CLIFF DIVING – THE PURE SPORT WHERE BODY BRILLIANCE MEETS MENTAL MASTERY – EXPECTS EVOLUTION FOR 2022
ACCESSIBILITY AND AMBITIOUSNESS DRIVE THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES IN ITS 13TH SEASON. EIGHT BUSTLING, EYE-POPPING LOCATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE AWAIT THE DARING CLIFF DIVING ELITE IN A YEAR THAT WILL BE HOSTED IN BOTH THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS’ HOMETOWNS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD SERIES. WHILE GARY HUNT WILL SHOWCASE HIS SKILLS FROM 27M IN PARIS IN JUNE, AUSTRALIA’S RHIANNAN IFFLAND WILL RETURN HOME TO ROUND OFF THE SEASON IN SYDNEY HARBOUR IN OCTOBER. WITH FOUR PERMANENT DIVERS BETWEEN 20 AND 23 YEARS OF AGE, THE 2022 WORLD SERIES WILL BE YOUNGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS BRAND-NEW IN THIS SPORT, WHICH COMBINES ACROBATIC THREE-SECOND FREEFALLS FROM UP TO ALMOST THREE TIMES THE OLYMPIC DIVING HEIGHT AND SPEEDS OF OVER 85KM/H, ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, AND INTERESTING FACTS.
WO R L D
THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING
SE R I E S
WELCOME BY THE SPORTS DIRECTOR What an honour to be the Sports Director of Red Bull Cliff Diving, an event that I have watched grow from day one and have been a part of as an athlete for a number of years. Being on the sidelines and supporting the athletes and staff is a dream come true! Great diving, as always to be expected this season, with young divers working hard and cementing their places in the group. Big stars like Oleksiy Prigorov qualifying again, Rhiannan Iffland aiming for a third undefeated
season and of course the usual names that make up a season of high level cliff diving. 2022 seems to be the year we will bring the World Series closest to the people, with stops in beautiful cities like Oslo and Copenhagen, our return to Boston where I had a great result last time we touched down on the US East Coast ;) and of course our classic stops Polignano a Mare, Mostar and Sisikon.
Achievements 13 world titles Winner of nine Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competition Two Guinness World Records 2015 & 2014 winner FINA High Diving World Cup 2013 FINA High Diving World Champion 2009 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion
Biography 1986 Orlando Duque starts diving. 1992 Qualification for the Olympic Games; he is not sent there because the Colombian federation does not have enough money, stops diving and goes to university. 1995 First high dive in a local event in Cali. 1999 2nd place in his 1st appearance in the WHDF World Championships. 2000 Orlando dominates the World Championships in Hawaii’s Kaunolu. The Colombian earns all 10s from the seven judges for his third-round dive. This perfect dive is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records. 2009 Orlando wins the first ever World Series title. 2013 On July 31 he wins the inaugural FINA High Diving World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. It’s the first medal for Colombia at the World Aquatics Championships. 2013/2014 FINA Male High Diver of the Year. 2017 Appointed to the FINA Athletes Committee and the FINA Technical High Diving Committee. 2018 A long-term dream comes true in January with a dive into icy waters from an iceberg in the Antarctic. 2019 On September 14 Orlando Duque competes for the last time during the World Series final in Bilbao, Spain to end his competition career at the age of 45. 2022 Appointed Sports Director of Red Bull Cliff Diving.
Diving at home is always exciting, and this year we’re visiting the hometowns of our two reigning champions - Gary will show us his chosen city of Paris in June, while Sydney will provide the perfect backdrop for our female superstar Rhiannan in the big season finale in October. Safe dives and good luck to all the divers!
ORLANDO DUQUE
OVERALL RANKINGS 2021 WOMEN 1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 800pts. 2- Jessica Macaulay CAN – 580 3- Molly Carlson (W) CAN – 560 4- Xantheia Pennisi (W) AUS – 402 5- Yana Nestsiarava BLR – 380 6- Eleanor Smart USA – 352 7- Maria Paula Quintero COL – 281 8- Iris Schmidbauer GER – 190
MEN 1- Gary Hunt FRA – 800pts. 2- Constantin Popovici ROU – 640 3- Catalin Preda (W) ROU – 550 4- Alessandro De Rose ITA – 444 5- Michal Navratil CZE – 280 6- David Colturi USA – 280 7- Carlos Gimeno (W) ESP – 271 8- Aidan Heslop (W) GBR – 264
6 Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for aesthetic action and increasingly complex dives, spotlighting both the best athletes and the most promising talents in the sport. In 2014, a World Series for women was introduced. As the most recognised series of cliff diving
competitions, the 2022 World Series once again features the sport’s top athletes. Through the world ranking, which takes into consideration the FINA World Championships qualifier in addition to the World Series competitions, the top eight women and men have secured a permanent ticket.
THE PLANET’S FINEST DIVERS
Equalised athletes’ roster from 18 nationalities 24 of the world’s best cliff divers - 12 women and 12 men - will once again leap, twist and somersault from breathtaking heights of up to 27m and at speeds in excess of 85km/h, with no protection but their concentration, skill and physical control, at eight demanding stops around the world.
SCAN ME TO FIND OUT MORE!
CLIFF DIVING SCIENCE A DIVE IN NUMBERS DIVE HEIGHT TAKE-OFF JUMP ROTATION SPEED VERTICAL VELOCITY TIME IN THE AIR WATER ENTRY IMPACT DECELERATION
8
27 M | 90 FT FOR MEN 21 M | 70 FT FOR WOMEN UP TO 0.8M 2.4 PER SECOND 22.5 M | 73.8 FT PER SECOND 2.6 SECONDS UP TO 85 KPH | 53MPH 10G
Risks – The highest risk of injury is in the landing phase, when parts of the body are already exposed to absolute deceleration and others, above the surface, are still travelling at full speed. At this point, maximum body tension is absolutely crucial. Immediately after hitting the water, the athlete must actively dive away to avoid squeezing or twisting parts of the body caused by the hardness of the water. However,
due to the technical training and experience of the divers, major mistakes can be prevented. In general, high diving over 28 metres does not bring a great time advantage due to the rapid acceleration, while at the same time the risk of injury increases disproportionately. Cliff diving is an elite extreme sport. So far, 85 male and female athletes from 22 countries have competed in the World Series.
Platform ˇ Stable take-off board construction ˇ Minimum length: 1.5 m | 4 ft ˇ Minimum width: 0.75 m | 2 ft ˇ Platform rim at least 2 m | 6 ft beyond the vertical fall line
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series heights 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
Olympic Diving
10 v | 33 ft
IMPACT UP TO 9 TIMES HARDER THAN FROM 10M PLATFORM Heights can vary due to tides and waves
Saftey divers/paramedics Three safety divers at landing point, paramedics next to the diving point, ambulance on standby. Water spray The water spray breaks the surface and provides an important reference point for the divers.
-5 m Minimum water depth
SCAN ME TO FIND OUT MORE!
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO AN INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES HILARIOUS INSIGHT INTO LIFE AS A CLIFF DIVING PHOTOGRAPHER – Written by Dean Treml Photographing Red Bull Cliff Diving is not without its challenges. Yes, I will admit that we travel to photogenic locations, and the surroundings can do much of the work to help create stunning moments, but even then, there can be difficulties. Shooting in urban locations is straight forward enough, the ground is flat, and there are stairs or elevators up to higher ground. Easy. However even in these situations we may have to navigate tens of thousands of tightly packed people to get from one spot to another without getting poked in the eye with a baguette (yes,
in La Rochelle) or wait for what seems like an eternity at the door of a lighthouse, while the pre-arranged person with the key finishes their lunch with no sense of urgency... zut alors! Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art has space all around it, however a large and mostly empty restaurant carpark to one side did not permit us to enter their property and had security on hand to enforce this. They did let customers in however, so it was possible to go and sit on the balcony and have a beer, purely for work reasons you understand, and take some shots. See, difficulties.
10
TEXAS Smiles and laughs are never something you are left wanting for with cliff divers. This last shot from an elevator at a hotel in Dallas, Texas in 2018 was a crazy idea I had, I just needed crazy divers. Fortunately, we have plenty! Rhiannan Iffland and Michal Navratil were only too happy to ride up and down in the elevators a few times in their swimwear. We only had a few minutes between other obligations, and would have liked to have a few more businessmen on board, but in the end, the fact that we can quickly make shots like this happen is one of the reasons why I love shooting this sport and its athletes so much.
11
CORSICA While all that technical stuff creates concern, so too can a simple cliff. Corsica 2012, and a rocky outcrop looked appealing to a few divers I was out with, looking for a way to capture the medieval clifftop city of Bonifacio, and a diver in action, as the location for the competition the next day would not give us that angle. As you can see from the images, while the final image of Gary Hunt is quite serene and evocative (turn page to see ), the reality leading up to that is a little less tranquil, but indicative of the way the divers help each other out with a smile.
THE STORY BEHIND THE
Gary Hunt dives from an 18 metre rock with the city of Bonifacio in the background in preparation for the
first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in CORSICA , France, in June 2012.
REVIEW 2009 The inaugural Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series kicks-off in La Rochelle, France. Orlando Duque (COL) is crowned the 1st World Series champion, having won 3 out of 8 events and finished on the podium 3 other times. 2010 Gary Hunt (GBR) becomes the ‘brilliant Brit’ with 4 wins and 2 podiums in 6 competitions. At 26, he is the youngest champion ever. The final is held in Hawaii, the sport’s birthplace. 2011 The World Series travels to one of its remotest venues in Rapa Nui, Chile, 3,700km flight distance from the mainland. 2012 The World Series is decided during the hottest finale in Oman’s Wadi Shab at temperatures over 40°C. In the final dive, Gary Hunt wins the title by just 1.85 points over Orlando Duque. The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) recognises high diving as a professional sport and includes it in its calendar of aquatic sports.
