The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2017 by Red Bull Media House

OFFICIAL WORLD SERIES PARTNER

W O R L D

THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING SINCE 2009, THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES HAS PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR NERVE-JANGLING ACTION AND DIVES OF EVER-GROWING COMPLEXITY. IT FEATURES ELITE ATHLETES AS WELL AS YOUNG UP-AND-COMING TALENT AND IN 2014 INTRODUCED A WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WORLD SERIES.

S E R I E S

THE FIGHT FOR GLORY IN THE NINTH SEASON IS ARGUABLY THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE TO DATE. THREE SECONDS OF ACROBATIC FREE FALL AT VENUES RANGING FROM NATURAL WONDERS AND VISUAL FEASTS TO HISTORIC SITES AND UNKNOWN GROUNDS WILL PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SPORT AGAIN IN 2017. BEGINNING IN JUNE, THIS PURE EXTREME SPORT WILL HIT NEW AS WELL AS PROVEN WATERS ACROSS EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA BEFORE CROWNING TWO NEW CHAMPIONS AT AN ORIGINAL LOCATION IN SOUTH AMERICA IN OCTOBER.

THE ESSENCE 2

FALLING FREE FROM GREAT HEIGHTS COMBINED WITH THE MOST APPEALING 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 27 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 85KM/H.

INIS MÓR IRL 24 JUNE

SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES POR

2017

9 JULY

POLIGNANO A MARE ITA 23 JULY

TEXAS USA 3 SEPTEMBER

MOSTAR BIH 16 SEPTEMBER

LAGO RANCO CHI 21 OCTOBER 4

REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM #REDBULLCLIFFDIVING

REVIEW 2016

ATHLETES’ SELECTION THE PLANET’S FINEST DIVERS Men In addition to the top five of the 2016 World Series ranking, the remaining five permanent tickets for the 2017 season were assigned according to the rankings after 11 events, including the FINA world cup and Marmeeting.

Standing strong against Welsh winds (f.l.t.r.): Helena Merten, Rachelle Simpson, Cesilie Carlton, Adriana Jimenez, Tara Hyer-Tira.

Nine tough and testing competitions, including seven for the women, made for the biggest-ever Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2016 and has seen more competition winners than ever before - six winners in nine events, including three new faces on the top with veteran Michal Navratil (CZE), Andy Jones (USA) and World Series rookie Sergio Guzman (MEX), in the men’s and a complete newcomer who’s taken the female cliff diving elite by surprise to become the first-ever rookie to win the overall championship. Gary Hunt wrapped up his second hat-trick of World Series wins after dominating 2010-2012 and 2014-2016. With the world’s hardest dive on his list, three victories and four more podium finishes, the ‘brilliant Brit’ once again left his

Women In the women’s the top four automatically qualified for the new season. The additional two permanent tickets were awarded according to the World Ranking after eight events.

mark on this sport. Mexico’s rising star Jonathan Paredes bettered his top-three finish from 2015 by one position to become 2016’s runner-up. Andy Jones from the USA claimed third place overall after winning the first ever night event in Dubai last October. Wildcard Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) wrapped up a dream debut season with five victories in seven competitions to secure the Women’s title in style. Only Canada’s Richard managed to stay on the Australian’s heels in the overalls and with two season wins, she finished 2nd in what was her first fully-fledged season from 21m. Texan Cesilie Carlton completed the women’s 2016 overall podium.

7 Gary Hunt was 2016’s most consistent diver with 7 podiums out of 9 competitions.

From Hawaiian King Kahekili’s passion of leaping feet first from a high cliff in the 18th century cliff diving has emerged as 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, the sport’s legend from Colombia. In 59 competitions between 2009 and 2016, the athletes have pushed the sport to such a high level that sports director Greg Louganis – four-time Olympic gold medallist from the US 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 21m for the women and 27m for the men; the degree of difficulty table was amended to the sport’s recent evolutions and implemented by the sports committee in alignment with FINA and secures that all dives are rated according to their difficulty. 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) included high diving as a professional sport in 2012. It’s an exciting time for cliff diving with so much more talent coming in.” The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series aims to guarantee the sport’s highest possible standard, spotlighting the top athletes as well as young talent, male and female. It provides them with a platform to excel and express their passion over and over again.

As the most recognized series of cliff diving competitions, the 2017 World Series once again features the sport’s most elite athletes. Ten men and six women from eight nationalities will excel in performing at the highest level and fighting for glory, challenged by a series of wildcard divers and also the elements. In this, its ninth year, the title is decided from six competitions for both men and women.

Colombia’s Orlando Duque engraved his name on the King Kahekili Trophy after the World Series debut season in 2009.

OVERALL RANKINGS 2016

HIGH STANDARDS 8

ATHLETES

MEN (9 stops) 1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 1350pts. 2. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 1030 3. Andy Jones, USA – 910 4. Michal Navratil, CZE – 900 5. Steven LoBue, USA – 800 6. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 638 7. Orlando Duque, COL – 630 8. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 508 9. David Colturi, USA – 500 10. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 438

WOMEN (7 stops) 1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS – 1290pts. 2. Lysanne Richard, CAN – 1030 3. Cesilie Carlton, USA – 780 4. Helena Merten, AUS – 710 5. Adriana Jimenez, MEX – 670 6. Ginger Huber, USA – 630 7. Rachelle Simpson, USA – 470 8. Yana Nestsiarava (W), BLR – 180 9. Jaki Valente (W), BRA – 160 10. Tara Hyer-Tira (W), USA - 150

CLIFF DIVING SCIENCE

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

A DIVE IN NUMBERS 27 M | 90 FT FOR MEN 21 M | 70 FT FOR WOMEN 3 SECONDS LONG 85 KM/H | 53 MPH FAST UP TO 5G PHYSICAL FORCE

28 m | 92 ft max. height 26.5 m | 87 ft min. height

22 m | 72 ft max. height 20 m | 65 ft min. height

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series heights

10 m Olympic Diving

IMPACT UP TO 9 TIMES HARDER THAN FROM 10M PLATFORM

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. 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.

Rescue divers/paramedics On standby next to the diving point, three scuba divers at landing point. Ambulance on standby. Water spray The water spray breaks the water surface and is used as a reference point for the divers; the spray also softens the water at the entry point.

-5 m Minimum water depth

Heights can vary due to tides and waves

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

JoJo

The season’s first dives from nearly three times the height of the Olympic platform take place surrounded by Irish wilderness at the fabled ‘Serpent’s Lair’ on the Aran Island’s Inis Mór in June. From the near-perfect rectangle on the edges of Europe, the World Series travels on to a real classic - the phenomenal rocks of Portugal’s Azores island of São Miguel, where the athletes dive straight from the volcanic cliffs. In mid July, the athletes have to walk through a private living room to reach the platforms atop the Adriatic Seas in Polignano a Mare in the very south of Italy.

After a summer break, the World Series returns to Texas and the visual feast of two towering cliffs called Hell’s Gate at Possum Kingdom Lake. From this massive water reservoir, the penultimate stop awaits the athletes with the chilly waters below Stari Most, the old bridge of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where diving from great heights has been a tradition for centuries. October takes the cliff diving elite to completely new grounds in southern Chile. During the first ever World Series competition at the Riñinahue waterfall, surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, the King Kahekili Trophy will be awarded to the 2017 champions.

