New Kid on the Rock

Gary Hunt takes his first 2013 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series victory in the Azores, Portugal

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 top the overall standings with a well fought win. Hunt won ahead of a reinvigorated Orlando Duque from Colombia, and the 23-year-old rookie Jonathan Paredes of Mexico took his first podium in front of 1,300 spectators.

It was Gary Hunt, the ‘brilliant Brit’ of the World Series, who decided the third stop – the second within seven days – would be his early this Saturday morning, cutting in on Artem Silchenko’s back-to-back wins. However, it was the youngest in the field of the ten permanent athletes who gave more than just a glimpse of his great talent with a third place finish. Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes won the qualification competition in Australia in February, made it into the top six in his first World Series competition in France and missed the Danish podium by only 1.9 points last weekend. The 23-year-old was on target for a top result from the first dive onward in his third World Series appearance and put two-times winner Silchenko off the podium in Portugal.

None of the athletes could set foot on the nature reserve where the 27m-platform had been mounted before Friday’s first round of competition due to rough sea conditions. With only one training dive, competition started early in the morning with the off-the-rock round and the first head-to-head battles. Early bird divers climbed up the crater walls to show their skills during three-second flights into the choppy waters before breakfast time. Enthusiastic spectators packed into boats in front of the platform and paid respect to the cliff diving performances in the World Series’ 30th stop since its introduction in May 2009.

Misjudging the distance to the water in his last 85kph-dive and landing a bit short of vertical, Artem Silchenko (510pts) not only lost a podium finish today, but also the overall lead to Gary Hunt (520pts). Colombia’s Orlando Duque (400 pts), at 38 the oldest athlete in the Series, assures his third overall position and keeps a 90-points margin to fourth placed Paredes. After three out of the total eight stops for 2013, the competition is exciting and wide open.

From the volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic the cliff diving elite returns to Lake Garda in Italy in two weeks' time.

Quotes of the Winners

Gary Hunt (UK)

It hasn’t sunk in really; I have been trying really hard. It has just been so tough this season. I didn’t really know how the competition had gone, because I couldn’t see; I just tried to stay in my zone and do a good dive and it was enough. So I am ecstatic! I think my last dive was good, I saw some nines up there and it felt like I went through the water nicely. I made a little error in the practice, but I managed to sort that out in the competition when I needed it.

Orlando Duque (COL)

Sometimes you feel good on the water but you don’t know until you see the scores. I come out and look at the judges and got 8 and 8,5s. It was a pretty good dive, I am happy. I just did what it takes to stay in the contest today.

Jonathan Paredes (MEX)

In my last dive I felt a little bit short at the entry, but these things happen. We had too many waves and I was really, really nervous on the platform.I was just behind Orlando (Duque), and that meant a lot of pressure for me. But in the end it was good; I think, it was four times seven to seven and a half. After Denmark I thought that this was maybe my best score, but now I feel great. I feel really happy with this third place. It’s unreal for me. That’s it, I am just really, really happy!

RESULTS STOP 3, AZORES

1. Gary Hunt | UK | 481.05

2. Orlando Duque | COL | 451.70

3. Jonathan Paredes | MEX | 431.00

4. Artem Silchenko | RUS | 429.40

5. Michal Navratil | CZE | 402.90

6. Andy Jones (wildcard) | USA | 402.55

7. Blake Aldridge | UK | 388.55

8. David Colturi | USA | 376.70

9. Steven LoBue | USA | 295.40

10. Mat Cowen | UK | 267.90

11. Anatoliy Shabotenko | UKR | 251.90

12. Jorge Ferzuli (wildcard) | MEX | 254.00

13. Eber Pava (wildcard) | COL | 245.40

14. Kent De Mond (wildcard) | USA | 136.80

RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES 2013

85kph, aesthetic gravity-defying freefall – cliff diving is the purest extreme sport on earth. Ten of the world’s best cliff divers launch from 27 metres with no protection at all, except their concentration, skill and physical control. They add flips and twists to their freefall and hit the water three seconds later. As the pinnacle of cliff diving competitions, the 2013 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is once again the platform for breathtaking action and beyond-belief complexity, spotlighting the sport’s top athletes as well as young talent. In its fifth season, the World Series title is decided during eight competitions across Europe, Asia, North and South America between May and October.

ARENA is the technical partner of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013.

CALENDAR & LOCATIONS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWVauKx2Tk