Cliff Diving
Explore the Anatomy of a Perfect Cliff Dive
Discover the three important elements involved in performing flawless cliff dives.
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The idea of jumping from 92 feet above water is terrifying, but did you know that Red Bull Cliff Diving involves a lot more than just taking a leap of faith?
Use the interactive clip below to explore the three different elements of a cliff dive: takeoff, flight and landing. We'll explain more about these below. The dive itself was performed by multiple world champion Gary Hunt in Bilbao last year, and is an example of the groundbreaking running takeoff which he has introduced to the sport.
My picture of cliff diving is this: It’s like a painting. You have this beautiful image of a body performing spectacular maneuvers in the air, you add to this a picturesque backdrop of a cliff face and then, wow, what a masterpiece.
Takeoff
Even if you're physically ready, the mental pressure at this stage is immense. You have a crowd below you and what you do now will determine your chances of success. What are your options? Take a look at the infographic and watch the video below to find out more.
Red Bull Cliff Diving: the dive groups
© redbullcliffdiving.com
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The different types of takeoff
What are Dive Groups? And what do they consist of?
Flight
This is the chance to express yourself. There are various types of maneuvers including pikes, tucks, somersaults and twists, which can be combined to make for something truly spectacular. Find out more in our infographic below.
Red Bull Cliff Diving: the dive positions
© redbullcliffdiving.com
Landing
In terms of safety, this is the most important part of the dive. Athletes have to position themselves just right to avoid injury and they train supremely hard to ensure that nothing is left to chance. The video below explains how cliff divers manage to not explode like a watermelon does on impact.
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The physics of cliff diving
Here's an explanation of what happens to your body when you dive from great heights.
"Cliff diving and diving is a performance-based sport. It’s a performance art, which is supposed to be graceful and entertaining."
What makes for a winning cliff dive?
Red Bull Cliff Diving is a sport, but it's also an art. Here's what cliff diving expert Joey Zuber told us about what makes a great dive.
"A great cliff dive begins with the stance on the cliff. I look for a proud head in the neutral position with the arms in line with the body. Within this stance you can see a certain confidence in some divers. It’s important to see high elevation from the platform and once in the air there are subtle details to find, such as the arch of the foot or a slight arch in the back in straight positions. Before entering the water I like to see a smooth transition into a vertical bodyline, with straight arms, then they disappear into the watery abyss with only a few drops to spare."
The new season of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series just started and visits Copenhagen this weekend. Catch all the action on FS1.
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