Platform World Cup and Pre-Olympics in Athens (GRE), securing a place for Mexico in the Olympic Games

Final Rankings Year

3 2014

2015 was a roller-coaster season for the 31-year old from Mexico City. Sitting in second place after the first two rounds in the women’s opening event in Texas, Adriana Jimenez was knocked out of the competition by a gastro-intestinal disease the following day and had to withdraw from the competition. In Portugal, the tender athlete came back strong to finish second, only 1.5 points behind the winner. However, during the final stop in the south of Italy, the taco-lover could not quite repeat her faultless diving display and found herself at the bottom of the table.

After recovering from a back injury, the former Olympic diver has learned two new dives during the off-season – the triple back and the quad half – and will challenge not only her opponents but also herself, as she states that ‘staying healthy all season’ is one of her main goals for 2016.

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ADRIANA JIMENEZ

ADY JIMENEZ. – WHO’LL BE YOUR MAIN COMPETITOR IN 2016?

Representing United States Date of birth March 27, 1981 Height/Weight 1.65m/54kg City of residence San Antonio, TX Profession Personal Trainer/performer

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CESILIE CARLTON

ISN’T EVERYONE ALWAYS TRYING TO BEAT THE REIGNING CHAMP? ROCCO. SHE’S ALWAYS SO CONSISTENT. – WHO’LL BE YOUR MAIN COMPETITOR IN 2016?

San Antonio’s Cesilie Carlton was tied in first place overall with fellow American Rachelle Simpson until the very last competition in Italy last season, but fell away following a below average performance in the final round. However, becoming the first wildcard to win a competition – the off-the-cliff meet on the Portuguese Azores – secured the 35-year-old qualification for the 2016 World Series. After winning the inaugural world championship title for high divers in 2013 – following FINA’s inclusion of high diving as a professional sport in 2012 – the physically super fit athlete was part of the premiere World Series in 2014, but was forced into wildcard status in the women’s second season.

6 2014

Secret passion I don’t think that I have a secret passion. I can never keep a secret, so there would be no way for me to have a “secret” passion.

Started cliff diving in 2009 Favourite cliff diving spot Texas because of the home crowd. Portugal directly off the cliffs.

Favourite dive The interrupted back triple.

In the World Series since 2014 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Achievements 2015 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in S.Miguel, Azores (POR) as a wildcard 2013 FINA High Diving World Champion Njcaa spring board champion 1 and 3 meter

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Final Rankings Year

Representing United States Date of birth December 6, 1974 Height/Weight 1.70m/58kg City of residence Orlando, Florida Profession Acrobat

Achievements 2016 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup 2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare (ITA) 2014 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Kragerø (NOR) and Yucatán (MEX) 2013 diver on “Splash”

Final Rankings Year

4 2004

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Secret passion Craft beer Started cliff diving in 1997 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, POR Favourite dive Fly front In the World Series since 2014 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

GINGER HUBER

I BELIEVE IT WILL GIVE EVERYONE A BETTER CHANCE TO IMPROVE AND TO HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS. – WHAT’S THE POTENTIAL OF 7 STOPS FOR THE WOMEN IN 2016?

Ginger Huber has spent her life in diving and has never stopped promoting the sport – from coaching, training, judging, to competing, she’s always wanted to do whatever was possible.

The ‘ESPN body issue’ model has a ton of experience in the sport of cliff diving and is the first point for advice for the younger athletes. A laid-back character, she skilfully transforms her energy into her high diving.

The acrobat, who’s only recently moved from the west coast to Orlando, Florida, finished second in the first-ever women’s competition in Italy in 2013, with the highest scored dive, and has the runner-up spot as a personal best in both the FINA High Diving World Championships in 2013 and the 2015 Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series.

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HELENA MERTEN 48

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SHOW CLEAN, CONSISTENT DIVES IN THE COMPETITIONS AND GET USED TO ADAPTING TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. – YOUR GOAL FOR THE 2016 SEASON?

Following the legendary Steve Black, who competed until 2010, Helena Merten is the second Australian to join the World Series as a permanent athlete. With one last World Series spot up for grabs during the FINA High Diving World Cup at the end of February, the acrobat from the Gold Coast finished runner-up to winner Lysanne Richard and set her mark. The 21-year-old not only outperformed the more experienced divers, but also becomes the youngest ever athlete in the divers line-up.

A 6th place during her only wildcard appearance in Texas in 2015, let her talent peek through, and Helena Merten will definitely spice up the 2016 women’s World Series: “It is incredibly encouraging to join the World Series, I hope it will influence me to be more confident as an athlete and I’m sure it will motivate me to become a much better diver.”

Representing Australia Date of birth March 17, 1995 Height/Weight 1.65m/54kg City of residence Gold Coast Profession Performer/Acrobat

Secret passion Cliff diving - it’s something I only recently started.

Started cliff diving in 2013 Favourite cliff diving spot I’ve mostly been diving into an indoor pool. So I’m yet to discover my favourite place – I can’t wait to explore all of the locations!

Favourite dive Armstand dives In the World Series since 2016 Best result in a World Series competition 6th place

Achievements Youngest ever permanent athlete in the World Series 2016 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup Competed placed and won at a national level in acrobatic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, diving and tumbling

Final Rankings Year

Representing Canada Date of birth August 30, 1981 Height/Weight 1.62m/56kg City of residence Montreal Profession Circus artist, physical conditioning teacher, mom Secret passion Cooking the best healthy banana bread on earth with my 7 year old son Started cliff diving in 2010 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, POR Favourite dive Back 3 somersaults with 1 twist pike In the World Series since 2015 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

Achievements 2016 winner FINA High Diving World Cup 2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Texas (USA, wildcard) 2014 Graduate from National Circus School of Montreal Character and acrobat with Cirque du Soleil, since 2005 till today

Final Rankings Year

5 2015

She kicked-off the 2015 season with a big bang – 2nd place in the opening event in Texas. Coming almost out of nowhere, the 34 year-old Canadian took the challenges of propelling herself from 20m in acrobatic grace with a smile and qualified for the 2016 Women’s World Series with an overall 5th. As a graduate from the National Circus School of Montreal, Lysanne Richard is more than capable of juggling her job as a character and acrobat at Cirque du Soleil, being a successful cliff diver and three-timemom - the craziest thing she’s ever ‘done’. The 162cm small powerhouse starts her first full season as the winner of the 2016 FINA high diving world cup.