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RULES &

A T

14 divers

8 divers

1 Intermediate Dive maximum DD 3.6

1 Optional Dive

ROUND 1

1 Required Dive maximum DD 2.6

DAY 1

1 Required Dive maximum DD 2.8

DAY 1

ROUND 2

ROUND 1

COMPETITION FORMAT

The winner of any individual stop is the diver with the highest point total from this stop after 4 dives.

ROUND 2

Ahead of each competition a draw determines the diving order for the 1st round.

8 divers

ROUND 3

1 Required Dive maximum DD 2.6 Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score. 8 divers

1 Optional Dive Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

1 Optional Dive. Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

8 divers

FINAL ROUND

14 divers

DAY 2

1 Optional Dive Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.

DAY 2

ROUND 3

14 divers

JUDGING &

SCORING

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

SCORES from 0 to 10 in half point increments. 5 scores by 5 judges.

POINTS PER COMPETITION The points from each competition are added together to produce the total score and standings of the World Series. 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 dive component.

HIGHEST & LOWEST score are discarded. The remaining three scores are added together.

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

ˇ Type of take off ˇ Number of somersaults ˇ Number of twists ˇ Position during the somersaults ˇ Type of entry SCORES from all 4 rounds are cumulated for the final competition result. The DD table was adjusted for the 2017 World Series in alignment with FINA and now ranges from 2.6 (women) and 2.8 (men) for the Required Dives to up to 5.6 for the sport’s currently hardest dives. According to the official Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 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.

POINTS are 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.

JUDGES

DOS & DON’TS

FIVE JUDGES 1 head judge & 4 judges per competition will be selected for each competition from a pool of 10 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

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

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

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

Take Off ˇ If in an armstand dive the diver does not show a steady balance and control. The body should come to rest in a vertical and straight alignment for no less than two full seconds before initiating the dive action.

WHEN DO THE JUDGES DEDUCT POINTS FROM THEIR SCORES?

Execution ˇ If an intermediate break of position, a break in position at or just before the entry occurs and if a dive is done in a completely different position than announced. ˇ When the straight position upon take-off is not shown for at least one quarter of a somersault in all flying dives.

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

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

ˇ If an obvious break of straight position occurs after at least one complete somersault has been performed in either tuck or pike position. Entry ˇ If the arms at the entry are away from the body and either below or above the shoulders. ˇ If a dive is over- or under-twisted by more than 90° the Head Judge declares a failed dive.

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

Ken Grove (AUS|AUT) Two-time Olympian for Australia and Austria Powerless take-offs, incorrect distance to the platform.

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

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

Unaesthetic execution, open or crossed legs, unpointed toes, legs that are not straight in pike, layout position or entry phase. Short and non-vertical entries, under or over-rotated entries.

WHAT THE JUDGES DO NOT WANT TO SEE AND WHAT THEY REGARD AS MISTAKES: 21

KING KAHEKILI TROPHY THE SILK RIBBON OF CLIFF DIVING EXCELLENCE THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS’ AWARD

It’s the trophy that every cliff diver wants to win, but only the pick of the crop are awarded the King Kahekili Trophy for the overall title in honour of the great Hawaiian chief who first leaped from the holy cliffs of Kaunolu, the birthplace of the majestic sport of cliff diving. The old Hawaiian principles of ‘mana’ and ‘pono’, power and balance, were crucial when lele kawa, which loosely translates as ‘leaping feet-first from a high cliff into the water without making a splash’, 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 on the island of Lanai that the last independent ruler of Maui, King Kahekili, dove in the late 1700s. The diving site has always been regarded as holy and up until today the chief’s name is inextricably linked with the earliest beginnings of humankind’s oldest extreme sport. 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.” Real participation is also demanded by the athletes of the World Series to be awarded the King Kahekili 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 completely covering 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 overall victory in 2017.

MEN Orlando Duque, COL 2009 Gary Hunt, UK 2010 Gary Hunt, UK 2011 Gary Hunt, UK 2012 Artem Silchenko, RUS 2013 Gary Hunt, UK 2014 Gary Hunt, UK 2015 Gary Hunt, UK 2016 WOMEN Rachelle Simpson, USA 2014 Rachelle Simpson, USA 2015 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2016

NAMES ON THE KING KAHEKILI TROPHY TO DATE:

Who’ll grab the desired trophy in the most competitive season to date?

DIVE COMPONENTS

DIVE POSITIONS

3 POSITONS ALL THREE POSITIONS (STRAIGHT, PIKE, TUCK) MUST BE SHOWN.

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

BARANI One somersault forward rotation with a ½ twist. The entry manoeuvre allows the athlete to see the water for as long as possible.

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

TWIST The body twists on axis whilst rotating. The record number of twists is currently 5.

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.

Sommersault The diver rotates head over end, forwards or backwards. The record number of somersaults is currently 5.

25 FLYING Dives consisting of at least one complete somersault performed in the straight position, maintained for not less than 90° of movement. The straight position must then be followed by either tuck or pike position.

Each one of the five groups can also incorporate an axial twisting movement and will be considered group 6 to 10.

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.

ARMSTAND, Group 5 The armstand can be executed forward, back or reverse with no twists.

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

FIND OUT MORE AND WATCH THE VIDEO AT WWW.REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM/ABOUT

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

SPORTS DIRECTOR

DIVE GROUPS

INTRODUCING THE SPORTS DIRECTOR: GREG LOUGANIS, FOUR-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION ARGUABLY THE GREATEST DIVER IN OLYMPIC HISTORY WILL HELP TO SHAPE THIS RAPIDLY EVOLVING SPORT “I am thrilled to be working even more closely with the Red Bull Cliff Diving family, one of the most supportive and creative teams I’ve had the pleasure of being associated with,” said Louganis, the only male to sweep both the 3m and 10m diving events in consecutive Olympic Games (’84 and ’88), and who was a regular on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series judging panel up until now. “Interacting with this extraordinarily talented and elite group of athletes as a judge was already something I cherished, but being able to continue the work of my dear friend, the extraordinary Niki Stajkovic, is both humbling and an honour. I look forward to the 2017 season as we continue to strengthen the awareness of cliff diving as the important and pure sport it is.” The US diving legend follows Niki Stajkovic as the World Series’ sports director, after the Austrian sadly passed away in February. 57-year-old Greg Louganis is determined to continue the work of his former Olympic competitor, who has turned the World Series into the sport’s most recognized competition since the event’s inaugural season in 2009. The 5-time world champion has the potential to steer cliff diving to even greater heights with FINA having proposed the discipline’s inclusion in the Olympic programme.

HOW TO WATCH

WATCH ALL STOPS OF THE 2017 RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES LIVE ON REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM, RED BULL TV AND FACEBOOK.

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. 2016 runner-up Jonathan Paredes dives on home soil at the Ik Kil cenote in Yucatan, Mexico.Â

The World Series has taken the athletes to exotic places such as the Wadi Shab in Oman in 2012.

PERMANENT DIVERS

0 1

ANDY JONES BLAKE ALDRIDGE DAVID COLTURI GARY HUNT JONATHAN PAREDES KRIS KOLANUS MICHAL NAVRATIL ORLANDO DUQUE SERGIO GUZMAN STEVEN LOBUE

USA GBR USA GBR MEX POL CZE COL MEX USA

7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; M E N

THE 2017 WORLD SERIES FEATURES TEN MALE ATHLETES OF SIX NATIONALITIES THROUGHOUT THE SIX COMPETITIONS, AND UP TO FOUR WILDCARD DIVERS PER STOP.