Eight-degree cold water awaits Jonathan Paredes as he dives to World Series champion honours in Chile in 2017.
2013 Four different locations in Thailand’s Krabi Province make for a pure cliff diving adventure. After 8 competition dives Artem Silchenko (RUS) wins the stop and the overall title.
14
2014 A new era starts when the Women’s World Series is introduced. Rachelle Simpson (USA) has the perfect year and wins all 3 competitions to become the 1st female World Series champion. 2015 The homecoming of a legend: Orlando Duque competes in Colombia for the first time in front of his family. He finishes 3rd. Steven LoBue (USA) hits the platform with his head, finishes his dive and comes out with only a small scratch on his forehead. Since then, he’s called the ‘miracle man’.
The original divers’ line-up for the premiere of the Women’s World Series in Texas in June 2014. Cesilie Carlton, Tara Hyer-Tira, Rachelle Simpson, Jacqueline Valente, Ginger Huber, Anna Bader and Adriana Jimenez.
2016 The biggest World Series ever, with nine stops around the globe, culminates with the first night event in Dubai. An intermediate dive in the men’s is introduced and results in a bigger diversity of dives. Gary Hunt performs the hardest dive to date: front 3 somersaults with 4½ twists free, DD 5.6. A wildcard, Australian cliff diving sensation Rhiannan Iffland, is crowned Women’s World Series champion. 2017 The Degree of Difficulty table is adjusted according to the sport’s recent evolution and includes new dives. The new table is also adopted by FINA. Greg Louganis follows Niki Stajkovic as sports director. With a failed dive in the season finale in Chile, Gary Hunt opens a door for Jonathan Paredes (MEX) to win his first overall title. The ‘style master’ delivers and wins the King Kahekili Trophy. 2018 The World Series celebrates its 10th anniversary with seven competitions in classic venues. All divers perform 4 competition dives as the cut after the 3rd round gets waived. Rhiannan Iffland becomes the sport’s most decorated athlete with a hat-trick of World Series championship wins. 2019 For the first time an athlete wins every stop Rhiannan Iffland makes the perfect season. Gary Hunt scores the perfect dive in his 77th appearance to become the first person ever to be awarded all 10s from the judges in the history of the World Series. Most tens in a single competition are awarded in Mostar: 13. Colombia’s Orlando Duque bows out from an illustrious career during the final in Bilbao.
While the sun sets in Dubai, Helena Merten warms up for 2016’s night spectacle.
NEW IN 2022 4 new permanent athletes: Xantheia Pennisi (AUS), Molly Carlson (CAN), Aidan Heslop (GBR), Catalin Preda (ROU) and Nikita Fedotov (IA). Heslop spearheads a new generation of divers by lowering the age for the youngest permanent diver to 20. 3 brand new locations: Paris (FRA), Oslo (NOR), Sydney (AUS). Orlando Duque is the new sports director.
2020 The World Series is cancelled due to the worldwide health situation. 2021 A record-breaking season follows a 21-months hiatus with 54 tens awarded by the judges in 5 competitions. Rhiannan Iffland continues her winning streak to make it two perfect seasons.
In 2021, Rhiannan Iffland and Carlos Gimeno join Gary Hunt and Constantin Popovic in the ‘five 10s club’ in Ireland.
A N D
RULES
R E G UL AT I O N S Five international judges award points between 0 and 10 in half point increments based on take-off, execution in the air and water entry.
COMPETITION FORMAT Ahead of each competition a draw determines the diving order for the 1st round.
Competition format can change due to local dive condition difficulties.
12 DIVERS 8 permanent + 4 wildcards
ROUND 1
DAY 1
maximum DD MEN 2.8 WOMEN 2.6
ROUND 2 maximum DD MEN 3.6 WOMEN 3.4
ROUND 3
DAY 2
Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.
FINAL ROUND Reverse starting order based on the previous round’s cumulative score.
OPTIONAL DIVE ROUNDS No capped Degree of Difficulty (DD). Every element of the dive counts as per DD table in the rule book.
The winner of any individual stop is the diver with the highest point total from this competition after 4 dives.
OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE PARTNER
OCEAN STAR 600 CHONOMETER
#SUPERPRECISE
JUDGING &
FIVE INTERNATIONAL JURORS WILL JUDGE EACH DIVE ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: ˇ TAKE OFF ˇ POSITION IN THE AIR ˇ ENTRY IN THE WATER
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY The degree of difficulty of each dive – also known as DD – is calculated based on the difficulty of the execution of each manoeuvre and the junction of each dive component. ˇ Type of take off ˇ Number of somersaults ˇ Number of twists ˇ Position during the somersaults ˇ Type of entry
The DD table was adjusted for the 2017 World Series in alignment with FINA and since then 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.
200 160 130 110 92 76 62 50 39 29 20 12
POINTS Points are awarded from 1st to last place, including wildcards.
SCORING SCORES from 0 to 10 in half point increments.
Judges score the dives without assistance.
5 scores by 5 judges.
HIGHEST & LOWEST score are discarded. The remaining three scores are added together.
2.8 3.6 4.1 4.6 4.8 5.3
25.0
THE SUM is multiplied by the degree of difficulty for each dive.
70.0
88.2
110.7
SCORES from all 4 rounds are cumulated to produce the final competition result.
POINTS PER COMPETITION The points from each competition are tallied towards the total score and standings of the World Series. All individual competition results count for the World Series overall ranking.
383.90 398.25 393.70 380.95 378.00
115.0
115 .0
JUDGES
FIVE JUDGES 1 head judge & 4 judges will be selected for each competition from a pool of 11 members.
Judges for each stop will be chosen based on geographical location of the event and availability.
Anke Piper (GER) Three-time European champion 10m, head judge
Antonio Martinez (MEX) FINA judge, former diver and high diver, head judge
Olivier Morneau-Ricard (CAN) FINA high diving judge, former Canadian diving team member, head judge
Cyrille Oumedjkane (FRA) FINA judge, World Series diver between 2009 and 2016
Dmitry Sautin (RUS) Two-time Olympic Gold medallist, five-time World Champion, 12-time European Champion
Ildiko Kelemen (HUN) Participant Olympic Games Moscow 1980 and Seoul 1988
Jeff Arbon (AUS) Participant Olympic Games Seoul 1988
Julian Llinas (ESP) FINA judge, judge at three Olympic Games
Marion Reiff (AUT) Participant Olympic Games Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004
Simon Latimer (NZL) Former New Zealand Diving Team Member, three-time Olympic judge
Steve Foley (AUS) Triple Olympian (1976, 1980, 1984)
DOS & DON’TS Take Off ˇ The diver does not show a steady balance and control in an armstand dive. The body should come to rest in a vertical and straight alignment for no less than two full seconds before initiating the dive action.
THE JUDGES DEDUCT POINTS FROM THEIR SCORES WHEN…
Execution ˇ 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 The straight position upon take-off is not shown for at least one quarter of a somersault in all flying dives. ˇ An obvious break of straight position occurs after at least one complete somersault has been performed in either tuck or pike position. Entry ˇ The arms at the entry are away from the body and either below or above the shoulders. ˇ A dive is over- or under-twisted by more than 90° the Head Judge declares a failed dive.
Powerless take-offs, incorrect distance to the platform. 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 REGARD AS MISTAKES: 23
THE STORY BEHIND THE
MOUNT FUJI Another mission, this time in Japan in 2016, also with Orlando, involved a hastily concocted scheme for him to dive off some rocks with the glorious Mount Fuji in the background. Sounded awesome! The day before, we caught two internal flights from Shirahama
to overnight in Tokyo, then another early morning hotel departure for the four-hour drive to the location. One thing that was abundantly clear during the drive and upon arriving, was that Fuji was totally invisible due to thick cloud cover.
We waited for three hours, and by now the conversation was just getting silly, when a faint outline of the mountain top became visible. Orlando went out and did one quick flying front which I shot from the beach with a 400mm. He came back and we stood around for another hour, but
the mountain was gone, so with that one dive we called it and began the long drive and plane journey back to Shirahama. While not as imagined, it worked out ok.
KING KAHEKILI TROPHY THE RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS’ AWARD OF VIRTUE & EXCELLENCE
26
It’s the silk ribbon of cliff diving and reserved for the cream of the crop - the King Kahekili Trophy for the overall title is awarded in honour of the great Hawaiian chief. As the last independent ruler of Maui, Kahekili first leaped from the holy lava cliffs of Kaunolu, the birthplace of this majestic sport in the late 1700s. 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 middle of the Pacific. These are principles that have been in place since the 18th century and are a prerequisite for the sport of cliff diving today. The King Kahekili Trophy was 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 asymmetrical, 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 World Series takes on the challenge of finding out which athlete has enough mana and pono to perform the best lele kawa and win the overall title in 2022.
NAMES ON THE KING KAHEKILI TROPHY TO DATE
Can the reigning champions continue their winning streak in 2022?
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 Gary Hunt, GBR 2016 Jonathan Paredes, MEX 2017 Gary Hunt, GBR 2018 Gary Hunt, GBR 2019 Gary Hunt, FRA 2021 WOMEN Rachelle Simpson, USA 2014 Rachelle Simpson, USA 2015 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2016 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2017 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2018 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2019 Rhiannan Iffland, AUS 2021
9x Gary Hunt
5x Rhiannan Iffland
2x Rachelle Simpson
1x Jonathan Paredes
1x Orlando Duque
1x Artem Silchenko
DIVE POSITIONS 3 POSITONS ALL THREE POSITIONS (STRAIGHT, PIKE, TUCK) MUST BE SHOWN.
PIKE With knees straight but a tight bend at the hips.