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LYSANNE RICHARD

I’VE TRAINED A LOT, I IMPROVED, I AM CONFIDENT. I AM LIVING THE LIFE I WANT TO. – WHY IS THIS GOING TO BE YOUR SEASON?

RACHELLE SIMPSON

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I THINK IT WILL HELP PEOPLE SEE THAT WOMEN ARE THE REAL DEAL AND NOT JUST AN EXHIBITION. – 2016 BRINGS 7 STOPS FOR THE WOMEN. HOW WILL THIS INFLUENCE THE WORLD SERIES? Representing United States Date of birth January 8, 1988 Height/Weight 1.66m/60kg City of residence San Antonio, Texas Profession Acrobatic performer and gymnastics coach Secret passion I really love to cook!

Started cliff diving in 2012 Favourite cliff diving spot Kragerø, Norway Favourite dive Triple half pike In the World Series since 2014 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

The 28-year-old American was a gymnast before she started high diving and was undoubtedly the star performer in the first-ever Women’s World Series in 2014. Successfully defending her title in 2015, ‘Rocco’ will be the one to catch for an ever-improving group of athletes, and the Texan has set her 2016 goals: “I want to come out strong and to increase my scores by .5 or 1.0 on each of my dives. Last year I was consistently scoring 8.0’s-8.5’s, this year I would like to bump that to 8.5’s-9.0’s.” The 2015 FINA high diving world champion embraces the increase in amount of women’s competitions from three in the previous years to seven.

1 2014

Achievements 2015 & 2014 winner Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series 2015 FINA High Diving World Champion 2014 winner of all competitions in the Women’s World Series Competitive gymnast and competitive springboard and platform diver

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Final Rankings Year

SO ES

Tara Hyer-Tira, USA SEPTEMBER 9, 1985

Two wildcard divers will add extra zest to the women’s competitions at each of the seven stops in season number three of the Women’s World Series.

Yana Nestsiarava, BLR JUNE 14, 1992

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Rhiannan Iffland, AUS SEPTEMBER 09, 1991

WILD CARDS

GR ORDEM E PRO

Jacqueline Valente, BRA SEPTEMBER 18, 1985

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WATCH ALL STOPS OF THE 2016 RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES LIVE ON REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM AND RED BULL TV!

HOW TO WATCH Red Bull TV is available on the web, connected TVs, gaming consoles, mobile devices, and more.

For a full list of devices that support Red Bull TV visit about.redbull.tv

PLEASE, CHECK REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM FOR YOUR LOCAL TIMES.

T H E

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A R O U N D

ICONIC PLACES

W O R L D

USA DEN POR FRA ITA GBR BIH JPN UAE

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TEXAS COPENHAGEN Sﾃグ MIGUEL, AZORES LA ROCHELLE POLIGNANO A MARE PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES MOSTAR SHIRAHAMA DUBAI

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FROM NATURAL WONDERS AND VISUAL FEASTS TO HISTORIC SITES AND MODERN DAY METROPOLISES – IN ITS EIGHTH SEASON, THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES WILL BRIDGE PURE VENUES AND URBAN SURROUNDINGS AS MUCH AS IT WILL PUSH BOUNDARIES. NEW AS WELL AS PROVEN GROUND IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST ARE ON THE AGENDA TO CROWN TWO NEW CHAMPIONS DURING NINE TOUGH AND TESTING COMPETITIONS, INCLUDING SEVEN STOPS FOR FEMALE ATHLETES.

Impressive view from the Blue Lagoon, Wales.

THE LAKE SPREADS OVER AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 6,900HA WITH 500KM OF SHORELINE. IT HOLDS 930,000,000M3 OF WATER.

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TEXAS ˇ1 Location Two towering cliffs in a water supply reservoir on the Brazos River Coordinates 32.8667° N, 98.4333° W Platform/Rock heights 28m | 20m Water depth 5.5m to 7m Water temp. in July 24°C Air temp. in July 33°C Water Possum Kingdom Lake, freshwater Date June 4, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 2.20pm local time, 7.20pm GMT

Possum Kingdom Lake – USA The 2016 World Series Season kicks off from Hell’s Gate at Possum Kingdom Lake in the USA state where everything is bigger, Texas! Two towering cliffs, rising dramatically out of the region’s first water supply reservoir, provide the platform for the season’s premiere stop, where 14 men and 8 women will vie for victory. Rachelle Simpson, who hails from nearby San Antonio, and her male counterpart, Gary Hunt from England, have not only dominated the 2015 season but are the back-to-back winners of the two previous competitions at Hell’s Gate.

Nestled deep in the valley of the Palo Pinto Mountains lies Possum Kingdom Lake. This massive reservoir, created by damming the Brazos River, is unlike any other lake in Texas. With its crystal clear and incredibly deep waters and its sheer cliffs, “PK” Lake is a vacation paradise. At its midpoint lies the iconic Hell’s Gate, a rock formation adjacent to Devil’s Island, which is full of as much beauty as it is folklore. Only the divers can add more breath-taking moments to this natural wonder with their complex manoeuvres from almost three times the Olympic diving platform height.

WITH CONSTRUCTION COSTS OVER 500 MILLION US DOLLARS, THE BUILDING IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPERA HOUSES EVER BUILT.