Date of birth April 21, 1985

Date of birth August 4, 1982

Height/Weight 1.82m/81kg

Height/Weight 1.70m/65kg

City of residence Santa Monica, California

City of residence London

Profession Stunt Performer and Cirque du Soleil Performer Secret passion Film production Started cliff diving in 2008 Favourite cliff diving spot Lake Powell, Southern Utah Favourite dive Flying back somersault

“Have you ever used your talent to impress girls at the swimming pool?” – “Tried and failed, turns out in the end they always want you to talk to them.” The deadpan American could clearly have worked as a comedian if his cliff diving career hadn’t turned out so successful. Coming out ahead at the 2016 showdown, California-based Jones utilised his Cirque du Soleil background in the World Series’ first-ever night time event to show his best diving and topped his most successful season with a first place from the 27m-platform. The 11th athlete to ever win a competition completed the overall podium behind Gary Hunt and Jonathan Paredes, promoting him to one of the favourites for the 2017 season. “I know everyone is going to come out swinging and my goal is to keep up with them,’ - maybe a bit over-modest of the 32-year-old, who combines his height and free-running passion to produce a unique diving style.

Achievements

2016 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Dubai (UAE)

Final Rankings Year

9 2014

2015 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Azores (POR)

2007 University of Utah ‘Diver of the Year’

1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Profession Olympic diver Secret passion Improving at whatever I try. Golf, fishing, building. Started cliff diving in 2009 Favourite cliff diving spot Thailand

A CLIFF DIVER AUTOMATICALLY IS ALSO A … … BOUNDARY BREAKER OR PUSHER.

Representing Great Britain

BLAKE ALDRIDGE

ANDY JONES

WHAT SCARES A CLIFF DIVER? THE FUTURE DUE TO RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Representing United States

Favourite dive Reverse 2 somersaults with 5 twists 1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

If you want to know what competitive is, watch Blake Aldridge – the finalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing has had to deal with quite a list of injuries and set-backs in his career but would never ever give up. And this is not only true for his professional life. “If there’s anything I really suck at, I’ll work on it to be good at it.” The 34-year-old, a former British diving world champion, who was also Tom Daley’s synchro partner at the Games, 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. A passionate fisherman, he has introduced two of the hardest dives in the sport: the back armstand dive, with four twists, and the reverse 2 somersault with 5 twists, proving he was born for this kind of sport.

35 3 times world medallist

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Texas (USA)

2014 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Havana (CUB)

2013 1st Marmeeting Furore (ITA)

Achievements

8 2013

4 2015

Final Rankings Year

6 2015

3 2016

9 2012

8 2014

10 2016

Date of birth April 30, 1989

Date of birth June 11, 1984

Height/Weight 1.73m/70kg

Height/Weight 1.75m/68kg

City of residence Los Angeles, California

City of residence Paris

Profession Cliff diver Secret passion Learning new languages and instruments Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Krabi, Thailand Favourite dive Reverse double with four twists

“I am scared of the potential consequences of a cliff dive gone wrong,” David Colturi says, “almost as much as having to hold a 9 to 5 office job.” For an office, the 28-year-old favors the 27m-platform some eight stories above the water, no matter what time of the day. For the way down, he prefers twists to somersaults and in the past years has pushed his way up the rankings to become the youngest diver to appear in a full World Series in 2012, the youngest diver to finish on the podium and the youngest diver to win an event. After 4 times as 5th overall and a 2016 season to forget – apart from the perfect send off in his farewell appearance and third place in Mostar before shoulder surgery last October - the World Series’ sunny boy aims higher for this year.

1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Profession Cliff diver Secret passion I secretly dream of becoming a clown Started cliff diving in 2006 Favourite cliff d iving spot Yucatan, Mexico Favourite dive Back 1 ½ somersault piked from 10m 1st World Series appearance 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

36 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

Final Rankings Year

5 2012

5 2014

9 2016

5 2013

5 2015

Youngest diver to win a World Series competition

WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO BE FOR A DAY? A BALLET DANCER - I’D LOVE TO FEEL THAT FLUIDITY OF MOVEMENT.

Representing Great Britain

GARY HUNT

DAVID COLTURI

WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO BE FOR A DAY? BOB ROSS - HE HAS GREAT HAIR AND HIS ABILITY TO MAKE HAPPY LITTLE PAINTINGS IS INCREDIBLE.

Representing United States

6 times winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

2 2009

1 2010

Introducing the world’s best cliff diver – a man, afraid of heights. “I’m so used to judging height and seeing how many somersaults and twists I can do from that height, I can’t help but imagine how it would feel to somersault and jump off (things). So where there’s no water underneath, it scares the life out of me.” Luckily, when it comes to diving from the equivalent of six double-decker buses – to keep it Brit-style for the Paris-resident – the 6-time World Series champion manages to overcome the fear factor and to make the most complicated dives look easy. As the passionate juggler studied mathematics a little while ago, here are the plain numbers of his unrivalled career in the World Series: 28 victories and 51 podiums in 59 competitions – he has not missed a single event. The top six high-scores in a single event are his. He’s also the owner of the most difficult dive in the history of (cliff) diving. “I’m always trying to beat records and do new stuff, so obviously that rings a bell and keeps me going.” 2017 & 2016 winner FINA High Diving World Cup

2015 FINA High Diving World Champion

2006 3rd Commonwealth Games 10m Synchro

Achievements

1 2011

2 2013

1 2015

Final Rankings Year

1 2012

1 2014

1 2016

Date of birth August 14, 1989

Date of birth October 22, 1986

Height/Weight 1.65m/62kg

Height/Weight 1.70m/63kg

City of residence Mexico City

City of residence Halle, Germany

Profession Cliff diver

Profession High diver

Secret passion American football

My secret passion C8H11NO2

Started cliff diving in 2011

Started cliff diving in 2009

Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal, and Chichen Itza, Mexico

Favourite cliff diving spot It’s difficult to pick just one

Favourite dive Double front and one and a half twist

“Become the champion.” A pretty straightforward goal. No doubt about Jonathan Paredes’ ambitions, and looking at his 2016 results – victory at the season opener, four 3rd placed finishes and runner-up to champion Gary Hunt – the World Series’ ‘ripping machine’ is hard on the heavyweights’ heels. Ripping his entries is definitely one of the Mexican’s most outstanding talents and a big part of his success despite the easiest diving programme on tour. The most graceful athlete in the air, and the one whose feet are always immaculately pointed is at the same time the man with the biggest smile on tour. One of the most technically proficient divers in cliff diving, he has the sport’s legend to his side as a mentor: “My cliff diving hero is Orlando Duque, he’s a huge inspiration for me.” Together with the legendary Colombian, Jonathan accomplished his highest cliff dive to date at Victoria Falls: 30m into a waterfall – the craziest thing he’s done so far.

Achievements

2016 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Texas (USA)

Final Rankings Year

4 2013

6 2014

2016 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup

3 2015

2 2016

2015 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar (BIH)

1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Favourite dive No splash

COULD YOU DO MENTAL MATH DURING A DIVE? IT DEPENDS WHICH MATH FROM WHICH HEIGHT AND WHICH DIVE...

Representing Poland

KRIS KOLANUS

JONATHAN PAREDES

IS THERE A SPORT YOU’RE REALLY BAD AT? PLAYING TENNIS. I NEVER REALIZED UNTIL I PLAYED IT – OMG, I’M PRETTY BAD... 38

Representing Mexico

1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

The 30-year-old is the first athlete in the history of the World Series to return as a permanent diver after being forced into wildcard status for the previous two seasons. Kris Kolanus is also the only diver in the line-up who runs his own record label – Mad-Hop Records. The Pole again and again has proven he is capable of mixing it with the world’s best cliff divers and, after starting a family with fellow cliff diver Anna Bader from Germany, has ambitious goals for the next few years: “This season I want to make it on the podium a few times and prepare myself to being able to win the whole Series in 2018.” A diving-coach as a father and an acrobat as a mother – Kris definitely comes from a promising background!