STRAIGHT With no bend at the knees or hips.
28
Tuck Body folded up into a tight ball, hands holding the shins and toes pointed.
SCAN ME TO FIND OUT MORE!
FREE Body position is optional but the legs shall be together and the toes pointed.
DIVE COMPONENTS
BARANI One somersault forward rotation with a ½ twist. The entry manoeuvre 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 they line up “blind”.
Sommersault The diver rotates head over end, forwards or backwards. The record number of somersaults is currently 5.
TWIST The body twists on axis whilst rotating. The record number of twists is currently 5.
29 FLYING Dives consisting of at least one complete somersault performed in the straight position at no less than 90°. The straight position must be followed by either tuck or pike.
DIVE GROUPS Each one of the five groups can also incorporate an axial twisting movement and will be considered group 6 to 11.
FORWARD, Group 1 The diver takes off facing the water and rotates forwards.
BACK, Group 2 The diver takes off with their 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 the water and rotates backwards towards the platform.
30
SCAN ME TO FIND OUT MORE!
INWARD, Group 4 The diver takes off with their back to the water and rotates forward towards the platform.
HOW TO WATCH WATCH ALL STOPS OF THE 2022 RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES LIVE ON REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM , RED BULL TV , YOUTUBE , AND FACEBOOK
Immediately after the event, the complete broadcast will be available as a Video On Demand on all our channels.
Red Bull TV is a global digital entertainment destination filled with beyond the ordinary sports, music, lifestyle, and adventure programming. The Red Bull TV app features a constantly refreshed menu of live events, feature films and shorts, original series, and documentaries.
PLEASE, CHECK REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM FOR YOUR LOCAL TIMES.
Red Bull TV can be accessed anytime, anywhere – online at Redbull. TV and via the Red Bull TV app for mobile devices, game consoles and Smart TVs. Select Red Bull TV content is available on the Red Bull YouTube channel.
CAN AUS MEX CAN BLR AUS COL USA
MOLLY CARLSON RHIANNAN IFFLAND ADRIANA JIMENEZ JESSICA MACAULAY YANA NESTSIARAVA XANTHEIA PENNISI MARIA PAULA QUINTERO ELEANOR SMART
202 2
PERMANENT DIVERS
WOM E N For the eight permanent athletes from six nations and up to four female wildcard divers, it’s all about top marks for style and poise combined with increasing acrobatic complexity from 21 metres.
MOLLY CARLSON
IS THERE A SPORT YOU REALLY SUCK AT? SAD CANADIAN MOMENT BUT I SUCK AT PLAYING HOCKEY.
Representing Canada Date of birth September 23, 1998 Height/Weight 1.75m/65kg City of residence Montreal Profession Full Time Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology Student /Team Canada High Diver Secret passion … is to continue to grow strong mental health in young athletes especially as it relates to body positivity. Started cliff diving in 2020 Favourite cliff diving spot Rainy Lake in Fort Frances, Ontario.
34
Having based her decision to compete as a cliff diver on the results of a social media poll, where “99% of the responses were ‘yes’, other than my mother”, Molly Carlson made her memorable debut on the French Riviera. Three exceptional dives helped secure a second-place finish, with only the champion Rhiannan Iffland ahead of her. It was a sign of things to come, with the young Canadian continuing to impress throughout the season, rounding it off with two more podiums in Italy and an overall third place, and with it a permanent place for 2022. A dream year for the 23-year-old concluded with a silver medal at the FINA High Diving qualifier in December. Bubbly, confident and forever with a smile on her face, Carlson documented her first season on the World Series in the vlog ‘Molly’s Life as a Wildcard’, while she also continues to entertain her 3 million TikTok followers.
Achievements
Rankings Year
2014 Youth Olympian
2013 & 2015 Junior Pan-American Champion
2021 3rd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Favourite dive 302B 1st World Series appearance 2021 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place
2021 2nd FINA High Diving qualifier in Abu Dhabi 3
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
2020
‘21
Date of birth September 9, 1991 Height/Weight 1.67m/60kg City of residence Newcastle Profession Show diver Secret passion Scuba diving and traveling Started cliff diving in 2015 Favourite cliff diving spot Italy; Ik kil cenote, Mexico Favourite dive Back triple one twist
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IN CLIFF DIVING? TO BE COURAGEOUS, PERSISTENT AND RESPECT THE HEIGHT.
RHIANNAN IFFLAND
Representing Australia
1st World Series appearance 2016 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
Achievements
Rankings Year
In 2016, Rhiannan Iffland exploded onto the scene with a sensational wildcard victory at her very first World Series competition in Texas. Since then, the Aussie has gone from strength to strength, racking up an unparalleled list of achievements in just a few years. With five World Series titles, 23 wins in 29 stops, two FINA High Diving gold medals and two full seasons unbeaten, she is the sport’s most decorated female athlete. “With my background in trampolining and diving, along with a desire just to really push myself, I decided that high diving was where I wanted to take the leap,” Iffland reveals. “I spent 18 months learning the skills needed for high diving from 10m, then gradually moved up the heights, eventually arriving at cliff diving.” In 2019, Iffland enjoyed the type of year most athletes can only dream of, winning all seven stops to complete an historic perfect season. Remarkably, she then returned following the pandemic break to do it again in 2021, this time adding a first ‘perfect 10’ dive to her growing list of records. 1st female cliff diver to score a perfect dive
5-time Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
1
Wildcard 2010
2017 & 2019 Winner FINA High Diving World Championships
‘12
‘14
‘16
1
1 ‘18
2018 & 2019 Winner FINA High Diving World Cup
1
1 2020
‘21
35
ADRIANA JIMENEZ
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS: THE HAPPIEST MEXICAN.
Representing Mexico Date of birth January 20, 1985 Height/Weight 1.58m/ 48kg City of residence Mexico City Profession High Diver, Motivational Speaker Secret passion Cheerleading Started cliff diving in 2014 Favourite cliff diving spot Mexico, Portugal Favourite dive Back Triple Pike 1st World Series appearance 2014
36
With three wins and 11 podium finishes to her name, Adriana Jimenez has been one of cliff diving’s leading ladies since 2014, when the women’s World Series debuted. Her flawless style turned ‘Ady’ into a constant force, and in 2018 she enjoyed her best season to date; two wins and a second place thrust her into a thrilling title fight with Rhiannan Iffland. The Mexican carried a 20-point lead into the final showdown, but ultimately fell just short of glory as Iffland wrapped up her third title in style. In 2019, the former Olympic diver stepped back from competition after her 2nd place at the FINA High Diving World Championships due to a recurrent hernia injury. Ultimately, her year away from competition coincided with the cancellation of the 2020 season. Upon her return as a wildcard in 2021, she picked up right where she had left off, with a second-place finish at her first competition in two years. At the age of 37, Jimenez will return as a permanent diver in 2022. Achievements
Rankings Year
2004 Secures a place for Mexico in the Olympic Games
3
Wildcard 2010
2017 1st Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Azores
‘12
‘14
6
2017 2nd FINA High Diving World Championships 5 ‘16
3
2 ‘18
Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
2018 2nd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 6
9 2020
‘21
Date of birth November 10, 1992 Height/Weight 1.78m/63kg City of residence Montreal Profession High Diver / Performer Secret passion Cooking Started cliff diving in 2015 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal
YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS? PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MYSELF AND SETTING HIGH STANDARDS.
JESSICA MACAULAY
Representing Canada
Favourite dive Back triple 1st World Series appearance 2017 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place
Achievements
Rankings Year
With four appearances on the World Series podium, Jessica Macaulay enjoyed her most successful season last year, narrowly missing out on a first-ever win at the penultimate stop in Puglia. “It’s always been my competitive nature that made me push myself to something, same with high diving – it wasn’t the high dive that drew me, it was seeing somebody else doing it, then I had to do it as well,” the nine-time podium finisher explains. “Once I learned a couple of dives then I believed in myself, and I started chasing my dream and started pushing myself to become a high diver.” In 2018 she came as the surprise package, securing a podium in her second appearance. In the same competition she broke the record for the highest scoring women’s dive until that day. From the little girl who never thought she’d be good enough to dive aesthetically from 10m, the passionate high liner and declared adrenaline junkie matured into one of the World Series’ most watched for divers and a strong contender for the overall win. 2018 Three podiums as a wildcard to qualify for a permanent ticket
2019 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Portugal
11
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
2019 & 2021 2nd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
2019 3rd FINA High Diving World Championships
‘16
4 ‘18
2
2 2020
‘21
37
YANA NESTSIARAVA
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS TRUE LUXURY? HONESTLY, I GOOGLED THIS WORD. I’M FROM BELARUS, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT LUXURY IT. A LOT OF POTATOES?
Representing Belarus Date of birth June 14, 1992 Height/Weight 1.68m/60kg City of residence Minsk Profession Diving and swimming coach Secret passion Playing drums Started cliff diving in 2012 Favourite cliff diving spot Mexico Favourite dive 5244 B 1st World Series appearance 2014
38
Despite missing out on a podium place last season for the first time since 2015, Yana Nestsiarava was the epitome of consistency once again, finishing fourth in three of her four starts. The Minsk-born athlete credits her success to her parents, who decided to channel their daughter’s energy into sports after objects in the household suffered. Long days at school and regular trainings calmed down family life again. “My friends at the pool became my second family and although there was no plan to make a brilliant career, diving became my life.” While on contract for a stunt show in China, Nestsiarava got noticed by her team captain and World Series diver, Steve Black. A video application later she received an invitation for the women’s first ever competition. “I am forever grateful that everything turned out the way it did.” From a stunt performer to an integral part of female high diving - the 30-year-old Belarusian is a multiple FINA High Diving World Championships medalist and podium finisher in the World Series. Achievements
Rankings Year
2015 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Italy
8
Wildcard 2010
2015 3rd FINA High Diving World Championships & FINA High Diving World Cup
‘12
‘14
7
2019 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in the Philippines
2017 3rd FINA High Diving World Championships 8 ‘16
7
Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place
5 ‘18
4
5 2020
‘21
Date of birth November 26, 1998 Height/Weight 1.64m/62kg City of residence Brisbane, Australia Profession Show diver, diving coach Secret passion Fashion and makeup Started cliff diving in 2017 Favourite cliff diving spot Sisikon, Switzerland Favourite dive I am still finding it 1st World Series appearance 2018 Best result in a World Series competition 3rd place
Achievements
Rankings Year
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 10-YEAR-OLD SELF? I WOULD TELL HER NOT TO WORRY WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT YOU.