Opera House – Denmark From hot and dry Texas, stop 2 takes the cliff diving elite to the most northerly point in the whole season. The Danish capital city provides the athletes with a panoramic view of the royal palace, Amalienborg, and the adjacent domed Marble Church when mounting the 27-metre platform on the cantilever roof of the Opera House.

Located in the heart of the Danish capital city just opposite the shore of the harbour, the Opera House is built in alignment with Amalienborg and the marble church, so that if one stands in the main entrance of the opera, one can see the marble church over the water through Amalienborg. Donated to the Danish state by A.P. Møller, the co-founder of Mærsk, the world’s largest container ship and supply vessel operator, and Chastine McKinney Møller’s foundation, construction began in June 2001. A lot of time and passion was dedicated to the acoustics and interiors, making the house one of the best equipped in the world; completed on October 1, 2004, it was opened on January 15, 2005.

Still unbeaten and not forgotten - Artem Silchenko’s almost perfect dive in 2013, receiving four 10s from the judges - the highest score for a single dive of 183.00 points.

ˇ2 Location Copenhagen Opera House Coordinates 55°40”55’N, 12°36”02’E Platform heights 27m Water depth 5.5m to 7m Water temp. in September 18°C Air temp. in September 19°C Water Øresund, seawater Date June 18, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 2.20pm local time, 12.20pm GMT

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COPENHAGEN

LOCALS CALL THE ISLET “PRINCESS RING”.

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SÃO MIGUEL ˇ3 Location Volcanic nature reserve off the coast Coordinates 37° 41’ N, 25° 26’ W Platform/Rock heights 28m | 20m Water depth over 8m Water temp. in July 22°C Air temp. in July 25°C Water Atlantic Ocean, seawater Date July 9, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 11.20am local time, 11.20am GMT

São Miguel | Islet of Vila Franca do Campo – Portugal It won’t get anymore pure – cliff diving directly off the cliff face!

The phenomenal monoliths of Portugal’s Azores islands will see the athletes propelling themselves into water from great heights in July. This unique volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean serves as the take-off point for awe-inducing cliff dives for the fifth consecutive time for the men and, after last year’s huge success, a female competition will again be held on Vila Franca do Campo islet offshore from São Miguel.

Back to the roots is the motto – volcanic stone in the shape of a ‘snakehead’ and the outside crater walls of the almost perfectly round islet are the ideal spots for the athletes to explore this pure sport, spreading their wings diving straight from the cliffs like the pioneers did in Hawaii almost 250 years ago. Only for the more difficult optional dives will the athletes use the platform construction placed above the ocean.

Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, named after the village just in front in the mainland, is almost circular in shape but broken by a sea entrance through one section of its perimeter and came about following the collapse of an old volcano. After being used for many purposes over the centuries – from a military fort area to a vineyard – this islet was classified as a nature reserve in 1983. Of volcanic origin, the Azores are undoubtedly one of the last paradises in Europe – appearing often in legends of the lost continent of Atlantis – and have brought about the closest victory since the kick-off of the World Series in 2009: 0.1 points.

THE COMPETITION HAS A TIGHT TIMEFRAME OF ONLY TWO-HOURS DUE TO THE TIDES.

Saint Nicolas Tower – France A return to the World Series’ all-time favourite location – La Rochelle, France. The town with the apt name of ‘little cliff’ will be the lynchpin for the world’s cliff diving elite for the sixth time in the eight years of the series. The daunting venue in the Bay of Biscay topped its own record of the biggest World Series’ crowd of 75,000 spectators along the quay walls in 2015. It’s a oneof-a-kind atmosphere when so many people are hushed for the three-second dive and then cheer the resurfacing athlete.

This ‘World Series classic’, the launch point for the first-ever stop in 2009, means more superlatives than simply the biggest number of spectators, as the former defence tower of Saint Nicolas is also the most intimidating spot in the entire competition.

For the athletes it is 120 steps from the catacombs of the 42m high landmark and former jail with its pentagonal layout to the platform, looming 27metres above the chilly waters.

Looking back on a long tradition of fishing and trading, the seaport of La Rochelle was once the largest on the French Atlantic coast. Nowadays, the city and its 80,000 inhabitants still maintain strong links with the sea by harbouring the largest marina for pleasure boats in Europe.

ˇ4 Location Historic defence building Coordinates 46°09’20’’N, 01°09’55’’W Platform heights 27m Water depth 5m to 6m Water temp. in September 18°C Air temp. in September 25°C Water Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean, seawater Date July 23, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 06:50pm local time, 04:50pm GMT

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LA ROCHELLE

THE PLATFORM IS MOUNTED ON A PRIVATE TERRACE.

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POLIGNANO A MARE ˇ5 Location Bastione di Santo Stefano Coordinates 41°00’N, 17°03’E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 21m Water depth over 5m Water temp. in July 23°C Air temp. in July 28°C Water Adriatic Sea, sea water Date August 28, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 03:50pm local time, 01:50pm GMT

Bastione di Santo Stefano – Italy Back in the European home of cliff diving going into the second half of the season! The year’s fifth stop is held in the very south of Italy, in Polignano a Mare, where cliffs are the foundation of everyday life, with the town itself perched on the precipice. An enormous crowd can be expected, as this place not only means mozzarella, delicious raw fish and ice cream, but people of all ages fascinated by jumping into the water.

Hosting the World Series for the fourth time after 2009, 2010 and 2015, this location probably provides the most unusual venue: the take-off spot is a private roof-top terrace and the male and female athletes have to enter the platforms 27m and 21m above the Adriatic Sea via a private living room. The house is built over the most famous cliff of the coast and looks integrated into the cliff itself. Within the international high diving scene this spot is renowned for its uniqueness.