39 2015 2nd FINA High Diving World Championship

* Wildcard

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in place Copenhagen (DEN)

2014 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bilbao (ESP)

2013 7th Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Copenhagen (DEN, wildcard)

Achievements

18* 2011

12* 2013

12* 2015

Final Rankings Year

17* 2012

9 2014

12* 2016

Date of birth June 5, 1985

Date of birth September 11, 1974

Height/Weight 1.84m/85kg

Height/Weight 1.75m/70kg

City of residence Prague

City of residence Cali, Colombia

Profession Stuntman

Profession Cliff diver

Secret passion Doing handstands everywhere I can. I love adrenaline sports.

Secret passion It’s a secret!

Started cliff diving in 2004

Favourite cliff diving spot Hawaii

Favourite cliff diving spot All kinds of natural cliffs around the world. Favourite dive ‘Superman’, running take-off dives

“After seven seasons in the World Series I finally figured out my dives and I feel confident with them. I’m really happy with my dive list; I have a good level of difficulty. 2016 could be the year of success!” Said. Done. Nothing to add. When the new season starts in June, Michal Navratil comes from the most impressive and successful year in his whole career. A jump start into 2016 with a third placed-finish at the season kick-off was the first podium finish in four years, and was followed by the Czech’s first ever victory at the 53rd attempt, making a stunning return to action following knee surgery in the middle of the season. He continued his winning form in the next stop. Besides Colombian cliff diving legend Orlando Duque, the 32-year-old is now the only diver who made it back-to-back wins following his maiden triumph. Famous for his extrovert character, the energetic model athlete loves to amaze the crowd with his superman dives after a cliff diving competition, earning him the nickname “Supratil”. Achievements

2017 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup

Final Rankings Year

7 2009

9 2010

2016 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Pembrokeshire (GBR) & Mostar (BIH)

2011 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in La Rochelle (FRA)

3 2011

6 2013

6 2012

7 2014

1st World Series appearance 2009

Started cliff diving in 1997

Favourite dive Back twists 1st World Series appearance 2009 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

7-time Czech high diving champion

7 2015

4 2016

IF YOU WEREN’T A CLIFF DIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BECOME INSTEAD? AN ENGINEER, OR A POLICEMAN.

Representing Colombia

ORLANDO DUQUE

MICHAL NAVRATIL

IS THERE A SPORT YOU’RE REALLY BAD AT? GOLF. I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR IT!

Representing Czech Republic

13 world titles & two Guinness world records

1 2009

2 2010

Random dialogue in a cab: Driver: So, what you do for a living? Guest: I work in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Driver: Ah, that’s the tour in which the Colombian with the black ponytail competes, right? Works. Anywhere. Orlando Duque is a legend, 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 in a sport he calls “the more natural form of diving”, his tremendous ability from 27 metres does not need any more proof. For almost 20 years, the sport’s main ambassador has developed and established this raw and extreme discipline, has won literally everything – the inaugural World Series in 2009 as well as the first FINA High Diving World Championship title in 2013, amongst others – and there’s still no stopping this man at the age of 42. 2015 & 2014 winner FINA High Diving World Cup

2013 FINA High Diving World Champion

2009 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion

Achievements

8 2011

3 2013

2 2015

Final Rankings Year

2 2012

4 2014

7 2016

Date of birth February 26, 1991

Date of birth June 17, 1985

Height/Weight 1.75m/70kg

Height/Weight 1.61m/62kg

City of residence Mexico City

City of residence Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Profession Diving coach Secret passion Dancing Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina Favourite dive Back 4 somersaults tuck 1st World Series appearance 2015

“I have not lost the ability to jump in the water like a ‘regular’ person, I just learned how to fall in style,” Sergio Guzman says. His style has taken him quite far already, as the Mexican once invited his girlfriend to a diving show and dedicated the highest dive to her – the rest is history: the two are now married and parents of a cute baby girl. Also in the world of cliff diving the youngest permanent athlete on tour has left quite a mark, when he became the first ever invitee to finish on the podium – 2nd place in only his fourth showing and, to top it off, he secured his first win in the all-natural setting of Shirahama, Japan, last October. After a slow start into his first full season the 26-year-old has gradually worked his way up in the standings to surprise cliff diving’s best by adding his name to the elite list of competition winners.

Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Profession Diving Coach Secret passion Watching cartoons Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Thailand Favourite dive Quint half 1st World Series appearance 2011 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

42 Achievements

2016 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in place Shirahama (JPN)

Final Rankings Year

10* 2015

6 2016

2016 6th place FINA World Cup Abu Dhabi (UAE)

Winner of 3 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions

2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar (BIH), first wildcard on the podium

WHAT IS TRUE LUXURY? THESE DAYS, IT’S A DAY TO MYSELF TO DO WHATEVER I WANT, WHENEVER I WANT TO DO IT.

Representing United States

STEVEN LOBUE

SERGIO GUZMAN

IF YOU WEREN’T A CLIFF DIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO INSTEAD? I’D BE AN ARCHITECT OR A GRAPHIC DESIGNER BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE TO DRAW PLANS.

Representing Mexico

Steven LoBue is a man of many labels: he has established himself as the World Series’ ‘turbo spinner’ – he’s the only man who does five somersaults in less than three seconds. He’s the ‘miracle man’ from La Rochelle, when he hit the platform at take-off with his forehead and came out with only a scratch. The diving coach is a loving husband and father, and never short of a smile. Above all, the 32-year-old is a natural gymnast due to his physique. The 1.61m | 5.3in athlete impressed with second-placed finishes in the first two competitions of his debut 2012 World Series in France and Norway and tasted his first World Series win four months later in Wales. Two more 1st placed finishes make him the fourth most successful ‘winner’ in the World Series to date. If you want to beat this versatile sportsman – snowboarding and skateboarding are high up on the proficiency level – in a discipline one day, here’s your chance: “Table tennis is pretty high on the list of things I suck at.”

2017 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare (ITA) & Shirahama (JPN)

2004 Olympic Trials finalist

Achievements

7 2013

8 2015

Final Rankings Year

* Wildcard

10 2011

3 2012

3 2014

5 2016

Colombia DOB: November 27, 1990 Russia DOB: June 27, 1976 Colombia DOB: March 20, 1991

Bulgaria DOB: June 26, 1978

OWEN WEYMOUTH

Brazil DOB: August 17, 1983

VIKTAR MASLOUSKI

Russia DOB: February 3, 1984 MIGUEL GARCIA

ARTEM SILCHENKO

ANDREI MIKAU

Italy DOB: July 2, 1992

TODOR SPASOV

Belarus DOB: January 2, 1990

IGOR SEMASHKO

CHRISTIAN ARAYON

PROVE YOUR TALENT, IMPROVE YOUR DIVING AND SPICE UP THIS YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMPETITIONS - WE PROUDLY PRESENT THE WILDCARD DIVERS FOR THE 2017 SEASON.