XANTHEIA PENNISI
Representing Australia
At only 19 years of age, Xantheia Pennisi made her World Series debut in Mostar in the anniversary year 2018. After making steady progress, her breakthrough year came in 2021, when the Australian finally secured her first place on the podium in Ireland, before repeating the feat just a few weeks later at the season finale in Polignano a Mare. Half Filipino, the Brisbane born and bred is particularly proud to have been part of the line-up during the 2019 season opener in the Philippines, the first ever cliff diving event in the country. At 23, her sportive career has already taken a few turns from gymnast to traditional diving, but it was cliff diving that sparked something in her. A show in Australia, together with Rhiannan Iffland was the beginning of it all; from 10m to 15m and 17m in 2017 and the first 20m dive in June 2018. Pennisi’s strong performances last year paved the way to her first permanent World Series ticket, meaning she’ll now get the chance to challenge the more established title contenders at every stop in 2022. 2018 Debut in Bosnia & Herzegovina
2021 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Ireland & Italy 10
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
10
4 2020
‘21
39
MARIA PAULA QUINTERO
WHAT HEADLINE WOULD YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT YOURSELF? THE YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION OF CLIFF DIVING IN THE HISTORY. 40
Representing Colombia Date of birth June 23, 2000 Height/Weight 1.65m/57kg City of residence Cali Profession Student Secret passion I’m a big soccer fan Started cliff diving in 2016 Favourite cliff diving spot Cali Favourite dive 5242 D 1st World Series appearance 2017
“My earliest childhood memory of diving was when I dove from 5m for the first time. It was my first training session ever. I wanted to go higher and higher, but my coach didn’t let me. That feeling of height is simply the best!” This is Maria Paula Quintero as she lives and breathes. A high diver by nature. She was 16 when she first attempted the 20m platform and hardly 17 during her first showing in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, 18 when she claimed her first podium. “I saw Miguel and Orlando diving from the scaffolding they had built in the pool in Cali. That day it clicked, and I decided to go for it,” the youngest woman to ever finish on the podium remembers. “Miguel started coaching me and Orlando shared all his knowledge.” Following in her role models’ footsteps, Quintero has already learned some pivotal lessons at an early stage in her career: “If you want something in your life, you have to make sacrifices. Nothing is free – I think these are really important things.” Word! Achievements
Rankings Year
Youngest female diver to finish on the World Series podium at 18
2017 Debut in Texas as the youngest athlete
2019 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Italy 13
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place
‘16
12 ‘18
7
7 2020
‘21
Date of birth October 21, 1995 Height/Weight 1.65m/57kg City of residence Minneapolis, MN Profession Professional High Diver, Founder of “The Clean Cliffs Project,” Sport Psychology MA Student
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS: PASSIONATE, ADVENTUROUS, AND CARING.
ELEANOR SMART
Representing United States
Secret passion I don’t think it’s much of a secret anymore, but I’m extremely passionate about plastic pollution. Started cliff diving in 2016 Favourite cliff diving spot Agios Nikolas, Greece Favourite dive Back double, triple 1st World Series appearance 2017 Best result in a World Series competition 2nd place
Achievements
Rankings Year
Having made an impressive World Series debut on the rough Irish coast of Inis Mór in 2017, Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Smart finally earned a permanent place in the women’s line-up for the 2019 season with a third place at the FINA World Cup. In 2021, consistency was key as the American never dropped below sixth place to maintain her place in the women’s top 8. With the ‘Clean Cliffs Project’ and its mission to prevent plastic pollution and inspire others to take action, she’s set a first step towards making a point as well as a difference. “Wherever we go we see humankind’s footprint. I hope that by cleaning and creating an awareness I’ve been helping that my kids will get to experience these beautiful places that I have.” In the adventure vlog YouTube series ‘Ellie and Owen – the Story of a Cliff Diving Couple’, the 26-year-old stars as the female protagonist and takes the viewers on exciting diving adventures, shares insights into the daily grind of a cliff diver and explains some of the essential elements of her high-flying sport. 2017 Debut in Irland
2018 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup
2019 2nd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bosnia & Herzegovina 9
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
13 ‘18
5
6 2020
‘21
41
42 Spain November 25, 1988
Brazil November 10, 1987
GINNI VAN KATWIJK
PATY VALENTE
AIMEE HARRISON
CELIA FERNANDEZ
AT EACH STOP, FOUR OF THESE WOMEN WILL ADD MOMENTUM TO THE WOMEN’S DIVISION IN ITS 8TH SEASON.
Germany December 12, 1983 Ukraine May 14, 1995
Canada August 24, 1994
Netherlands March 5, 1985
ANNA BAKUNOVYTSKA
ANNA BADER
WILDCARDS
ANTONINA VYSHYVANOVA Ukraine March 27, 1998
Italy July 24, 2002
JAKI VALENTE
IRIS SCHMIDBAUER
LEYLA SALYAMOVA Germany April 11, 1995
Russia March 24, 1999
ELISA COSETTI
MEILI CARPENTER
GENEVIEVE BRADLEY USA December 08, 1987
USA June 12, 1992
Brazil September 19, 1985
43
THE STORY BEHIND THE
PARAGLIDING What didn’t work out ok, was David Colturi diving from a paraglider in Switzerland. Well, when I say that, the photos looked quite picturesque, but it had a less than desirable outcome. David came to Sisikon in 2018 after much testing and training with a team prepared for the demands of this very specific dive into Vierwaldstaettersee, from beneath a sheet of nylon piloted by multiple
Red Bull X-Alps winner, Christian “Chrigel” Maurer. This photoshoot had all the factors of a concept created by someone who was not a photographer. A moving paraglider depositing a diver at an approximate location and height, at the precise time that a paddle steamer passes, shot from another moving boat. Oh, and be sure to capture the historic little chapel in the shot too. Needless to say things did not roll out as
expected, with exact paraglider heights hard to judge second by second, therefore dives happening when they looked correct to David, resulted in a couple of hard landings, and adding to that the photo boat often stalling then drifting, eventually and comically colliding with a passing paddle steamer. We managed three dives in four hours. Top marks to all involved for actually achieving a result with so many
factors coming into play. It transpired that David suffered a raptured spleen while performing but happily he quickly got back into form and still rips his 27 metre dives, saying of the stunt, “I love to push boundaries. It was a great experience to prepare this unique project combining cliff diving and paragliding over several months and finally to carry out the dive in a great team effort.”
ITA IA GBR FRA MEX ROU ROU UKR
ALESSANDRO DE ROSE NIKITA FEDOTOV AIDAN HESLOP GARY HUNT JONATHAN PAREDES CONSTANTIN POPOVICI CATALIN PREDA OLEKSIY PRYOGOROV
202 2
PERMANENT DIVERS
ME N In 2022, the World Series will feature eight male athletes from seven nations competing in eight events and up to four wildcard divers per stop.
ALESSANDRO DE ROSE
IF YOU WEREN’T A CLIFF DIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BECOME INSTEAD? I THINK I’LL BE A CHEF; I LOVE COOKING. 48
Representing Italy Date of birth July 2, 1992 Height/Weight 1.73m/75kg City of residence Trieste Profession Coach Secret passion Playing guitar Started cliff diving in 2013 Favourite cliff diving spot Indonesia Favourite dive Forward 3 somersaults 2 ½ twists 1st World Series appearance 2013
In 2016, Alessandro De Rose broke into the top 10 at a competition for the first time, and just 12 months later he provided perhaps the most heart-warming moment in World Series history. Having never even made it onto the podium before, he defied the odds to become the first-ever wildcard to win a competition. A feat that would have been stunning in any setting was made even more historic and emotional due to the fact it was played out in front of a raucous and passionate home crowd in Polignano a Mare. “It’s a dream come true. Orlando is a legend, Gary is a legend, and I was better than them,” cried an almost disbelieving De Rose after his victory. Just a week later, he was back on the podium, this time celebrating a bronze medal at the FINA World Championships. The Italian was back to his best in 2021. A third-place finish in Ireland not only earned him a spot on the podium for the first time in four years but also the first 10s, and he repeated the trick at the finale in Puglia to secure a 4th place finish overall. Achievements
Rankings Year
16
Wildcard 2010
2019 Reclaims permanent World Series athlete status
2017 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Italy
2017 3rd FINA High Diving World Championships
‘12
26 ‘14
20
11 ‘16
4
8 ‘18
Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
2021 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Ireland & Italy 9
4 2020
‘21
Date of birth May 27, 1995 Height/Weight 1.75m/75kg City of residence Dnipro, Ukraine Profession Athlete Secret passion Playing games Started cliff diving in 2016
WHAT SCARES A CLIFF DIVER? IT’S NOT HEIGHTS FOR SURE… AND NOT DEPTH.