ABEREIDDI’S BLUE LAGOON IS CARED FOR BY THE NATIONAL TRUST.

Abereiddi, South West Wales – Great Britian For stop number 6, the World Series returns to the UK and to the picturesque location of the Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, south west Wales. The circular-shaped former slate quarry, now cared for by the National Trust, with its high cliffs provides a Colosseum-like setting, backed by pastoral farmland. With two British athletes in the 14 men- and 8 female-strong divers lineup, among them five-time overall winner Gary Hunt, and former Olympian Blake Aldridge, the serenity of this usually quiet corner of the country will get shattered during their acrobatic 3-second flights into the fresh Celtic Sea. The competition takes place at Abereiddi near St David’s, which is among the smallest cities in Europe with a population of only 1,800 and is built around the ancient cathedral of St David’s.

Wales is steeped in history and also has its own language, which is spoken by almost a quarter of the population. Pembrokeshire is a spectacular maritime county measuring only 20 miles from north to south, yet has 186 miles of breath-taking coastline. It has a diverse landscape of unspoilt pocket beaches, lakes, woodland and quaint villages, which have been the backdrop to films including the blockbuster, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

ˇ6 Location An old slate quarry filled with water Coordinates 51° 56’ 7” N, 5° 12’ 36” W Platform heights 27.5m | 20m Water depth 25m at its deepest point Water temp. in September 15°C Air temp. in September 18°C Water Celtic Sea, Seawater Date September 11, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 02:50pm local time, 01:50 GMT

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PEMBROKESHIRE

THE BRIDGE WAS DESTROYED DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA (1992-1995) AND LATER REBUILT WITH MANY OF THE ORIGINAL STONES.

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MOSTAR ˇ7 Location Old bridge in Mostar Coordinates 43°20’13”N, 17°48’54”E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 20m Water depth 5m to 5.5m Water temp. in Sept.

13°C Air temp. in Sept.

27°C Water River Neretva, freshwater Date September 24, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 02:20pm local time, 12:20pm GMT

Stari Most – Bosnia & Herzegovina Cliff diving in a place where diving from great heights has been a tradition for four-and-a-half centuries and surrounded by a fanatical crowd of spectators. A hand selected group of 14 of the world’s most elite cliff divers were part of the first ever World Series competition from the ‘Stari Most’, or old bridge of Mostar, and the country’s most recognizable landmark last season. Following this great success, the female cliff diving elite will perform their graceful 20m dives from the humpback bridge for the first time this September.

Built in the 16th century, the iconic Stari Most gracefully arches over the emerald water of Neretva River, connecting two parts of the old town in Mostar. On both sides surrounded by fortified towers, it fits seamlessly into the landscape, creating an impressive sight. This single span stone bridge seems to look divergent when viewed from different perspectives and is, together with the surrounding part of the Old City of Mostar, on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Equally iconic as the bridge, is the image of a diver soaring through the air from the bridge towards the fast flowing and cold water of Neretva River.

A 24 SECONDS ELEVATOR RIDE TAKES VISITORS 36M BELOW GROUND TO THE PIRATE’S HIDING SPOT.

Sandanbeki– japan October takes the cliff diving elite to new grounds in the south east of Japan. Rising to a height of 50 metres along a 2-kilometre stretch to the Pacific Ocean, Sandanbeki is a cliff towering along the coast of Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, and will provide an all-natural setting for the penultimate stop of the 2016 season. Where one of nature’s spectacular marvels can be watched – the ocean’s ‘black current’ unleashing wave after wave and sending them crashing up against the cliff – male and female diving grace will add to the beauty of the setting.

Just as spectacular as the view of the ocean from the cliff, is the underground limestone cave, which is said to have been a hideaway for the ships of the “Kumano-Suigun” navy/pirates, who ruled the Seto Inland Sea and participated in the conflicts between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late Heian Era. One can feel the historical background and the mystery of nature at this site, which was authorized as Japanese Geopark in August 28th 2014. The cave is almost like a maze – a lot of odd shaped rocks that were formed by waves and water over the long years.

Stripes on the rock tell about the power of nature. Turbulent waves hit walls of the cave. Looking at the ocean from the cave, the landscape is utterly different than that from the cliff.

ˇ8 Location Natural cliff in the Yoshino Kumano National Park Coordinates 33°39’57”N, 135°20’8”E Platform heights 28m | 21m Water depth 6-8m Water temp. in September 22°C Air temp. in September 24°C Water Pacific Ocean, seawater Date October 16, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 03:20pm local time, 06:20am GMT

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SHIRAHAMA

DUBAI MARINA WAS CARVED INTO THE DESERT LANDSCAPE. THE CENTRAL WATERWAY WAS EXCAVATED FROM NOTHING BUT A 3KM LONG DESERT.

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DUBAI ˇ9 Location Signature building in the Dubai Marina Coordinates 25°4”52.86’N, 55°8”38.67’E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 20m Water depth 5m Water temp. in July 31°C Air temp. in July 35°C Water Arabian Golf, seawater Date October 28, 2016 Live on redbullcliffdiving.com & Red Bull TV Airing 07:20pm local time, 03:20pm GMT

Dubai Marina, Pier 7 – United Arab Emirates 2016’s champions will be crowned during the World Series’ first ever event in the UAE. Spotlighting the cream of the crop in cliff diving, the Dubai Marina will provide for the very first time in 8 years of the series the spectacular setting for the final showdown.

A city, iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, holds all the requirements to host the elite group of men and women famous for diving aesthetically from dizzying heights.

The diving location, Pier 7, usually ups the ante for the city’s fine dining scene. The signature building with seven different restaurants on each of its floors, is a culinary destination that celebrates diversity in the art of fine dining. During this October’s last weekend, the circular-designed structure will not only provide stunning perspectives of the city skyline and the Arabian Gulf via wraparound views from each of its seven floors, it will serve as the season’s ultimate take-off spot for cliff diving’s best.

