Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013 – Story Clip – UK, Wales

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

85kph, aesthetic gravity-defying freefall – cliff diving is the purest extreme sport on earth. The world’s best cliff divers launch from 27 meters with no protection at all, except their concentration, skill and physical control. Let’s dive into the science of what the body endures upon a monumental 85kmph impact. The impact on the body is enormous and a cliff diver has to handle it over and over. What the divers need to do in the air in order to find a vertical position when they hit the wat...

Pure cliff diving directly off the cliff face, the reigning champion on top of the rankings and the youngest athlete on the podium – the circular-shaped Vila Franca do Campo islet offshore from São Miguel in the Azores archipelago made the perfect backdrop for the third stop of the current World Series season. Despite rough conditions throughout the entire week, the previous seasons’ dominant figurehead from the British Islands took over the reigns from Russia’s Artem Silchenko in Portugal to...

Despite all of the their professionalism, which is typical for the attitude and demeanor of the ten official divers taking part in the 2013 season the final decision – to dive or not to dive – always remains the big question right up to the very last second. Fear plays a significant role in this highly thrilling game. Only the appropriate awareness of the danger can ensure the desired happy ending: a great and safe dive. © Red Bull Media House

Copenhagen is the first of three new locations on the 2013 calendar and hosts the world elite of cliff diving for the first time ever on June 22. During the first venue check it was the divers, though, who were left speechless, when they saw the spectacular view from the roof of the Opera House. After a great kick off in France, won by Silchenko (RUS) and the English duo of Gary Hunt and Blake Aldridge who completed the podium, long-time favourite Orlando Duque (COL) has promised to come back...