The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series continues on July 9th, this time with the stunning backdrop of the Azores. Cliff diving is an extreme sport that draws athletes from around the world to test their strength and focus, diving into the water from platforms as high as 28 meters. The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will test the best in the sport at nine different locations around the world.
The ancient volcanic rocks of the so-called Princess Ring pose a daunting but exhilarating challenge for the contestants in stage three of the series. “Every time I get a chance to jump off a rock, it’s probably the best part of my sport to be honest,” said the cliff diving legend Orlando Duque (Colombia), “it’s the place that nature created and we’re using it in the way that we can, we’re changing the angle of the take-off, we’re trying to change positions in the air, trying to avoid rocks and that makes it that much more interesting”.
For many of the series’ locations, relying on the right weather for competition day can be daunting also. Thankfully for this round, the competitors are facing probably the most predictable weather on the circuit. With an average daily temperature range of just 6°C (42,8°F), and the ocean-mediated summer high temperatures consistently around 20°C (68°F), the weather itself will be of little concern.
The most challenging aspect of the dive environment will be waves, which can be influenced by strong systems hundreds of miles away. Last years event took place with calm, clear water, however – not uncommon for the summer months. With tame weather conditions generally prevalent during this time of year, there’s a great chance we will see the same for 2016’s event.
Jonathan Paredes (Mexico) leads the men’s standings after two stages, with wildcard Rhiannan Iffland (Australia) leading the women after one event. Will we see dominant performances from the leaders, or will others step up to the plate? Tune in to Red Bull TV on July 9th for live coverage from the Azores, or Fox Sports 1 on August 14th for US residents.
Want more? Follow the build up to the Cliff Diving World Series at www.redbullcliffdiving.com.
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Photo: Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool