Only 10 days to go until 24 of the world’s best cliff divers will return to Ireland for the 2nd stop of the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Dún Laoghaire Harbour on the 12th of May.
Following on from the domination of the reigning champions, Gary Hunt (GBR) and Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) at the opening stop in the Philippines in April, the World Series now travels to Europe for the most northerly stop of the year in Dublin.
Following three events at the near-rectangular natural pool at Inis Mór on the rugged Aran Islands, the World Series will be hosted in Ireland’s capital city for the first time. Located on Carlisle Pier, the divers will have a panoramic view over Dublin Bay from the platforms, with Poolbeg Lighthouse, Howth Head, Dalkey Island and the whole of Dún Laoghaire in the immediate vicinity.
The 2nd stop of the World Series event will be a FREE family event and tickets will not be required. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the show! Both the Saturday and Sunday events will kick off at 5 pm. The Sunday event will feature the Irish finals and will be broadcasted live on our RedBull.ie/CliffDiving, Youtube and Facebook from 7 pm.
Whilst Gary Hunt can advance his winning streak of six consecutive victories across various seasons from 2015 with yet another first place in Ireland, Romania’s Constantin Popovici proved he has the potential to rival Hunt from the 27m platform. His impressive armstand dive earned the 30-year-old Olympic diver, who is striving for qualification for Tokyo 2020, the highest score of the day in the Philippines and his first-ever World Series podium behind defending seven-time champion, Gary Hunt. Title hopefuls such as Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes and Steven LoBue from the United States will have to make a move in order to not let the King Kahekili Trophy move out of reach at this early stage of the season.
In the women’s championship, Australian Iffland continues to be the acme of perfection when it comes to acrobatically launching from 21 metres. The 27-year-old secured her 12th victory in 18 competitions during the season opener in Asia and seems to be facing the strongest competition from Belarusian Yana Nestsiarava and Canada’s Lysanne Richard. Contrary to the 2018 runner-up Adriana Jimenez from Mexico, who finished a disappointing 5th place in the Philippines, the duo managed to keep up with the triple champion.
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for aesthetic free-falls and dives of ever growing complexity, spotlighting the sport’s finest athletes as well as the most promising talents and in 2014 it introduced a Women’s World Series. In its 11th season, the sport's best athletes will once again leap, twist and somersault from breath-taking heights with no protection, except their concentration, skill and physical control during seven demanding competitions around the world. Between April and September, this pure extreme sport will hit waters in natural and urban environments as well as remote and iconic venues at oceans and rivers across Asia, Europe and the Middle East to crown two new champions.
2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
April 13 – El Nido, Palawaan, Philippines - NEW
May 12 – Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Co. Dublin, Ireland - NEW
June 02 – Polignano a Mare, Italy
June 22 – São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
July 14 – Beirut, Lebanon - NEW
August 24 – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 14 – Bilbao, Spain