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M E D I A

FACTS, STATS &

THE FIRST 50 STOPS 28 LOCATIONS 23 COUNTRIES 4 CONTINENTS T

H E R E D

STRONGEST NATIONS

5

B U L L

UKRAINE

6 athletes

I C L

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F

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL

S T O

F

USA 5 athletes

D

Colombia 4 athletes

I V I N G

Mexico 4 athletes

GARY HUNT

5 World Series titles, 25 victories Artem Silchenko 1 World Series title, 10 victories

THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY

Orlando Duque 1 World Series title, 8 victories Most podium finishes Gary Hunt – 44 Orlando Duque – 33 Artem Silchenko – 26

2009

1 athlete with a degree of difficulty higher than 6.0

Artem Silchenko Highest-scoring individual dive 183.00 points

2015

5 athletes

Gary Hunt Highest-scoring competition result 548.20 pts

MILES TRAVELLED 133 261 809 MI

= 5.35 times around the world

Most difficult dive Blake Aldridge – 6.3 (reverse 2 somersaults, 5 twists free)

0 9 2 0

–

1

5

I E S

F R O M

0

R

O P S

4 DIVERS

from the original line-up in 2009 are still participating: Artem Silchenko, Gary Hunt, Michal Navratil and Orlando Duque

E

S

44 ATHLETES 20 NATIONALITIES

Youngest permanent World Series diver: David Colturi – 23 years old in his first World Series competition (2012) Oldest World Series diver and competitor: Andrey Ignatenko – 46 years old in his last competition (2010) 1 athlete has competed in all 50 stops: Gary Hunt

VENUES & SPECTATORS MORE THAN 1 MILLION

Spectators overall

Most spectators at an event: 75,000 in La Rochelle, France, 2015 Venue with the most stops in seven years: 5 times - La Rochelle, France Remotest venues: Hawaii, USA, 2010 / Rapa Nui, Chile, 2011

WINNERS 3

Champions Orlando Duque Gary Hunt Artem Silchenko

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Winners of individual stops Andrey Ignatenko, Orlando Duque, Gary Hunt, Artem Silchenko, Steven LoBue, David Colturi, Blake Aldridge, Jonathan Paredes

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D R L W O

THE CLIFF DIVING ‘ESSENTIALS’ IT’D BE AN EXAGGERATION TO CALL THIS HEADING ‘ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT’, AS WE’VE ALL LEARNED THAT CLIFF DIVERS DON’T NEED MUCH MORE THAN A SUPER-FIT BODY AND A STRONG MIND, A HIGH CLIFF AND A STRETCH OF WATER BENEATH TO ENJOY THEIR PURE SPORT. AND, OF COURSE, COURAGE! BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT AND EVERYTHING MENTIONED HERE IS PROBABLY A MERE MEANS TO AN END, A FOND HABIT OR SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES EASE AND COMFORT.

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FIND HERE THE LIST OF THINGS A CLIFF DIVER NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSE WITHOUT:

Speedos & swimsuit – No matter what, when cliff divers travel, they always carry their ‘speedos’ – diving lingo for swimming trunks – and swimsuits in their hand-luggage. In cliff diving, this is the only real piece of equipment and some of the divers wear more than one when diving from great heights. You might be tempted to say that they wear as many as possible because they’ve got so many but that’s only one half of the truth. The other half is that the impact on the water is so strong, that putting some extra layers between your skin and the water takes away a bit of the impact. Also, it has been known for speedos to rip upon water entry, so wearing an extra pair can help maintain a diver’s dignity!

Shammy – The chamois or ‘shammy’ is a small towel that serves more than one purpose.

First, it keeps the diver’s body dry before a dive. This is important because the hands and legs need to be dry so as not to slip out of position in the air. At the same time, the athletes try to keep their hands wet – in the same way that some people lick their fingertips before turning the page of a book. In case of low temperatures, the divers also use the chamois to dry their bodies and stay warm. It’s also dry again as soon as you wring it out!

Flip-flops – Never ask cliff divers why there are so many different kinds of shoes – they won’t have an answer. Because all they need, wear and use are flip-flops: to climb slippery rocks or ladders, walk the platform, travel and even go out. Flip-flops, paired with the shammy, are the two things that make it to the water even before the diver; knotted together, they are thrown down the cliff – sometimes right on top of a scuba diver – and are immediately picked up by the athletes as soon as they surface. Never separate those besties for too long!

Action cam – An important tool to communicate with the world: take an action cam, put it on a stick, lean over the edge of the platform and upload the shot onto your social media channels. But not only the athletes use these super-flexible and tiny cameras to take spectacular images, they are also used by the professional moving and still images crew of the World Series, who provide people at home with some of the most fascinating one-of-a-kind close-up shots.

Towel – Believe it or not, cliff divers do freeze, and not just when diving into the chilly waters of Norway, Ireland or France. Exposing your body to extreme conditions like fear, pressure and top diving performance in combination with muscle flexibility and continuing mental concentration, can wash away your energy. A warm towel right after getting out of the water is simply the easiest way to warm up and relax a bit.

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Lifeproof® Waterproof and Drop Proof, LifeProof protects the diver’s smartphones so they can live without limits and focus on their training, diving fearlessly to unleash their remarkable. Available for Apple and Samsung devices.

Measuring tape – In outdoor sports we’re always confronted with Mother Nature and her moods. The platform is usually mounted 20m (for the women) and 27m (for the men) above the water, but only the measuring tape erases all doubts regarding the actual height. So sports director Niki Stajkovic checks the distance between platform and water each time before training and competition.

Sunglasses – One could say, it’s a typical gadget for people living the desirable life of a ‘sunny boy or girl’. However, in the real life of a cliff diver, sunglasses are a necessity to give their eyes a break from the bright sunshine, allowing them to see the actual dive of their competitor in the bright sunlight, hide your emotions or simply make them look even cooler!