NIKITA FEDOTOV
Representing -
Favourite cliff diving spot Portugal, Azores Favourite dive 5165 B 1st World Series appearance 2017 Best result in a World Series competition 3rd place
In 2017, Nikita Fedotov announced himself to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in style, becoming the first ever male wildcard to make it onto the podium in his debut. It wasn’t until four years later that the 27-year-old landed back on the podium, scoring a repeat of his third-place finish in the same location, a result which helped him secure his first ever permanent invite for the 2022 World Series. In the process of acquiring the Ukrainian nationality, Fedotov, who formerly represented the Russian Federation, will compete as an Independent Athlete (IA) under a neutral flag this season.
49 Achievements
Rankings Year
2017 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bosnia & Herzegovina
2021 Qualification as a permanent World Series diver
2021 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Bosnia & Herzegovina 12
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
14 ‘18
15
9 2020
‘21
AIDAN HESLOP
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS: HYPER-ACTIVE, ADVENTUROUS, CRAZY.
Representing Great Britian Date of birth April 18, 2002 Height/Weight 1.83m/72kg City of residence Plymouth Profession Diver Secret passion F1 Started cliff diving in 2010 Favourite cliff diving spot Polignano a Mare Favourite dive 5268B My (cliff diving) hero Usain Bolt, Lewis Hamilton, Gary Hunt - 3 people that are outstanding in their sport
50
One of the most exciting Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series prospects to emerge in the last few years, Aidan Heslop certainly has what it takes to become one of the sport’s top contenders. At the age of 16, Heslop became the youngest diver ever to compete in the World Series when he made his much-anticipated debut at the 2018 season finale. Just one year later, in only his second appearance, the Brit delivered a taste of what’s to come when he landed on the podium at the season’s final stop in Bilbao. Quite simply, a stunning achievement for a 17-year-old wildcard, especially as he performed the exact same dive list as record man Gary Hunt. After a slow start into 2021, he scored his first tens in Ireland before securing fourth and fifth place finishes in the Italy doubleheader. A first high diving victory followed in December at the FINA qualifier in Abu Dhabi, thrusting him up the rankings and into permanent diver status for the 2022 World Series. Hunt and Popovici beware, Heslop is ready to shake things up! Achievements
Rankings Year
2017 3rd European Junior Diving Championships
2018 Debut in Italy
2019 3rd Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Spain 23
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
1st World Series appearance 2018 Best result in a World Series competition 3rd place
2021 1st FINA High Diving qualifier in Abu Dhabi 13
8 2020
‘21
Date of birth June 11, 1984 Height/Weight 1.75m/68kg City of residence Paris Profession Cliff diver Secret passion I secretly dream of becoming a clown Started cliff diving in 2006 Favourite cliff diving 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
“I want to break barriers and do things that no one has ever done before.” Gary Hunt is certainly a man of his word, having spent over a decade pushing the sport of cliff diving to new limits in his pursuit of success and excellence. The London-born athlete, who now represents France in competition, has amassed astonishing numbers in his unrivalled career in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series: 9 overall titles, 43 victories, and 71 podiums in 84 competitions. “My first memory of high diving was seeing a video of a long-haired diver scoring 10s on a back double with 4 twists, I think we all know who that was,” reveals Hunt. “At that point I started imagining what dives I would be able to do from those heights and the seed was planted. The rest is history.” The multi-talented Frenchman is also a keen juggler, a skilled piano and guitar player, and loves learning new languages. His biggest hobby, however, is still collecting medals and world titles, and at the age of 38 there are no signs of him giving that up just yet. 9-time Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Achievements
Rankings Year
WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO BE FOR A DAY? WHY? I WOULD LIKE TO BE A BALLET DANCER. I’D LOVE TO FEEL THAT FLUIDITY OF MOVEMENT, I’D BE JUMPING AROUND AND DANCING ALL DAY.
GARY HUNT
Representing France
2 2009
1
1 ‘11
1
Winner of 43 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions to date 2 ‘13
1
1 ‘15
2019 & 2015 FINA High Diving World Champion
First athlete to receive all 10s from the judges in the World Series 1
2 ‘17
1
1
1
‘19
2021
51
JONATHAN PAREDES
IF YOU WEREN’T A CLIFF DIVER, … ? MY DREAM ALWAYS WAS TO BE AN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER.
Representing Mexico Date of birth August 14, 1989 Height/Weight 1.65m/62kg City of residence Mexico City Profession Cliff diver Secret passion American football Started cliff diving in 2011 Favourite cliff diving spot Azores, Portugal, and Chichen Itza, Mexico Favourite dive Double front and 1 ½ twist 1st World Series appearance 2011
52
When it comes to style, precision and rip entries, look no further than Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes. The 32-year-old, a former champion and perennial title contender, has been effortlessly and immaculately displacing water in the World Series for the last decade. One title, three wins, 21 podiums and five overall top three finishes are the bare statistics from his World Series career; a career which ‘the stylemaster’ says he owes to his mentor, Orlando Duque: “Orlando inspired me in the sport in so many ways. It became an obsession to me to become the best and he helped me a lot, especially to make me believe in myself.” Owing to the pandemic and then an injury which kept him out of the entire 2021 season, Paredes and with him the biggest smile on tour will return to the 27m platform for the first time in almost three years when the World Series kicks off again this summer.
Achievements
Rankings Year
4
Wildcard 2010
‘12
6 ‘14
2019 2nd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
2019 3rd FINA High Diving World Championship
2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Champion
2015 2nd FINA High Diving World Championship
3
2 ‘16
1
Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
3 ‘18
2 2020
‘21
Date of birth October 2, 1988 Height/Weight 1.72m/69kg City of residence Bucharest Profession Artist/athlete Secret passion Cooking Started cliff diving in 2018 Favourite cliff diving spot Sisikon, Switzerland
BUILD THE PERFECT ATHLETE: A STRONG BODY WITH AN OPEN MIND, ALWAYS READY TO DO NEW THINGS.
CONSTANTIN POPOVICI
Representing Romania
Favourite dive Reverse double with double twist 1st World Series appearance 2018 Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
Achievements
Rankings Year
A relative latecomer to the world of cliff diving, Constantin Popovici didn’t make his debut in the sport until the age of 29, but this talented diver has now firmly positioned himself as one of the biggest threats to Gary Hunt’s long reign at the top. In 2021, Popovici was an ever-present on the podium, finishing in second place on four occasions, with one third place. Despite being unable to topple champion Hunt, his overall second place in the standings was a career-best so far. The 33-year-old, who took up high diving for fun, owes it to his father for instilling such a strong sporting drive in him. “He was the one who brought me and my sisters into sport from a very young age,” recalls Popovici. “I remember we were about 5 years old and did abs and push-ups and ran 4 km every Sunday. He’s always been very supportive throughout my career.” No doubt this incredible drive and dedication will be on display again in 2022 when the versatile diver sets his sights on success. 2018 2nd FINA High Diving World Cup
2019 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup
2019 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Ireland and Bosnia & Herzegovina 11
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
2021 2nd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 4
2 2020
‘21
53
CATALIN PREDA
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IN CLIFF DIVING? CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN ONE’S OWN POTENTIAL. 54
Representing Romania Date of birth June 29, 1991 Height/Weight 1.72m/67kg City of residence Bucharest Profession Artist/Acrobat Secret passion Percussion Started cliff diving in 2013 Favourite cliff diving spot Krabi, Yucatan Favourite dive Flying Inward 1st World Series appearance 2018
Fast rewind to 2018: Ahead of the Mostar-leg, judges, sports director and even the most decorated athletes got pretty fired up for the new wildcard from Romania. Catalin ‘Cat’ Preda’s reputation as an up-and-coming high diving talent preceded him. In the competition Preda didn’t disappoint. He showed no nerves and finished in 3rd place on his debut. And in 2021, things really did get competitive. After a 21-month break from cliff diving, Preda returned in sensational style with victory at the opening stop in Saint-Raphaël, France. Another podium and two fourthplace finishes, along with a ‘perfect 10’ dive in Italy, helped push compatriot Constantin Popovici and champion Gary Hunt all the way during a thrilling season. His overall 3rd place in the standings qualified him as a permanent diver in 2022. Ever since little Catalin tried handstands from the 3m springboard during post-training playtime as a seven-year-old, the passionate skier and scuba diver has gravitated towards a life on the adventurous side. Achievements
Rankings Year
Olympic Diving Winner Balkan Games, multiple international medalist in 10m and 3m diving
2021 2nd FINA High Diving qualifier in Abu Dhabi
2021 3rd overall Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 12
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
‘18
Best result in a World Series competition 1st place
2021 Winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Saint-Raphaël 8
3 2020
‘21
Date of birth June 25, 1987 Height/Weight 1.81m/75kg City of residence Kharkiv Profession Professional diver Secret passion Professional Hip-hop dancing Started cliff diving in 2016 Favourite cliff diving spot Bilbao, Spain Favourite dive 5183B 1st World Series appearance 2017 Best result in a World Series competition 5th place
Achievements
Rankings Year
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 10-YEAR-OLD SELF? BE HAPPY, LEARN AND READ, DON’T BE LAZY AND YOU’LL HAVE ALL YOU WANT!