Luxembourg DOB: August 25, 1982 USA DOB: March 17, 1988

Great Britian DOB: December 24, 1998

Belarus DOB: December 28, 1992

KYLE MITRIONE

JUCELINO JUNIOR

ALESSANDRO DE ROSE

ALAIN KOHL

ORDEM E PRO

WILD CARDS

ADRIANA JIMENEZ CESILIE CARLTON GINGER HUBER HELENA MERTEN LYSANNE RICHARD RHIANNAN IFFLAND

PERMANENT DIVERS

2 0 1 7

MEX USA USA AUS CAN AUS

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; W O M E N

TOP MARKS FOR STYLE AND POISE FROM 21M ARE UP FOR GRABS FOR THE SIX PERMANENT ATHLETES OF FOUR NATIONALITIES AND UP TO TWO FEMALE WILDCARD DIVERS.

Date of birth January 20, 1985

Date of birth March 27, 1981

Height/Weight 1.58m/50kg

Height/Weight 1.65m/54kg

City of residence Mexico City

City of residence San Antonio, TX

Profession Professional athlete

Profession Personal Trainer/ performer

My secret passion Cheerleading

Favourite cliff diving spot Yucatan, Mexico

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.

Favourite dive Triple reverse

Started cliff diving in 2009

1st World Series appearance 2014

Favourite cliff diving spot Texas for the home crowd. Off the cliffs in Portugal.

Started cliff diving in 2013

She loves dancing, hates running and is one of the world’s best cliff divers – a lovely personality, that never runs short of surprising the people around her with small gifts and a big smile. 2016’s patchy season, starting 4th in Texas, ending 3rd in Dubai (UAE) and getting almost every placement except for podium in between, left the 32-year old with 5th place overall. ‘Ady’, however, is a constant force in the women’s division. Only the Americans Cesilie Carlton and Ginger Leigh Huber have 13 consecutive starts to their names, too. Unfortunately, the Mexican shares the unwanted 1st place with Ginger Leigh Huber in the ‘most starts without a win’- category. Also 13. Before stepping onto the 21m-platform, this joyful athlete was able to secure a place in the Olympic Games for Mexico in 2004 and was ranked amongst the country’s best cheerleaders.

Achievements

2017 winner FINA High Diving World Cup

Final Rankings Year

3* 2014

6 2015

2016 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series in Dubai (UAE) 5 2016

2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series in São Miguel, Azores (POR)

Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

Favourite dive Interrupted back triple. 1st World Series appearance 2014 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

WHY CLIFF DIVING AND NOT BALLET? UNFORTUNATELY GRACE WAS NOT IN THE DECK OF CARDS FOR ME, OR LONG LANKY MUSCLES. I CHOSE GYMNASTICS AND LOVED IT.

Representing United States

CESILIE CARLTON

ADRIANA JIMENEZ

HOW HIGH DOES A CLIFF HAVE TO BE FOR YOU TO SAY NO? NO MORE THAN 23M. I THINK MY LITTLE BODY IS NOT READY FOR MORE ;) 48

Representing Mexico

“My goal for the new season is to perfect the dives I’m doing, and be consistent from start to finish,” says San Antonio’s Cesilie Carlton. Although she said this prior to last season, the theme is as fresh and valid for 2017. An ambitious perfectionist, Cesilie was stuck in 3rd place overall in 2015 as well as in 2016. That definitely has to change and so the Texan combines job and her practice routine working together with her husband on the Harmony of the Seas, a cruise ship, as – guess what – a high diver and thrills her fans with videos from these sessions on social media. After securing the inaugural FINA world championship title for high divers in 2013 and becoming the first wildcard diver to win a competition, the 36-yearold physically super fit athlete has big plans for the new season.

49 2004 secured a place for Mexico in the Olympic Games at the Pre-Olympics in Athens (GRE)

Njcaa spring board champion 1 and 3 meter

* Wildcard

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Possum Kingdom Lake (USA) and Mostar (BIH)

2015 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in São Miguel, Azores (POR) as a wildcard 6 2014

2013 FINA High Diving World Champion

Achievements

3* 2015

Final Rankings Year

3 2016

Date of birth December 6, 1974

Date of birth March 17, 1995

Height/Weight 1.70m/58kg

Height/Weight 1.65m/54kg

City of residence Orlando, Florida

City of residence Gold Coast

Profession Acrobat

Profession Performer/Acrobat

Secret passion Craft beer

Secret passion I don’t really have a secret passion but maybe some people wouldn’t know that I am also a circus artist.

Started cliff diving in 1997 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal Favourite dive Flying front 1st World Series appearance 2014

Watching cliff divers doing their magic sometimes makes it hard to see them as ‘normal’ human beings. But seeing the exact same person jumping and screaming over a cute little mouse certainly helps to correct this view. Ginger Huber is afraid of tiny mice… Besides this confession, the American has dedicated her life to diving and has never stopped promoting the sport – from coaching and training to judging and, of course, competing. The ‘ESPN body issue’ model has tons of experience and is happy to offer it to her younger diving mates. It’s no surprise that sports psychiatrist would’ve been her second job choice. At 42, Ginger still feels comfortable on the podium and so she won 2nd place in Shirahama (JPN) and 3rd on the Azores (POR) in last year’s World Series.

Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

Started cliff diving in 2013

WHY CLIFF DIVING AND NOT BALLET? NO MATTER HOW MANY SPORTS I TRY, I ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE ONES WHERE I AM FLIPPING AND UPSIDE-DOWN.

Representing Australia

HELENA MERTEN

GINGER HUBER

WHAT IS TRUE LUXURY? HAVING A BRAND NEW PAIR OF SOCKS EVERYDAY.

Representing United States

Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal Favourite dive I love armstand dives 1st World Series appearance 2015 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place

The acrobat set her first mark at the FINA High Diving World Cup in February 2016 and grabbed the last spot for the World Series to become the youngest ever athlete in the permanent divers line-up. Helena Merten then lived up to the expectations: a podium at the season opener in Texas (3rd) and another one to round off the year in a night event in the Dubai Marina (2nd). In 2017, the 22-year-old continues to be the youngest athlete in the field and her chilled character will definitely be a major advantage when it comes to bettering her own personal best 4th place in the overall rankings. Be it wind or waves, a tight battle or a new dive, the classy diver unhesitatingly does an immaculate handstand more than 20m above the water showing no nerves.

51 Achievements

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Shirahama (JPN)

Final Rankings Year

4 2014

2 2015

2016 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup

6 2016

2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare (ITA)

2013 diver on “Splash”

Youngest ever permanent athlete in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series * Wildcard

Competed, placed and won at a national level in acrobatic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, diving and tumbling

2016 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Dubai (UAE)

2016 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup

Achievements

10* 2015

Final Rankings Year

4 2016

Date of birth August 30, 1981

Date of birth September 9, 1991

Height/Weight 1.62m/56kg

Height/Weight 1.67m/60kg

City of residence Montreal

City of residence Newcastle, Australia

Profession Speaker, stunt woman, TV expert for cliff diving

Profession Show diver

Secret passion Going to gymnastics class with my daughter, being involved at school with my middle one and playing ‘Yum’ with my teenager. Started cliff diving in 2010 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal

“The first things I look for at any pool are the springboards.” Well, obviously this habit is a friendly helper for her success. Only two women have won in 2016 and Lysanne Richard was one of them. An astonishing season for the 35-year-old ended with the 2nd place in the overall ranking right behind an untouchable Rhiannan Iffland. Out of five podium finishes, two saw her right on the top. Coming almost out of nowhere, the Canadian took the challenges of propelling herself from the 21m-platform in acrobatic grace with a smile, and is definitely a main challenger for the 2017 title. As a graduate from the National Circus School of Montreal, the lively Canadian is more than capable of juggling her job as a character and acrobat at Cirque du Soleil, being a successful cliff diver and three-time mom.