Exercise mat – Your square metre of comfort to warm up and get your muscles and joints ready for three seconds of acrobatic freefall and hitting the water at speeds of close to 90kph.

Juggling balls – Gary Hunt introduced juggling to the World Series. It’s his way of mental relaxation as it completely takes your mind off of everything cliff diving-related. The perfect distraction before a cliff dive.

Headphones – A cliff diver’s best friend in the last phase of preparation. From hip-hop to hard rock to the latest hits – a cliff diver’s playlist is multifarious and long. If they want to tune out, they tune in!

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Every Stop of the 2016 World Series will be live on Red Bull TV – check redbullcliffdiving.com for exact timings.

MEDIA INFO

CLIFF DIVING IS FASCINATING, IMPRESSIVE AND EXCLUSIVE. THIS PURE EXTREME SPORT CONTINUES TO SPREAD ITS UNIQUE SPIRIT AROUND THE GLOBE.

IN 2015

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PAÍS: España

FRECUENCIA: Diario

PÁGINAS: 70-71

O.J.D.: 60453

TARIFA: 14766 €

E.G.M.: 413000

ÁREA: 1305 CM² - 145%

SECCIÓN: DEPORTES

8DEPORTES Septiembre, 2015 RED BULL SERIES EN BILBAO

Martes 08.09.15 EL CORREO

268,700

spectators on-site «Bilbao es el lugar perfecto para la gran final»

3,361

media in 66 countries reported on the event

Los tres mejores clavadistas del mundo se muestran encantados por volver a saltar en la capital vizcaína para cerrar la temporada

LAURA GONZÁLEZ

Tiragem: 4620

ID: 60147975

14-07-2015

1,393

Pág: 2

País: Portugal

Cores: Cor

Period.: Diária

Área: 23,00 x 26,89 cm²

Âmbito: Regional

Corte: 1 de 3

Gary Hunt hizo las delicias de los aficionados en Bilbao. :: FOTOS: © RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE

BILBAO. El espectáculo tiene una cita con Bilbao el próximo 26 de septiembre. Ese día el Puente de La Salve se volverá a transformar en un gran trampolín a la ría desde el que los mejores clavadistas del mundo dejarán boquiabiertos a los vizcaínos. Un show sin igual desde una altura de 28 metros, uno más que el pasado año pasado, que hace doce meses congregó a más de 50.000 personas con el museo Guggenheim de fondo. La villa será de nuevo la única prueba que se celebre en España de las Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, que cerrará en aguas del Nervión el circuito de esta temporada.

Gary Hunt, ganador ya en cuatro ediciones, tiene este 2015 el título de nuevo en su poder, después de ganar cinco de las seis citas ya disputadas hasta el momento. A principios de agosto el británico se proclamó además campeón del mundo de esta modalidad en Kazán. El podio lo completaron el mexicano Jonathan Paredes y el ruso Artem Silchenko, quien se llevó el pasado año la txapela en la capital vizcaína. Los tres estarán en el Botxo

de nuevo, y los tres también coinciden en señalar que esta cita tiene algo especial. «Es una ciudad que nos transmitió muchísimo a todos, es el sitio perfecto para la gran final». Hunt reconoce que se divirtió mucho «paseando y descubriendo Bilbao», y está seguro de que será «la guinda perfecta» para una temporada que califica de «espectacular». «Allí me aseguré el año pasado mi título mundial, guardo los recuerdos con mucho cariño». Silchenko, por su parte, declaró a EL CORREO que espera «ansioso» su vuelta a la villa. «Estoy encantado, tuvimos el mejor público jamás visto».

Pero sin duda la imagen que recuerdan casi todos los presentes el año pasado en los saltos es la de Jonathan Paredes con la camiseta del Athletic saludando y arengando al público, desde la plataforma, instantes antes de lanzarse al agua. Un gesto con el que se metió a todos en el bolsillo. «Creo que lo volveré a hacer, sin duda. Lo hablamos un día antes el mánager y yo y llegamos a

Silchenko: «Estoy encantado de volver a saltar en Bilbao. Tuvimos el mejor público jamás visto»

billion earned media contacts

2,976

TV reports

1,673 4,541

online features

981

pictures published by news agencies

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series offers a dedicated international editorial service that includes a skilled team of photographers, TV crews and news, digital and social editors that produce editorial content and distribute news, pictures, stories and TV-footage to the international media, providing background and inside information and bringing the sport closer to a wider audience.

Millions of people around the world read about cliff diving in their favourite daily newspaper, hear about it on the radio station of their choice and watch the competitions live and on demand on TV or online.

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print articles

EDITORIAL PRODUCTS Availability of the products -10

-3

Pre Event Release

Location Pictures

-2

-1

Event

Teaser Text

Day 1 Results

News Release

Quotes of the Day Teaser Pictures

Quotes of the Day Day 1 Pictures

Quotes of the Day Results

Lifestyle Pictures Announcement Clip

+1

+2

+5 Feature Story

Additional Story Pictures Pictures

Best Pictures Tune-In Trailer

LIVE (HD)

52min Recap

Top 3 dives Clips

Story Clip

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News Cut Best Moments Cut Winning Dive Clips

MOVING ˇ Announcement clip ˇ Tune-in trailer ˇ Live (HD) & Live Replay ˇ Winning dive clip (men & women) ˇ Best moments clip ˇ News cut & interviews ˇ Highlight programme (52min, HD) ˇ Feature story ˇ Athletes profiles ˇ Top 3 dives clips (men & women)

Additional moving images products throughout the season ˇ 5 editorial highlights (26min, HD) ˇ Generic sports clips ˇ Various social media clips ˇ Pre- and off-season content

STILL ˇ Location ˇ Lifestyle ˇ Teaser ˇ Preparation ˇ Action ˇ Sequences ˇ Portraits

EDITORIAL ˇ Pre-event release ˇ Teaser text ˇ News release ˇ Quotes ˇ Story text All-purpose editorial content ˇ Athletes profiles ˇ Judges profiles

Media Service Moving images, still images, editorial texts – during the entire season the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series provides the media with a variety of rich and distinct contents and formats.