OLEKSIY PRYGOROV
Representing Ukraine
Oleksiy Prygorov is a unique species in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. He’s the only athlete with an Olympic medal around his neck. It’s been a long way from the 3m springboard to the nine-time higher cliff diving platform, but the Ukrainian confesses that he was reeled in by the extreme sport during a show contract in Germany. “I met Yana Nestsiarava and Viktar Maslouski in 2016 and they were already pretty advanced in their high diving, but I admired how bold it looked and had no choice but needed to try mastering the altitude. In 2017 I worked on a program of four dives in two days and was invited to Mostar in 2017. In that energetic and competitive atmosphere, I managed to repeat my four dives and got my next invitation.” With a third-place finish at the FINA High Diving World Cup in 2018, Prygorov earned an automatic promotion to the 10-man permanent line-up for the 2019 season. Although the 1987-born athlete lost this privilege for the following season, he regained permanent status once again and will appear at every stop in 2022. 2008 3rd Olympic Games Beijing
2010 Winner European Aquatics Championships, 3m springboard synchro
2018 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup
19
Wildcard 2010
‘12
‘14
‘16
17 ‘18
2021 Requalification as permanent World Series diver 7
11 2020
‘21
55
56 Spain October 24, 1989
USA October 26, 1994
MICHAL NAVRATIL
JAMES LICHTENSTEIN
SERGIO GUZMAN
CARLOS GIMENO
THESE ATHLETES HAVE THE CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR TALENT, IMPROVE THEIR DIVING AND CERTAINLY SPICE UP THIS YEAR’S COMPETITIONS IN THE MEN’S CATEGORY.
Great Britain August 4, 1982 Switzerland June 21, 1994
Mexico February 26, 1991
Czech Republic June 5, 1985
MATTHIAS APPENZELLER
BLAKE ALDRIDGE
WILDCARDS
Russia February 3, 1984
ANDY JONES
SLAVIK KOLESNIKOV
Spain January 9, 1993
USA April 21, 1985
Ukraine March 25, 1982
OWEN WEYMOUTH
ARTEM SILCHENKO
USA April 21, 1987
ALBERTO DEVORA
MATTHEW COOPER
DAVID COLTURI USA March 4, 1989
NATHAN JIMERSON
USA April 30, 1989
Great Britain December 24, 1998
57
THE STORY BEHIND THE
STATUE OF LIBERTY In 2013 we had Orlando dive out of a helicopter in front of the Statue of Liberty, as you do. This involved a 4am start to get organised, to a boat, out into location and then co-ordinate and shoot in the permitted early morning time window. This was a one dive gig, so myself shooting tight and the other photographer, Brian Nevins going wider with a 70200mm, were positioned on a boat with the helicopter hovering between us and Lady Liberty. Radio communication had an exhaustive series of checks with everyone giving the OK, and then visual safety checks followed by the actual dive, and the trick was
to ensure that our boat didn’t move, the helicopter didn’t move, and we could frame up and shoot the dive stress free. Well of course the only one that didn’t move was the Statue. The helicopter drifted towards the boat, the boat drifted to the left, we were running around onboard trying to maintain the shot, and in the end I couldn’t go any further than the bow without my hat floating, and the dive happened with Orlando further right than hoped, placing him directly over the Statue. As the helicopter had moved closer, the first part of the dive was way too high, so in the end I only got one decent shot.
THE CLEAN CLIFFS PROJECT
World Series athlete Eleanor Smart is on a mission – the founder of the Clean Cliffs Project wants to make an impact on the environment. Born and raised in Kansas, Eleanor Smart has been diving since the age of five and has trained all her life in the hope of making it to the Olympics. She ultimately did not achieve that goal. When she started diving again, she wanted to give it a greater meaning and purpose; to help people and impact the world in some positive way, not just herself. So she founded the Clean Cliffs Project, whose goal is to prevent plastic pollution in our world’s waters and inspire others to take action through the art of cliff diving.
A SIMPLE IDEA When professional cliff divers Smart and Owen Weymouth from the UK travelled around the world cliff diving, they noticed the same problem in every place: plastic pollution. The two put their heads together and created the Clean Cliffs Project. It started with a simple idea: let’s keep doing what we love and have a positive impact on the environment. MISSION The Clean Cliffs Project’s mission is to prevent plastic pollution in our world’s waters and inspire others to get active through cliff diving and other outdoor activities. Red Bull Cliff Diving supports the ambitious project, and in 2021 clean ups were carried out at all sites in conjunction with the local communities during the preparation for the World Series. Follow the Clean Cliffs’ adventures on Instagram @cleancliffs Watch the Clean Cliffs Project’s mission on Red Bull TV.
59
MUST HAVES
1 Goggles ensure an unobstructed view of the water below the landing spot during a check out dive or during the daily swimming routine. 2 + 2 Shammy or ‘chamois’ is a multi-purpose towel that keeps the diver’s body dry before the dive. It is not too dry, however, but absorbs just the right amount of water to keep the skin slightly damp and sticky. This is important because hands and legs need to be dry so they don’t slip in the air. In low temperatures, divers also use the shammy to dry their bodies and keep warm. It dries as soon as you wring it out!
1 2
3 Clean Cliffs rubbish bag to collect your own rubbish and rubbish left on the beaches and dive sites.
3
4 Drinking bottle to stay hydrated on hot summer days, reusable and refillable.
4
5
5 Power band to warm up and keep the muscles in the right tension for dives from up to 27m.
60 A cliff diver doesn’t need much more than the obvious: a skilled body, a lot of courage and, of course, a cliff with a stretch of water underneath to boil it down to the essentials. However, the attunement, finding the right state of mind and fine-tuning the body to the
task at hand are usually what separates a good dive from a bad one. What a diver really needs is anything that helps them focus, or that provides ease and comfort. Well, and maybe a swimsuit or trunks is worth mentioning....
1 Sunglasses are a typical gadget for people who live the desirable life of a “sunny boy or girl”. However, high quality sunglasses are a necessity to give the eyes a welcome break from the bright sunshine so that they can see their competitor’s actual dive in the sunlight, hide emotions or just look even cooler!
1
2
3 Smartphone to stay connected, keep up to date and share the latest high diving achievements and gossip.
3
4
5
4 Watch for precise timing – one of the most vital factors in cliff diving. 5 Swimming trunks in their female and male versions are the only really important item of clothing for a cliff diver. 6 Beach slippers to save the soles of the feet from spiky stones on the way to the platform.
6
61
CLIFF DIVING IS SO SPECIAL, AS THERE ARE NOT MANY OTHER SPORTS AS EXTREME WHERE YOU DON’T NEED ANY OTHER MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT. THE FEELING WHEN YOU ARE IN THE AIR IS REALLY LIKE YOU ARE FREE AND IN THE WILD. GARY HUNT
USA FRA DEN NOR BIH SUI ITA AUS
BOSTON PARIS COPENHAGEN OSLO MOSTAR SISIKON POLIGNANO A MARE SYDNEY
ENTERING ITS 13TH SEASON, THE WORLD SERIES IS BACK WITH EIGHT EXCITING EVENTS, INCLUDING THREE BRAND NEW LOCATIONS.
ARO U N D
ICONIC PLACES
TH E WO R L D A pure extreme sport, the World Series reaches waters in natural and urban environments as well as remote and iconic venues at oceans, rivers and lakes across the various continents always with the aim of acting environmentally responsible and increasing awareness for the sustainability of our planet.
BOSTON TTHE ICA IS OFTEN COMPARED TO A GLAMOROUS ICE CUBE.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART USA | Boston
64
The World Series’ first landing in the sports-loving city of Boston in nine years marks a double first. For the first time, the waterfront museum will kick off a year in which competition will be more accessible to fans than ever before; it will also be the women’s debut in one of America’s oldest cities. The skyline of Boston in the left corner of their eyes and a sea of boats and yachts in front of them, diving from the 27m high cantilever roof of the Institute of Contemporary Art has always been a special stunt for the cliff diving elite. A transparent platform construction in 2013 was another remarkable challenge, and in 2022 it will be female finesse that will amaze spectators beneath the 21-metre-high platform. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that 2006 was not only the year that nine-time champion and two-time Boston winner Gary Hunt attempted his first high dives, but also the year that the ICA opened its new 62,000-square-foot world-class building on Boston Harbor. It is a fact though, that the Frenchman will aim to better his season opening wins statistics from currently four out of twelve. Founded in 1936, the ICA’s mission is to exhibit contemporary art, featuring leading visual artists and performance. Count on the 24 divers to deliver an unforgettable parade of art in motion during the 85th stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Previous Winners 2011 Gary Hunt 2012 Gary Hunt 2013 Orlando Duque
STOP 1 JUNE 4
Location ICA – waterfront museum and exhibition space Coordinates 42.3528824, -71.043011 Platform heights 27.5m | 21m Water depth 7m Water temperature in June 17°C Air temperature in June 22°C Water Boston Harbor, seawater
PARIS Location Marina in Paris’ 16th arrondissement Coordinates 48.863062, 2.296507 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 6m Water temperature in June 18°C Air temperature in June 16°C Water The Seine, freshwater
PORT DEBILLY FRANCE | Paris From sports-mad Boston to the city of love and light and directly in front of Europe’s most iconic landmark the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the first of three brand new venues in 2022. France is an essential element in the history of the World Series and will be part of the competition calendar for the 9th time since the inaugural event in La Rochelle in 2009. In its 13th year, the Paris stop will kick off a European capital tour that will see three consecutive stops in the French capital as well as Denmark and Norway over the next four weeks. And there is one athlete out of the 24 who will not need to travel anywhere to display his high diving skills – Gary Hunt, the brilliant Brit who took on the French nationality in 2020 and resident of Paris. In anticipation of the season’s second leg, the 38-year-old athlete calls this once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete at home “a dream come true.” With the esteemed Eiffel Tower across the river Seine, the cliff diving elite has rarely been set in a more prominent surrounding. With the platforms mounted along the 890m long Port Debilly in the 16th arrondissement the diving display will make the people on the nearby Debilly Footbridge, a through arch bridge connecting the quai de New York to the quai Branly built for the 1900 World Fair, stop stunned and surprised.
THE EVENT WILL RUN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FLUVIAL TRAFFIC ON THE RIVER.
STOP 2 JUNE 18
65
COPENHAGEN 66
WITH CONSTRUCTION COSTS OVER 500 MILLION US DOLLARS, THE BUILDING IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPERA HOUSES EVER BUILT.