Favourite dive Front 3 somersaults with 11/2 twists 1st World Series appearance 2014

Secret passion Scuba diving and traveling Started cliff diving in 2015 Favourite cliff diving spot Italy; diving solo in Ik kil cenote, Mexico. Favourite dive back triple one twist 1st World Series appearance 2016 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

Best result in a World Series competition 1st place

IS THERE A SPORT YOU’RE REALLY BAD AT? I’M SURE THERE IS PLENTY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO DANCING I WILL TRIP OVER MY OWN FEET.

Representing Australia

RHIANNAN IFFLAND

LYSANNE RICHARD

HOW HIGH WAS THE HIGHEST CLIFF YOU EVER JUMPED FROM? 28 METERS FROM A TINY PLATFORM IN A DIVING SHOW.

Representing Canada

Starting out with a stunning rookie-win in her first ever cliff diving competition in 2016, Rhiannan Iffland did not hesitate to take over the whole World Series to win overall in 2016 – as a wildcard diver. At 24 years Rhiannan was not only the youngest female diver ever to win an event, she also finished all of her seven starts on the podium to create the so-called ‘Australian cliff diving sensation’. With her title the laid-back Aussie-girl from New South Wales superseded two-time winner, America’s Rachelle Simpson. Coming from a trampoline background, her diving career started around the age of nine. Although she performed at (and won) some national meets, she took the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series entirely by surprise. 2017 will be ‘Rhi’s’ first season as a permanent diver. Will she be able to defend her title?

53 Achievements

2016 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare (ITA) and Mostar (BIH)

Final Rankings Year

9* 2014

5* 2015

2016 Winner High Diving World Cup

2 2016

2015 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Texas (USA, wildcard)

2004 Graduate from National Circus School of Montreal

* Wildcard

2017 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup

* Wildcard

2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series champion

2016 winner of 5 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions

2015 started her cliff diving career

1* 2016

Achievements

Final Rankings Year

54 Brazil DOB: September 18, 1985

USA DOB: September 9, 1985 YANA NESTSIARAVA

TARA HYER-TIRA

MEILI CARPENTER

JACQUELINE VALENTE ORDEM E PRO

TWO WILDCARD DIVERS WILL ADD EXTRA ZEST TO THE WOMEN’S COMPETITIONS AT EACH OF THE SIX STOPS IN THE WOMEN’S WORLD SERIES FOURTH SEASON.

Germany DOB: December 12, 1983 USA DOB: June 12, 1992

USA DOB: December 8, 1987

Belarus DOB: June 14, 1992 VIDEO STABILIZATION WATERPROOF VOICE CONTROL

GENEVIEVE BRADLEY

ANNA BADER

WILD CARDS

Pure cliff diving for Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anna Bader on SĂŁo Miguel, Azores, Portugal.

INIS MÓR SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES POLIGNANO A MARE TEXAS MOSTAR LAGO RANCO

STUNNING PLACES

A R O U N D

IRL POR ITA USA BIH CHI

T H E W O R L D

THREE SECONDS OF ACROBATIC FREE FALL AT VENUES RANGING FROM NATURAL WONDERS AND VISUAL FEASTS TO HISTORIC SITES AND UNKNOWN GROUNDS WILL PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS RAPIDLY PROGRESSING DISCIPLINE AGAIN IN 2017. THIS PURE EXTREME SPORT WILL HIT NEW AS WELL AS PROVEN WATERS ACROSS EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA BEFORE CROWNING TWO NEW CHAMPIONS AT AN ORIGINAL LOCATION IN SOUTH AMERICA.

SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES POR

INIS MÓR IRL After uncountable hours in the swimming pool during the off-season, the near-perfect rectangle of the 2017 season-opener on Ireland’s Aran Islands will evoke at least a familiar feel amongst the divers. The first dives off the cliff diving platforms surrounded by Irish wilderness are anyway daunting enough for both men and women in the World Series’ 60th event. The fabled Serpent’s Lair – ‘Poll na Peist’ in Gaelic – on Inis Mór, the big island among a group of three, is a ‘blowhole’ or a shoreline window to subterranean caverns, which spurt out water each day as high tide approaches. What gives this place an inexplicable and mysterious nature is the almost rectangular shape of the hole. Weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and the welcoming people combine to make the island of Inis Mór breath-taking. Off the west of Ireland, on the edge of Europe, a ferry journey from Galway city brings you to one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations with its unique geology, archaeology and tradition. Previous Winners 2014 – Gary Hunt, GBR 2012 – Artem Silchenko, RUS

STOP 1 JUNE 24

Location Notorious, almost-rectangular ‘blowhole’ Coordinates 53° 7’ N, 9° 44’ W

STOP 2 JULY 9

Location Volcanic nature reserve off the coast Coordinates 37° 41’ N, 25° 26’ W

Platform heights 27m | 21m

Platform/Rock heights 27m | 20m

Water depth 5 to 9m

Water depth 8m and more

Water temperature in June 15°C

Water temperature in July 22°C

Air temperature in June 19°C

Air temperature in July 25°C

Water Atlantic Ocean, seawater

ROCK’N’DIVE Islet of Vila Franca do Campo It won’t get anymore pure – cliff diving directly off the cliff face! The phenomenal rocks of Portugal’s Azores are a true World Series classic: the unique volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean serves as the take-off point for awe-inducing cliff dives for the sixth consecutive time. Back to the roots is the motto from São Miguel – volcanic stone in the shape of a ‘snakehead’ and the outside crater walls of the almost perfectly round islet are the ideal spots to explore this pure sport like the pioneers did in Hawaii almost 250 years ago. Only for the more difficult optional dives will the athletes use the platform construction. Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, a nature reserve named after the village on the mainland, is almost circular in shape but broken by a sea entrance and came about following the collapse of an old volcano. The ‘Princess Ring’ forms a natural swimming pool of crystalline waters and features its own stunning beach. Situated in the middle of the sea, the archipelago comprises nine islands spread over three groups and is undoubtedly one of Europe’s last paradises and have brought about the closest victory to date: 0.1 points. Previous Winners 2016 – Gary Hunt, GBR | Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2015 – Gary Hunt, GBR | Cesilie Carlton, USA 2014 – Steven LoBue, USA 2013 – Gary Hunt, GBR 2012 – Artem Silchenko, RUS

THE ARCHIPELAGO IS EUROPE’S ‘WEATHER LAB’.

ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY TELLS OF A SEA SERPENT, WHICH LIVED BENEATH THE ENTRANCE. THE SOUND OF SCREECHING, STORMY WINDS ARE SAID TO BE THE GREAT SERPENT MAKING ITS PRESENCE FELT.

