The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series made a thrilling debut at St. Pete Pier in Florida, marking its only U.S. stop in the international competition. This weekend event drew 12 women and 12 men from various countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, and New Zealand, to showcase their high-diving skills.
Women divers leaped from a 70-foot platform, while their male counterparts took the plunge from a 90-foot height. Unlike traditional diving, these athletes hit the water feet first, reaching speeds of approximately 53 mph. The water depth at the pier ranges from 12 to 15 feet, ensuring a safe landing for the divers.
International Competition
St. Pete is the second of six stops in this year’s series, following an earlier event in Bali. Divers are judged on execution, synchronization, and artistic impression, with points accumulating throughout the season to determine the overall winner.
Among the competitors was Lisa Faulkner, who shared her excitement about the rigorous training involved in the sport. “I’ve been high diving since 2018, mostly in shows, so there wasn’t as much training in that,” she said. “This is a little bit different, and I really enjoy it because there is a lot more training that goes into it.”
Legends of the Sport
The event also attracted legendary figures in high diving, such as Lynn Walko Terpstra, who set a women’s world record in 1983 with a 113-foot dive. “It’s just amazing the level that these kids have taken this sport to,” she remarked, noting the impressive skills of the current competitors.
American champion Dana Kunze, known for his high dive records, was present to witness the evolution of the sport. “When we were doing it, it was mainly United States, Mexico, Canada where it was televised,” Kunze said. “These kids now are doing these things, as we’ve seen, all over the world.”
Final Rounds and Awards
The event concluded with the final rounds on Saturday, offering free admission to spectators. The schedule included women’s finals at 1:10 p.m., followed by men’s finals at 2:00 p.m., and an awards ceremony at 2:45 p.m.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
