RED BULL CLIFF DIVING IN IRELAND | 2012 WORLD SERIES | HIGHLIGHTS

They are said to be the best in the world and they keep getting better with every competition, every challenge they are confronted with. The athletes of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series are well trained, physically fit and technically skilled divers; each of them. And still, there are some who seemingly have the winning gene and barely miss a podium, while others might place second one day and ninth the next. Some are obviously more affected by challenging conditions whereas others jump...

From an almost round volcanic islet on the Azores to a near-perfect rectangular blowhole in Ireland – the location for the fourth stop of the World Series is laden with myth as much as it is out of the ordinary. A sea serpent is said to make its presence felt with the help of screeching, stormy winds. The legendary Serpent’s Lair on Ireland’s Aran Islands provides the perfect pool for the world’s cliff diving elite at the halfway stage. Three different winners in as many competitions make the...

More than 70,000 spectators flooded La Rochelle’s old port this Saturday afternoon for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013 kick-off in France. In a sunny La Rochelle the 29-year-old Russian Artem Silchenko achieved his premiere goal – a victory ahead of reigning World Series champion Gary Hunt and former Olympic diver Blake Aldridge, both from England. The fifth season of the sport’s most prestigious series of competitions got underway at possibly the scariest location of them all a...

Artem Silchenko won the first competition of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013 in France, La Rochelle. The podium is completed by three-time World Series champion Gary Hunt in second and qualifier Blake Aldridge in third place. La Rochelle presented itself in the best way and welcomed the huge crowd of 70,000 enthusiastic spectators with bright sunshine. © Red Bull Media House

Red Bull Cliff Diving has its first female winner – Anna Bader from Germany. It was the eagerly-awaited competition and this Saturday afternoon four athletes proved why they were chosen to compete in the first-ever Red Bull Cliff Diving women’s competition. In a close fight, 29-yearold Anna Bader (214.70pts) took victory ahead of America’s Ginger Huber (207.90) with Tara Hyer-Tira (184.55) from San Francisco completing the podium and Canadian diver Stephanie De Lima (158.10) finishing fourth....

In the next five months, and during eight competitions, the cliff diving elite will launch from almost three times the Olympic diving height in venues all over the globe, showing their most spectacular and difficult tricks, and overcoming rational fear to impress the judges and spectators alike. And to spice it all up, the 2013 World Series comes to its scariest location first: La Rochelle, France. © Red Bull Media House

Fitness is an absolutely important part for cliff divers not to get injured. One competition after the other within seven days – that’s hard for a cliff diver’s body. What’s the perfect training for bones and muscles to deal with a challenge like this? Is it an advantage to be a rookie diver in a young body or does experience play a role as well? © Red Bull Media House

0.1 points decided the winner of Saturday’s third stop of the 2012 World Series on the volcanic archipelago of the Azores, Portugal. It was the closest victory to date since the kick-off of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2009 and made Russia’s Artem Silchenko the third winner in three competitions this season. Orlando Duque (COL) came just behind, in second place, but regained the overall lead of the 2012 World Series. He was followed by World Series champion Gary Hunt (UK). More t...