POOL DIVING Serpent’s Lair

TEXAS USA

POLIGNANO A MARE ITA 62

Cliff diving’s best return in July! The year’s third stop will see athletes diving from a place where the cliffs are a part of everyday life. Close to 70,000 spectators will enjoy the action, as well as the mozzarella, delicious raw fish and ice cream. This unusual venue plays host for the fifth time: the take-off spot is a roof-top terrace and athletes access the 27m and 21m platforms over the Adriatic Sea via a private living room. The house is built on top of the coast’s most famous cliff and into the rock itself. Polignano a Mare is a typical southern Italian town in Puglia with just over 16,000 inhabitants. Puglia’s scenic coastline stretches over 750 kilometers; its biggest city is Bari, where sights include the Swabian castle, museums, several churches and monuments and modern facilities such as an international airport, a tourist and industrial port and high-speed railway connections. The pleasant weather makes this region ideal for sport & nature activities all year round: trekking, cycling, horse riding, golf, diving, windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing. Discover more about Puglia on www.weareinpuglia.it

Previous Winners 2016 – Artem Silchenko, RUS | Lysanne Richard, CAN 2015 – Gary Hunt, GBR | Rachelle Simpson, USA 2010 – Artem Silchenko, RUS 2009 – Orlando Duque, COL

STOP 3 JULY 23

Location Bastione di Santo Stefano Coordinates 41°00’N, 17°03’E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5m and more Water temperature in July 23°C Air temperature in July 28°C Water Adriatic Sea, seawater

STOP 4 SEPTEMBER 3

Location Hell’s Gate - two towering cliffs in a water supply reservoir Coordinates 32.8667° N, 98.4333° W Platform/Rock heights 27m | 20m Water depth 5.5m to 7m Water temperature in September 22°C Air temperature in September 26°C Water Possum Kingdom Lake, freshwater

HOWDY Y’ALL Possum Kingdom Lake After kicking off the 2016 season, Hell’s Gate at Possum Kingdom Lake in the USA state where everything is bigger, Texas, hosts the world’s most elite cliff divers going into the second half of the current season. From Europe, the World Series travels across the Atlantic to leap from one of two towering cliffs, which rise dramatically out of the region’s first water supply reservoir. In a venue where Australian wildcard and World Series debutante and later overall champion, Rhiannan Iffland, thrilled the crowds in 2016 as she put in a magical diving display and upset the odds with a stunning victory. With its incredibly deep waters and its sheer cliffs, “PK” Lake is a vacation paradise nestled deep in the valley of the Palo Pinto Mountains. 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. Given the flatness of the surrounding terrain, the high cliffs dwarf even the biggest boats that pass through. 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.

Previous Winners 2016 – Jonathan Paredes, MEX | Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2015 – Gary Hunt, GBR | Rachelle Simpson, USA 2014 – Gary Hunt, GBR | Rachelle Simpson, USA

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

THE PLATFORM IS MOUNTED ON A PRIVATE TERRACE.

THE ICE CREAM OF THE CROP Bastione di Santo Stefano

LAGO RANCO CHI

MOSTAR BIH Diving off Stari Most, the old bridge, dates back to the 17th century, and once again the world’s best cliff divers will show off their skills surrounded by a fanatical crowd of spectators during 2017’s penultimate stop. This is the one stop where the locals know all the athletes by their names and where both the traditional diving from the country’s most recognizable landmark in a sort of maturity test for young men, and the fine art of cliff diving are equally respected. Built in the 16th century, the iconic single span stone bridge 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, where the tradition of competitive diving is almost 450 years old. The bridge is, together with the surrounding part of the Old City of Mostar, on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, and is often cited as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.

Previous Winners 2016 – Michal Navratil, CZE | Lysanne Richard, CAN 2015 – Jonathan Paredes, MEX

STOP 5 SEPTEMBER 16

Location Old bridge in Mostar Coordinates 43°20’13”N, 17°48’54”E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5m to 5.5m Water temperature in September 13°C Air temperature in September 27°C Water Neretva river, freshwater

STOP 6 OCTOBER 21

Location Waterfall in the midst of a pine and eucalyptus forest Coordinates 40°14’00’’S 72°13’30’’E Platform/Rock heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5m to 5.5m Water temperature in October 13°C Air temperature in October 18°C Water Pichi river, freshwater

RISE LIKE A PHOENIX Saltos de Riñinahue Marching towards an exciting climax, the 2017 World Series touches completely new grounds in the south of Chile in October. The region of Lago Ranco not only stands out for its scenic pines and eucalyptus forests, but is also home to the ‘Saltos de Riñinahue’, the Riñinahue waterfall, which will provide the perfect backdrop for the season’s final dives. The King Kahekili Trophy will be awarded to the 2017 champions in the men’s as well as in the women’s division in a red-hot season showdown surrounded by snow capped volcanoes. Who will become the successors of 6-time champion Gary Hunt and rookie-champion Rhiannan Iffland, the title defenders? With 18 lakes and 5 volcanoes, the national park area is one of the most representative of the country; its capital, the city of Valdivia, is located 100 km from the diving venue. This region was hit by the world’s most powerful earthquake ever registered in 1960, known as the “Great Chilean Earthquake”, Valdivia being the most affected city. Assigned a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale, it destroyed almost everything, leaving a particular geography behind, filled with beautiful rivers and lakes.

THE BASIN AND GROTTO FORMED BY THE RIÑINAHUE AND A NEIGHBOURING WATERFALL MAKE FOR A NATURAL VIEWPOINT AND A FLORA AND FAUNA PARADISE.

DESTROYED DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, THE BRIDGE WAS REBUILT USING THE ORIGINAL STONE BLOCKS AND REOPENED IN 2004.

HISTORIC CLIFF DIVING Stari Most

PRE-GAME ROUTINE Warm-up, concentration boost, flexibility training or just relaxing before the big moment. Long term World Series physiotherapist Angela Passenbrunner reporting on the preparation phase.

Stretching is not only a training to increase muscle flexibility. Stretching contracted muscles helps to improve the posture and to execute transitions of motions in the air smoothly and gracefully. It is also a tool to relax and focus. Combined with breathing techniques it helps to calm down and release stress.

Pike position Activation of all muscles needed in the following dive is the main goal for any warm up. To get into a perfect pike position you need both: flexibility and strength- especially in your core muscles.

Juggling sharpens focus and concentration and is one of the quickest ways to take your mind off something. Therefore, it is the perfect form of stress relief and simultaneously improves your coordination.

Pointed toes All divers long for an elegant line going from the hips through to their pointed toes. The judges will give some points for a perfect line. Continuous foot shaping exercises and ankle stretching as well as proprioception training for balance and a strong ankle will help to improve toe-pointing abilities.

EVERY CLIFF DIVER HAS IT, NO ONE STARTS WITHOUT: THE PRE-GAME ROUTINE

Rope skipping is the perfect tool to stimulate the cardiovascular system and your inter- and intramuscular activity. Increase your jumping performance and velocity by trying double- or triple-unders.

Rubberband Easy to travel with and always a good way to warm up or strengthening the whole body. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential to work out the muscles of the shoulder girdle, core and back for sufficient power, for example during a handstand or to bear the impact on the water when you break the surface.

Pelvis stability is essential to take the impact at the entry. The glutes and adductors play a big role in absorbing the force of the water. Isometric training is absolutely important for holding the legs together as injury prevention of adductor tears or SI-joint dysfunctions.

M E D I A

FACTS, STATISTICS &

A cliff diver doesn’t need much more than the obvious: body, skills, guts and of course a cliff with a stretch of water below, if one wants to break it down to the real ‘essentials’. But getting into the mood, finding the right state of mind and fine-tuning the body for the imminent task is mostly what distinguishes a good from a bad dive. Anything that helps a healthy mental status or just something that provides ease and comfort is what a diver really needs. Well and maybe a swimsuit or a pair of speedos are worth mentioning…

Swimming trunks & 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. Sometimes the impact on the water is so strong, that putting some extra layers –even thin onesbetween your skin and the water takes away the edge a tiny bit. Also, it has been known for speedos to rip upon water entry, so wearing an extra pair can help maintain a diver’s dignity!

70 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 up to 85km/h.