OPERA HOUSE DENMARK | Copenhagen
STOP 3 JULY 16
When the World Series returns to the Danish Capital for the 5th time since 2013, it will be the first time that the women will display their skills from more than twice the Olympic diving height. From the platforms on the cantilevered roof of the Royal Danish Opera on Holmen Island in the heart of Copenhagen, you have a phenomenal view of the city: they are built in line with Amalienborg Palace and Frederik’s Church, the socalled Marble Church with its characteristic copper-green dome, so that if you stand in the main entrance to the opera, you can see through the royal family’s house to the church across the water. Kicking off the Scandinavian double, the Opera House was donated to the state by A.P. Møller and wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller’s foundation in August 2000. A lot of time and passion was dedicated to the acoustics and interiors, making the house one of the best equipped in the world. It was opened on January 15, 2005 in the presence of shipping magnate Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, the Danish Prime Minister, and Queen Margrethe II. Inside, 1,703 seats are individually reclined to give guests the best experience during a stage set; in July 2022, spectators at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be able to choose their individual seat on the water and under the roof to be impressed by the divers’ performances. Previous Winners 2018 Gary Hunt 2016 Gary Hunt
2015 2013
Gary Hunt Artem Silchenko
Location Copenhagen Opera House Coordinates 55.681944, 12.600556 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5.5m to 7m Water temperature in July 18°C Air temperature in July 21°C Water Øresund, seawater
OSLO Location Oslo Opera House Coordinates 59.907618, 10.753106 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5m Water temperature in August 17°C Air temperature in August 20°C Water Oslofjord, seawater
OPERA HOUSE NORWAY | Oslo Ever since the lucky few who attended the 2021 World Series Exhibition in the Norwegian capital told their fellow divers about the sheer endless walk across the 30m platform, the stop in Oslo has been eagerly awaited. Nowhere else is the walk to the edge of the platform longer than the descent. The final stage of the capital city tour marks a premiere on the calendar. Eight years ago, it was the charming little town of Kragerø that hosted the world’s best cliff divers, and now they will have the chance to dazzle their fans right in the heart of the country’s largest city. The Oslo Opera House, home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and the national opera theatre, provides the platform for the athletes as the battle for the King Kahekili Trophy heats up. Inaugurated in 2008, the landmark extends the idea that Norwegian nature is free and accessible to everyone, and the roof rises like an iceberg at the tip of the Oslo fjord. The roof of the building slopes down to the ground, creating a large square that invites pedestrians to walk up and enjoy the panoramic view. In the summer of 2022, there will be 12 women and 12 men who will stun spectators with their very own spectacular outdoor performance from heights from up to 27m.
WALKING ON THE OPERA ROOF HAS BECOME AN ATTRACTION IN ITSELF.
STOP 4 AUGUST 13
67
MOSTAR 68
DESTROYED DURING THE WAR IN BOSNIA, THE BRIDGE WAS REBUILT USING THE ORIGINAL STONE BLOCKS AND REOPENED IN 2004.
STARI MOST BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA | Mostar
STOP 5 AUGUST 27
It’s no wonder that the famous old bridge of Mostar has been the source of so much drama lately. For three years in a row, from 2017 to 2019, Stari Most was the scene of the penultimate stop of the season, a crucial point where pressure can make or break an athlete’s season. In 2021, it was a dive straight off the bridge and pouring rain that added extra spice to the spectacle. In 2019, Gary Hunt and Rhiannan Iffland secured their titles here, while Constantin Popovici scored five 10s for a perfect dive. In 2018, Steven LoBue allowed Hunt to return to a thrilling title fight after missing out on the podium. And in 2017, Iffland almost lost her title after a poor warm-up start knocked her out of the competition with an injury. Diving off Stari Most dates back to the 17th century, when young men started to dive from the bridge in a sort of maturity test in a very traditional technique. Today, the fine art of cliff diving is equally respected. The iconic 16th-century bridge spans gracefully over the emerald freshwater, connecting two parts of Mostar’s old town. Surrounded on both sides by fortified towers, it blends seamlessly into the landscape and is an impressive sight. Together with the surrounding part of the old town, the bridge is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Previous Winners 2021 Rhiannan Iffland | Gary Hunt 2019 Rhiannan Iffland | Constantin Popovici 2018 Adriana Jimenez | Gary Hunt
2017 2016 2015
Location Old bridge in Mostar Coordinates 43.33730, 17.81496 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5m to 5.5m Water temperature in August 15°C Air temperature in August 31°C Water Neretva river, freshwater
Cesilie Carlton | Gary Hunt Lysanne Richard | Michal Navratil Jonathan Paredes
SISIKON Location Uri-Stone Coordinates 53.571389, 9.964722 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 6m Water temperature in September 18°C Air temperature in September 19°C Water Lake Uri, part of Lake Lucerne, fresh water
URI-STONE SWITZERLAND | Sisikon An original location from the inaugural season in 2009, Sisikon was on the schedule in 2010 and 2018 again. Historically, the return to Lake Uri marks a significant stop: Switzerland plays a leading role in the history of the sport, as Red Bull Cliff Diving was born as such in July 1997 in Brontallo (Ticino) with the very first independent event 25 years ago. From a national perspective, the place has already been the scene of a historic jump. William Tell was the protagonist back then, and a legend from the collection of tall tales reveals how he freed himself from captivity: by jumping from a boat onto a rocky outcrop high above the shores of Lake Lucerne. Today, a chapel - the Tell Chapel - commemorates the legendary feat. In September, the world’s best cliff divers will add their own acrobatic acts to those of the great Swiss folk hero. One cliff diving heroine still has a score to settle: Of the 17 places Rhiannan Iffland has competed at since her wildcard participation in 2016, Sisikon is the only one where the Australian has yet to win. In a place where the winning trophy is an ornate cowbell, the landscape takes centre stage: high cliffs and a beautiful lake surrounded by high mountains. On the other side of the lake is the Rütli meadow, the historical cradle of Switzerland, where the country was founded in 1291. Previous Winners 2018 Lysanne Richard | Gary Hunt 2010 Gary Hunt 2009 Artem Silchenko
THE WHOLE VILLAGE IS INVOLVED IN THE EVENT’S ORGANIZATION.
STOP 6 SEPTEMBER 11
69
POLIGNANO A MARE THE PLATFORM IS MOUNTED ON A PRIVATE ROOFTOP TERRACE.
BASTIONE DI SANTO STEFANO ITALY | Polignano a Mare
70
STOP 7 SEPTEMBER 18
A summer in the pretty Puglia town of Polignano a Mare isn’t complete without a visit from the World Series. The double header including the final showdown of the comeback tour in 2021 helped rubber stamp its reputation as the sport’s European home. In the place where houses rise from the rocks, the sight of cliff divers leaping aesthetically into the Adriatic Sea is now as familiar as the age-old staples of burrata, fresh fish and ice cream. In the 9 stops in 11 years, the spectacle has always attracted locals and tourists in droves, with thousands of them gathering around the launch site on land and on water. Despite the familiarity, the unique route to the platforms never loses its charm: divers have to emerge from the water, pass a crowded beach, walk barefoot through a busy old town before finally reaching the platforms on a rooftop terrace via a private living room. Part of Bari Province, the town is well connected thanks to modern facilities such as the nearby international airport, the tourist and industrial port, and fast railway connections. The extremely pleasant climate of this region, which stretches over 750 kilometres of scenic coastline, makes it an ideal place for sports and nature activities all year round. Discover how to easily reach Puglia at www.weareinpuglia.it Previous Winners 2021 Rhiannan Iffland | Gary Hunt 2021 Rhiannan Iffland | Gary Hunt 2019 Rhiannan Iffland | Gary Hunt 2018 Rhiannan Iffland | Gary Hunt
Location Bastione di Santo Stefano Coordinates 40.99720, 17.21860 Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth + 5m Water temperature in September 22°C Air temperature in September 26°C Water Adriatic Sea, seawater
2017 Rhiannan Iffland | Alessandro De Rose 2016 Lysanne Richard | Artem Silchenko 2015 Rachelle Simpson | Gary Hunt 2010 Artem Silchenko 2009 Orlando Duque
SYDNEY Location Sydney Harbour Coordinates 33°51’40.92”S, 151°13’13.57”O Platform heights 27m | 21m Water depth 5.5m Water temperature in October 19°C Air temperature in October 22°C Water Sydney Harbour, seawater
FLEET STEPS, THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS AUSTRALIA | Sydney Following seven stops of exciting action around the globe, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series concludes with a first-ever visit to Australia, where two champions will be crowned in a spectacular setting at Sydney Harbour. All eyes will be on the reigning and 5-time women’s World Series champion, Rhiannan Iffland who will be hoping for a majestic homecoming to round off the season, while the men’s title tussle will also be settled from the purpose-built 27 metre platform in the middle of the harbour. Spectators will be able to see all of the action on land on the Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquarie’s chair or via boat. Sydney is a sprawling city scape, with an abundance of beautiful landmarks and heritage sites, endless kilometres of beaches, a bustling cultural scene, unique flora and fauna and spectacular mountains all within moments of each other. It’s also a foodie’s wonderland, and the unique style and attitude of its residents adds a charismatic touch to it all. Sydney Harbour hosts other iconic events including the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the world-famous New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Red Bull Flugtag and the Vivid Lights Show. This October, against the stunning backdrop of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, the cliff diving elite will be the headline act.
DID YOU KNOW 90 % OF AUSTRALIANS LIVE ON THE COAST?
