CALI – The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Lineup has now been confirmed.
Superb physical condition, mental strength and eight excellent performances – these were the essential ingredients to qualify for the World Series, and the first Brazilian, plus four established athletes are the deserving five. After securing a place in the sport’s most influential series during the qualification competition in the Piscinas Panamericanas in Cali, Colombia, they will be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking cliff diving locations in the world. The qualifier determined which five of the 17 athletes would go forward to compete in the World Series. Held over two days and eight dives from 27m, only 0.20 points decided either being or not being a permanent part of the World Series. Now the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2015 is ready to kick off in April.
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Qualifier
One man proved to be a real standout from the very first dive – Jonathan Paredes, from Mexico, who took the lead with dive number one from the daunting 27m tower and impressively claimed his spot with an overall high score of 939.80 points. Former Olympian and World Series competition winner Blake Aldridge (UK), as well as Czech Michal Navratil, regained their permanent ticket. 2014 rookie Andy Jones, from the USA, proved his consistency and took the opportunity to qualify for another year, just like Jucelino Junior, the first-ever Brazilian to compete in the World Series as a permanent male diver. The 32-year-old edged Colombian talent Christian Arayon by the slimmest of margins of just 0.20 points.
During two days of competition and a total of eight dives each, the qualifiers had to show their full potential and diving repertoire to the international judging panel of five in order to earn their approval to go forward to eight World Series competitions during the 2015 high diving season. The two required dives, with a limited Degree of Difficulty, and two optional dives from both days were added together and the cumulative scores from all eight dives constituted the final result. The names of the top-five of the qualification will now be added to the World Series’ permanent list of 10 divers. During the season, up to four wildcards per stop will be invited – according to their performance in qualifying.
The 2014 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series saw England’s Gary Hunt take his fourth overall title, leaving the 2013 champion, Artem Silchenko (RUS) and American Steven LoBue behind. The top three, plus two more top divers – Orlando Duque (COL) and David Colturi (USA) – made the automatic cut for the fifth edition. On Saturday, the five remaining slots were contested and the qualification winners will now spice up the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series as it enters its seventh season.
The kick-off of the new season will be hosted in Colombia’s Cartagena for the first time ever on April 25, with the title decided during eight competitions around the globe.
Results Qualification Competition 2015
1. Jonathan Paredes | MEX | 939.80pts
2. Blake Aldridge | UK | 903.80
3. Michal Navratil | CZE | 854.70
4. Andy Jones | USA | 853.35
5. Jucelino Junior | BRA | 808.25
6. Christian Arayon | COL | 808.05
7. Jorge Ferzuli | MEX | 773.40
8. Sergio Guzman | MEX | 767.50
9. Miguel Garcia Celis | COL | 736.85
10. Kris Kolanus | POL | 736.40
11. Anatoliy Shabotenko | UKR | 710.00
12. Kyle Mitrione | USA | 689.70
13. Josè Wilker | BRA | 657.75
14. Todor Spasov | BUL | 632.05
15. Carlos Gimeno | ESP | 425.60
16. Cyrille Oumedjkane | FRA | 381.10
17. Roberto Hernandez | MEX | 195.45
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2015
Gravity-defying freefall punctuated by awe-inducing tricks – that is cliff diving. The sport’s best athletes leap aesthetically from almost three times the Olympic height with no protection at all, except their concentration, skill and physical control. In less than three seconds, gravity propels the divers’ bodies as they fall the equivalent of eight stories, reaching speeds in excess of 85kph.
Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for breathtaking action and dives of incredible complexity, spotlighting the sport’s top athletes as well as young talent and in 2014 it introduced a Women’s World Series. In its seventh season, this rapidly-evolving sport will crown new champions during eight demanding competitions for the men and three stops for the women. Between April and September, this pure extreme sport will touch waters in natural and urban surroundings as well as remote and iconic venues across South America, the US and Europe and top it all with the season finale and the 50th World Series competition.
LifeProof is the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series partner to protect competitors’ smartphones to ensure they can focus on competing, safe in the knowledge that their device is protected from dirt, dust, rocks and crucially, water!
CALENDAR & LOCATIONS
April 25 | Cartagena, COLOMBIA
May 17 | La Rochelle, FRANCE
May 30 | Possum Kingdom Lake, TX, USA
June 20 | Copenhagen, DENMARK
July 18 | S. Miguel, Azores, PORTUGAL
August 15 | Mostar, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
September 13 | Polignano a Mare, ITALY
September 26 | Bilbao, SPAIN
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.
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