WE PACKED THE BAG AND IN IT WE PUT:

THE ESSENTIALS

Shammy – The chamois or ‘shammy’ is a multi-purpose small towel that keeps the diver’s body dry before a dive. Not too dry though, the ‘shammy’ takes away just the right amount of water to leave the skin slightly moist and sticky. This is important because the hands and legs need to be dry so as not to slip out of position in the air. 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 – cliff divers lost the ability to choose between different types of shoes for different kinds of surfaces. They find it quite practical to climb slippery rocks or ladders, walk the platform, travel and even go out with the only choice they know of: flip-flops. Just like the ‘shammy’, they 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!

Measuring tape – In outdoor sports we’re always confronted with Mother Nature and her moods. The platform is usually mounted 21m (for the women) and 27m (for the men) above the water, but only the measuring tape erases all doubts regarding the actual height. So the sports director checks the distance between platform and water each time before training and competition.

Towel – Cliff divers do freeze too, 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.

Weather updates – Gusty winds and rain or sunshine and calm conditions. Morecast, the most precise weather App, provides the best weather information everywhere you are. Available for iOS and Android - more info on morecast.com

Sunglasses – One could say, it’s a typical gadget for people living the desirable life of a ‘sunny boy or girl’. However cliff divers have to work where others spend their vacations and under these tough conditions 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 sunlight, hide emotions or simply make them look even cooler!

GoPro – What a wasted moment it would be to climb up these dizzily high platforms without taking a danger-angled action-cam-shot from the top to share with your friends. But not only the athletes use these super-flexible and tiny cameras to take spectacular images, they’re also used by the professional moving crew of the World Series, who provide people at home with some of the most fascinating close-up shots.

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 skills. Available for Apple and Samsung devices.

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 – playlists are multifarious and long. If they want to tune out, they tune in!

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On the road with...

GARY HUNT

The champion cliff diver talks to Polly Humphris about tsunami scares, juggling and a thirsty hyena in Kenya What is your favourite on-the-road moment? A group of us went on a road trip along the Amalfi Coast – it was after the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop at Polignano a Mare, a town in Apulia, southern Italy, that sits right on the Adriatic Sea. The atmosphere was brilliant because we were so relaxed – it was all about scoping out the local area and spontaneously stopping to eat food, drink wine and do a bit of diving for fun. I loved a restaurant called Il Pirata (from £51 for three courses, ristoranteilpirata.net); it’s perched right on the edge of a cliff in Praiano

and has sunbathing platforms built into the rocks around the cliff path. What’s your favourite city? Paris. I first visited it when I was working at the Walygator theme park (£22 entry, walygatorparc.com) in Maizières-lès-Metz, in north-east France, but then I fell in love with the presenter of the diving show and I’ve lived permanently in Paris for the past six years. For me, Paris is the idealsized city, and my favourite area of it is Montmartre, with the famous Sacré-Coeur. The area is quite touristy but I like it – it’s quirky.

What keeps you sane on the road? I’ve been juggling for six years and my juggling balls and clubs come with me wherever I travel. It’s a great distraction from the nerves and stress of competition. When have you been most frightened while travelling? One of the most remote places I’ve been to is Easter Island. On the second day we were woken up at 6am by a tsunami alert and told to go to the highest – and therefore the safest – point on the island, which was the top of a volcano. After waiting for a couple of hours we were told to go directly to the airport and wait for immediate departure if needed. Luckily, we didn’t see any kind of wave and were still able to hold the diving competition after finding a new

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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 and hence lines up “blind”. Braking distance The braking distance for a high dive from 27m 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. Champions Between 2009 and 2016 the World Series has crowned five champions: Orlando Duque (1), Gary Hunt (6), Artem Silchenko (1) in the men’s, Rachelle Simpson (2) and Rhiannan Iffland (1) in the women’s. Degree of difficulty The degree of difficulty of a dive is evaluated on the basis of the following: takeoff, number of somersaults, number of twists, position during the somersaults and entry into the water. As of 2017 the World Series, with its ever-growing complexity, follows a new degree of difficulty table as an adjustment to the sport’s recent evolutions and includes - amongst other changes implemented by the sports committee and aligned with FINA - new dives to rate all dives performed in competition according to their difficulty. Equipment There is no need for equipment. Falling free from great heights combined with the most appealing acrobatics – that’s the simple essence of cliff diving. It’s pure. It’s fast and it takes your breath away - 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. The evolution of cliff 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 27m is guaranteed for 2017. Female competition The first female competition in the history of Red Bull Cliff Diving was held in Malcesine, Italy, in July 2013 and won by Germany’s Anna Bader. In 2017 the women compete at all stops for the first time. FINA In April 2012 the Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA, included high diving as a professional sport. Free fall During a dive from 27m, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ALSO RHIANNAN IFFLAND, THE AUSTRALIAN WILDCARD WHO WON 5 OF 7 COMPETITIONS IN HER DEBUT SEASON TO BECOME THE WOMEN’S CHAMPION IN 2016. High Scores Four times 10 and a 9.5 – that’s the highest score the judges have ever awarded in the World Series to date to Russia’s Artem Silchenko in 2013 and Jonathan Paredes from Mexico in 2016.

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. 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. 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. 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 www.lifeproof. com. #LiveLifeProof Live In 2017, all stops of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be live on redbullcliffdiving.com, Red Bull TV and Facebook.

Locations Inis Mór (IRL), São Miguel, Azores (POR), Polignano a Mare (ITA), Texas (USA), Mostar (BIH) and Lago Rancho (CHI) are the six alluring locations for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2017. Maximum height The maximum height for competitions in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is 21m | 70ft for the women and 27m | 90ft for the men. 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. New 2017 comes with a few innovations: women compete at every stop, a new degree of difficulty table, four competition dives for women instead of three, and a new location at Lago Ranco, Chile. Origin Cliff diving had its origin during the 1700s in Hawaii. Platform The platform must be a stable takeoff board constructed with a minimum length of 1.5m, a minimum width of 0.75m and a rim at least 2m beyond the vertical line.

Pressure The fact that the mere thought of a cliff 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 (27m | 90ft), a minimum water depth (5m | 16.4ft), a stable 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; a water spray at the entry area, rescue divers, paramedics 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. Somersault A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which the diver rotates head over end, forwards or backwards. The record number of somersaults is currently 5.

Speed From 27m, the speed at which you enter the water is approximately 85km/h | 53mph; an acceleration that compares to a Lamborghini Murciélago. Sports director Greg Louganis follows Niki Stajkovic as the World Series’ sports director, after the Austrian sadly passed away in February. The four-time Olympic Gold medallist and five-time world champion from the USA will be an essential part of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series sports committee as of this season. 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 the 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. Twist The body twists on axis whilst rotating. The record number of twists is currently 5. 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 85km/h | 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.

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 and defended her title in 2015. In its fourth year, champion Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) has six competitions to defend the title Zero protection Cliff divers do not have any protection except their own experience. Their diving ability is their only protection against injuries.

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. 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. Wind Probably the most important factor if a competition is safe, is the wind. Getting hit by a gust of wind in mid-air is definitely one of the sports director’s main concerns. Morecast, the most precise weather App, provides the best weather information everywhere the World Series goes to.

PUBLICATION RED BULL CLIFF DIVING MAGAZINE 2017 Publisher Red Bull Media House GmbH, Oberst-Lepperdinger-Straße 11-15, 5071 Wals bei Salzburg

Photography Red Bull Contentpool (Damiano Levati, Dean Treml, Jason Halayko, Markus Berger, Romina Amato), Parque Futangue, private.

Illustration Kastner & Partner in Madrid (Sascha Duensing (Sirius-sdz), Birgit Lohmann), Icarus creative, Zwupp

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