NEWSROOM Discover the editorial world of cliff diving!

The Red Bull Cliff Diving Newsroom is your place to be to stay up to date with the latest editorial products. The content portfolio ranges from high-quality photos to HD videos and the latest news and stories for global media. Also, it’s super easy to download content in high resolution and use for your next extraordinary feature about cliff diving.

Our content is available free of charge for editorial purposes after successfully registering.

1. SIGN UP Here you go; you can now search for content.

2. FIND There are several options to find your desired content. Search specifically in drop-down menus and editorial sections or simply search full text.

3. USE Download your desired content in the format you need. All products are available in HD.

Media contact mediaservice@redbullcliffdiving.com

RED BULL CLIFF DIVING NEWSROOM REDBULLCLIFFDIVINGNEWSROOM.COM

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SOCIAL MEDIA 74 facebook.com/redbullcliffdiving @redbullcliffdiving @cliffdiving

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C L O P E D I A

ENCY-

A-Z

DID YOU KNOW?

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ACAPULCO In Acapulco, Mexico, pearl divers began to dive from the cliffs of La Quebrada in the 1930s – some with greater skill than others – in order to find the biggest and most valuable pearls.

Legends recall the heights from which they jumped. The figure of 36 metres is inscribed into the top of the cliff; however many people talk about jumps in excess of 40 metres. The highest level on site is actually 25.90 metres above the sea.

BLIND ENTRY The last time the diver sees the water is at least half a somersault before entry as he or she lines up ‘blind’.

BRAKING DISTANCE The braking distance for a high dive from 28m is approximately 4m after entry into the water.

CHAMOIS The chamois or ‘shammy’ is a small towel that serves a few purposes.

It keeps the divers’ body dry before a dive. This is important because the hands and legs need to be dry so as not to slip out of position in the air.

At the same time, the athletes try to keep their hands wet – in the same way that some people wet the tips of their fingers to turn the pages of a book.

In case of low temperatures, the divers try to stay warm by drying their bodies with the chamois. It’s dry again as soon as you squeeze the water out of the towel.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY The degree of difficulty of a dive is evaluated on the basis of the following: take-off, number of somersaults, number of twists, position during the somersaults and entry into the water.

EQUIPMENT There is no need for equipment. Cliff diving is the athlete versus gravity – which is one of the main reasons why so many people are intrigued by the sport.

EVOLUTION Improvement and evolution are crucial aspects of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

Besides offering jaw-dropping diving action, the World Series also intends to push the limits of high diving. Bringing together the best of their kind and providing them with a stable platform height and a set number of competitions broke new boundaries in its very first year of existence.

Gary Hunt’s triple somersault with four twists – the Triple Quad – was the first dive conceived exclusively for cliff diving and has a degree of difficulty of 6.2. The evolution of high diving, which began in 2009, continued in the past years following intense off-season preparation and with the introduction of a Women’s World Series in 2014. More jaw-dropping action from up to 28m is guaranteed for 2016.

FEMALE COMPETITION The first female competition in the history of Red Bull Cliff Diving was held in Malcesine, Italy, in July 2013 and won my Germany’s Anna Bader.

FINA In April 2012 the Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA, included high diving as a professional sport.

FREE FALL During a dive from 28m, the athletes have about three seconds of free fall in which to perform their spectacular movements before they plunge into the water.

G-FORCE At the highest point, the G-force value increases to five, which means that the diver experiences a force equal to five times his own weight.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD There are two Guinness world records in cliff diving. Orlando Duque’s perfect dive during the WHDF Cliff Diving World Championship in Kaunolu, Hawaii, in 2000, when he performed a double back somersault with four twists from

24.40m. He earned a perfect 10 from all seven judges and scored 159.00 points; a number which has been noted as the highest scored dive ever. The Colombian has also participated in more world championships than any other cliff diver.

KAUNOLU Cliff diving is a very traditional discipline, which has its origin during the 1700s in Kaunolu, on the south western part of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

HEIGHT High diving competitions are generally held at heights ranging from 18-23 metres for female and 20-28 metres for male divers. 26.5 metres – the minimum height in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series for a men’s competition – is the equivalent of an eight-storey building.

LELE KAWA Lele Kawa is a Hawaiian expression, meaning ‘leaping feet-first from a high cliff into water without making a splash’ and was used by Kahekili, the last independent king of Maui, as an initiation rite for his warriors.

HEROES OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS, BROKEN RECORDS AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS – CLIFF DIVING HAS ITS HEROES, LIKE KING KAHEKILI, ENRIQUE APAC RIOS, LUCY WARDLE, OLIVIER FAVRE, ORLANDO DUQUE, GARY HUNT AND ARTEM SILCHENKO. IMPACT The force of the impact is nine times harder than from the 10-metre platform and can also be compared with running full speed into a wall.

JURY An international jury of five people judges each dive. The judges consider take-off, position in the air and water entry and they award scores from 0 to 10.

KAHEKILI In the 1770s, a no less illustrious personage than Kahekili, the last independent king of Maui, indulged in cliff diving.

KAMEHAMEHA In the 19th century, the Hawaiian King Kamehameha, was the first to allow the organisation of cliff diving contests with defined rules to determine the best and bravest athlete.

LIFEPROOF® LifeProof is the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series partner to protect competitors’ smartphones to ensure they can focus on competing, safe in the knowledge that their device is protected from dirt, dust, rocks and crucially, water!

For more information, visit w ww.lifeproof.com #LiveLifeProof LIVE In 2016, all stops of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be live on redbullcliffdiving. com and Red Bull TV. LOCATIONS Possum Kingdom Lake (USA), Copenhagen (DEN), Azores, São Miguel (POR), La Rochelle (FRA), Polignano a Mare (ITA), Pembrokeshire, Wales (GBR), Mostar (BIH), Shirahama (JPN) and Dubai (UAE) are the nine alluring locations for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2016.

MAXIMUM HEIGHT The maximum height for competitions in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is 28m / 92ft.

Due to the rapid acceleration, almost no time benefit occurs from higher dives and the risk of injury increases disproportionately.

MIND A lot of things go through a diver’s mind just before a dive: They rehearse the whole process mentally before stepping onto the platform.

Some of them mimic the dive, recreate it in their heads and try to feel it. In the last seconds before the dive they are completely focused and the fear is gone.

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HIGH SCORES After the 2015 season Russia’s Artem Silchenko holds the high score of 183.00 points for a single dive. Britain’s Gary Hunt holds the record for the highest-scoring competition result of 548.20 points.

ORIGIN Cliff diving had its origin during the 1700s in Hawaii.

PANCAKE LANDING A pancake landing, or crash landing, from cliff diving heights can be compared with a hard landing from 13 metres on concrete.

PLATFORM The platform must be a stable take-off board constructed with a minimum length of 1.5m, a minimum width of 0.75m and a water-sprayed rim at least 2m beyond the vertical line.

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PRESSURE The fact that the mere thought of a high dive in a neutral and relaxed environment sees the heart rate and the body tension rise to the same high level experienced before the actual execution – as proven at the Red Bull Diagnostics and Training Centre in Austria – underlines the mental and physical pressure the athletes are exposed to.

REQUIREMENTS The main requirements for cliff divers are an extensive technical education, many years of experience in diving or a similar acrobatic sport, as well as courage, self-confidence, extraordinary physical control and the ability to make decisions within fractions of a second based on the following impulses: sight, space, time and experience.

RISK The highest risk of injury occurs during the water entry, when parts of the body are already exposed to absolute deceleration and others, above the surface, are still at top speed. Crash landings can be ruled out though, because of the divers’ technical training and experience.

SAFETY Regulations for safety are a maximum height (28m / 92ft), a minimum water depth (5m / 16.4ft), a stable and water-sprayed platform with a minimum length of 1.5m and width of 0.75m and with a rim at least 2m beyond the vertical fall line, rescue divers, paramedics and as well as an ambulance.

SKILL Most athletes reach their maximum technical skill and mental maturity at around 30 years of age. Besides a technical education, the main prerequisite for all cliff divers is at least 10 to 15 years of training in diving or a similar acrobatic sport. Another necessary requirement is the ability to make split-second decisions based on impulses such as sight, space, time and experience.

SOMERSAULT A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person rotates around the somersault axis, moving the feet over the head. It can be performed forwards, backwards or sideways and is an important part of each high dive.

SPEED FROM 28M, THE SPEED AT WHICH YOU ENTER THE WATER IS 85-90KPH / 53-56MPH; AN ACCELERATION THAT COMPARES TO A LAMBORGHINI MURCIÉLAGO. TAKE-OFF At the take-off, the diver leaves the platform.

After the take-off, the diver has about 10-12 metres in which to do his tricks. A good take-off almost guarantees a good entry.

TRAINING A balanced training program includes springboard diving, flexibility and power training, as well as mental conditioning.

TRIPLE QUAD Gary Hunt’s (GBR) triple somersault with four twists – the Triple Quad – was the first dive conceived exclusively for cliff diving and has a degree of difficulty of 6.2.

TWIST A twist is one of the nine main groups in which dives are classified. Any dive incorporating an axial twisting movement comes under this group. Twists of up to five revolutions are performed in competitions and can be added to dives in the forward, back, reverse, inward and handstand categories.

UNDER WATER As soon as the athletes land, they start their braking process under water. In less than a second the divers’ bodies decelerate from 85kph / 53mph to zero.

VERTICAL POSITION To minimise the risk of injuries and the water splash, the water entry should be in a perfectly vertical position.

WATER Water is the central element in cliff diving.

Characteristics like temperature, density and colour play important roles when the diver approaches the entry point.

WEB www.redbullcliffdiving.com is the official website of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

It contains up-to-date news, divers’ profiles, picture galleries, videos and the latest information about the stops and results.

WOMEN’S WORLD SERIES In 2014, Red Bull Cliff Diving introduced the Women’s World Series and Rachelle Simpson, from the United States, was crowned the first-ever female champion. The 28-year-old defended her title in 2015. In its third year, the Women’s World Series will decide its winner during seven competitions.

ZERO PROTECTION Cliff divers do not have any protection except their own experience. Their diving ability is their only protection against injuries.

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WATER ENTRY The most dangerous part in cliff diving is the water entry. Even if the divers have a good line and break the water’s surface perfectly vertical, it still hurts. With their bodies under tremendous pressure, the water is like a wall; with forces nine times harder than those faced by Olympic athletes from a 10-metre tower.

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PUBLICATION RED BULL CLIFF DIVING MAGAZINE 2016

Publisher Red Bull Media House GmbH, Oberst-Lepperdinger-Straße 11-15, 5071 Wals bei Salzburg Photography RED BULL CONTENT POOL (Romina Amato, Paulo Calisto, Ray Demski, Balazs Gardi, Romina Amato, Paulo Calisto, Ray Demski, Balazs Gardi) Illustration Kastner & Partners in Madrid, Sascha Duensing (Sirius-sdz), Birgit Lohmann, Icarus creative, Studio ZWUPP Layout & Graphicdesign Studio ZWUPP – www.zwupp.at

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