STOP 8 OCTOBER 15
71
CLIFF DIVING AROUND THE WORLD
BUCKLE UP AND DIVE DEEP INTO THE ADVENTURES OF THE ATHLETES. Cliff diving is more than just a competition - it’s adventure, exploration and travel while doing what you love. Cliff diving awakens the wanderlust in all of us! Cliff diving has literally travelled the world, with divers launching from icebergs in Antarctica, Indian step wells, sacred cenotes in Mexico and the world’s largest waterfall in Zambia. They have gone cliff-searching from Puerto Rico to Ibiza to Arizona, discovered shipwrecks in the Atlantic and dived in Croatia’s blue cave, while delving deep into Australian Aboriginal culture... The World Series athletes are not dry competitors, but have an adventurous spirit, a curious nature and constantly embark on exotic trips and travels to some of the remotest and most ravishing places in the world. They take us to unique locations around the world, but also explore local culture, traditions and history, always offering cliff diving wisdom along the way. The protagonists of these journeys come in all shapes and forms - multiple champions and young talents, male and female, debutants and experienced explorers - united by their love of free-falling from great heights in some of the most unexpected environments.
Follow the divers on their energizing endeavours as they scout spectacular settings in lush and wild territories on our YouTube channel.
73
STATISTICS
FACTS,
& M E D IA Cliff diving is a captivating sport that offers extraordinary performances, images and stories. The Series is once again poised to conquer oceans, rivers and lakes to thrill thousands of fans from around the world who want to see these incredible athletes perform athletic and graceful feats that are unparalleled in the world of diving.
MEDIA INFO
It’s not just all about dry interviews - media can get wet during their trip to a World Series stop, as most locations offer a dive workshop.
The free fall from the equivalent of eight storeys, combined with appealing acrobatics, without any protection, only concentration, skill and body brilliance - that is the essence of cliff diving, pure and fascinating. The oldest extreme sport in the world continues to spread its unique spirit around the globe in 2022.
76 776 OUTCOME NUMBERS 2021
million impressions across print, TV and online channels
2,887 TV news airings across international networks
786 pictures in news agencies
19 live or/and highlight TV takers
336 million impressions across owned social media channels
6,840 media items in 1,700 outlets
Discover the editorial world of cliff diving! The Red Bull Cliff Diving Newsroom is your central hub to stay up to date with the latest editorial products. HD video and high quality images are captured and immediately made available for all media channels including television, film, print, mobile, social and digital. The content is available free of charge for editorial purposes after successfully registering.
NEWSROOM
RED BULL CLIFF DIVING NEWSROOM REDBULLCLIFFDIVINGNEWSROOM.COM
GET WHAT YOU WANT. IT’S QUICK AND EASY!
1. SIGN UP! You can now search for content. redbullcliffdivingnewsroom.com 2. FIND. Several options lead you to your desired content. Search specifically in drop-down menus and editorial sections or simply search full text. 3. USE. Download your favourite content in the format you need. All products are available in HD.
Get in touch media@redbullcliffdiving.com
77
EDITORIAL ASSETS -14
-10
-3
-2
-1
Event +1
Pre Event Release
Feature Story
Day 1 Results
News Release
Commentators Handbook
Quotes of the Day
Quotes of the Day
Quotes of the Day
Location Day 1 Results Pictures Pictures Lifestyle Pictures Anouncement Clip
Products per stop
+2
+3
+4
+6
Additional Pictures
+10
Story Pictures
Best Pictures Tune-In Trailer
LIVE Broadcast
Pre News Cut
News Cut
Best Raw moments Clip Clips
Best dives Clips
Editorial 52min Clip Highlight
Winning Dives Clip
MOVING
78
ˇ Clips Announcement, winning dives (men & women), best moments, best dives (men & women), raw clip, editorial ˇ Live (HD) on redbullcliffdiving.com, Red Bull TV, Facebook and YouTube ˇ News cuts (‘ready to air’ news, national & international news, regional selects & top 3 podium dives) ˇ Athletes’ profiles ˇ Highlight programme (52min, HD)
Extras throughout the year ˇ Generic sports clips ˇ Social media clips ˇ Pre- and off-season content ˇ Special activations and athletes’ projects
STILL ˇ Location | Lifestyle ˇ Action | Sequences ˇ Preparation | Portraits
EDITORIAL ˇ Pre-event release ˇ News release ˇ Quotes ˇ Feature stories All-purpose editorial content ˇ Athletes’ profiles ˇ Judges’ profiles ˇ Info graphics
Media Service – Moving and still images, editorial texts and special requests – during the entire season the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series’ editorial service provides the media with a variety of rich and distinct contents and formats. A skilled team of photographers, TV crews and news, digital and social editors produces editorial content and distributes news, pictures, stories and TV-footage to the international media, providing background and inside information and bringing the sport closer to a wider audience.
Jessica Macaulay dives to third place in her first competition for Team Canada in Saint Raphael, France, in June 2021.
ENCYCLOPEDIA A
Acapulco In Acapulco, Mexico, pearl divers began to dive from the cliffs of La Quebrada in the 1930s 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.
B
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.
C
80
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 to not 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 keep 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 2021 the World Series has crowned six different champions: Orlando Duque (1), Gary Hunt (9), Artem Silchenko (1) and Jonathan Paredes (1) in the men’s, Rachelle Simpson (2) and Rhiannan Iffland (5) in the women’s. Chilly windy A weather condition sometimes experienced at World Series events: chilly temperatures and windy weather. The term was coined by Michal Navratil and has turned into regular World Series lingo. Clean Cliffs Project Founded by cliff divers Eleanor Smart and Owen Weymouth, the project’s mission is to prevent plastic pollution in our world’s bodies of water and inspire others to take action through cliff diving and other outdoor activities! Find out more: www.cleancliffsproject.org
D
Degree of Difficulty The Degree of Difficulty of a dive is evaluated based on the following: take-off, number of somersaults and twists, position during the somersaults and entry into the
water. As of 2017 the World Series 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.
E
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 mesmerising diving action, the World Series also intends to push the limits of the sport. 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 the sport, 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 spellbinding action from up to 27m is guaranteed for 2021.
F
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. The Women’s World Series was introduced in 2014. 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 break the water.
G
G-force At the highest point, the G-force value increases to around 10, which means that the diver experiences a force equal to ten times his own weight.
H
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. High Scores All tens from the judges to score 156.00 points - Gary Hunt and Constantin Popovici accomplish the first ever perfect dives in the history of the World Series in 2019. Three more athletes added their names to this elite group in 2021: Rhiannan Iffland, Carlos Gimeno and Catalin Preda. 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 or Gary
Hunt. Also Rhiannan Iffland, the Australian wildcard who won 5 of 7 competitions in her debut season to become the women’s champion in 2016; in 2021 she secured her fifth overall title with the second perfect season in a row.
I
Impact The force of the impact is nine times harder than from the 10-metre platform and can be compared with running full speed into a wall.
J
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.
K
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.
81 Kaunolu The holy cliffs of Kaunolu, on the south western part of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, are considered the birthplace of this majestic sport.
L
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 as an initiation rite for his warriors. Live In 2022, all stops of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be live on redbullcliffdiving.com, Red Bull TV, Facebook and YouTube. The first competition day will be live on TikTok. Locations Boston (USA), Paris (FRA), Copenhagen (DEN), Oslo (NOR), Mostar (BIH), Sisikon (SUI), Polignano a Mare (ITA) and Sydney (AUS) are the eight enticing locations in 2022.
O
Origin Cliff diving had its origin during the 1700s in Hawaii.
P
Performance Cliff diving is a performance-based sport and everything that happens from take-off to landing requires absolute precision to score high. Precise and athletic, MIDO’s Ocean Star 600 Chronometer with its outstanding watchmaking performances perfectly reflects the qualities required in cliff diving. An exceptional autonomy up to 80 hour of power reserve and an extraordinary accuracy, the sporty automatic timepiece is water-resistant up to a pressure of 20 bar (200m / 660 ft). midowatches.com
M
Maximum height The maximum height for competitions in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is 22m | 72ft for the women and 28m | 92ft 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.
82 NEW 2022 spotlights three brand new locations in France, Norway and Australia, which is also a new country for the World Series. Aidan Heslop (GBR) is the youngest ever permanent athlete at the age of 20.
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, stresses the mental and physical pressure the athletes are exposed to.
R
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.
S
Safety Regulations for safety are a maximum height, a minimum water depth, a stable platform; 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.
T
Training A balanced training programme includes springboard diving, flexibility and power training, as well as mental conditioning. Triple Quad Gary Hunt’s 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.
U
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.
V
Vertical position To minimise the risk of injuries and the water splash, the water entry should be in a perfectly vertical position.
W
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. Water entry The most precarious 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. Web redbullcliffdiving.com is the official website of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. It contains latest news, divers’ profiles, picture galleries, videos and the most recent 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. The international weather service Ubimet provides the best weather information everywhere the World Series goes to. Women’s World Series In 2014, Red Bull Cliff Diving introduced the Women’s World Series and Rachelle Simpson (USA) was crowned the first-ever female champion and defended her title in 2015. Ever since her wildcard title in 2016 Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) has dominated the sport.
Z
Zero protection Cliff divers do not have any protection except their own experience. Their diving ability is their only protection against injuries.
83
RED BULL CLIFF DIVING MAGAZINE 2022 Publisher Red Bull Media House GmbH, Oberst-Lepperdinger-Straße 11-15, 5071 Wals bei Salzburg
Design, Layout & Graphics Zwupp – Design & Film zwupp.com
Photography Red Bull Contentpool (Romina Amato, Jose Duch, Andy Green, Brett Hemmings, Craig Kolesky, Jörg Mitter, Ricardo Nascimento, Mauro Puccini, Dean Treml, Andreas Vigl, Esben Zøllner Olesen), Clean Cliffs Project, Michel Johner, MIDO Inc., private.
REDBULLCLIFFDIVING.COM #REDBULLCLIFFDIVING