Orlando takes Italy by storm

The southern Italian city of Polignano a Mare – the European Mecca of cliff diving – hosted the half-time stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series 2009 on July 26, and 30,000 spectators witnessed a stormy lesson from the nine-time World Champion Orlando Duque (COL) who now distinctly leads the series into its second half.

Europe’s cliff diving hot spot presented itself as the most demanding diving venue so far. Besides all the beauty of the natural rock face and the curiosity of entering the platform 26 meters above the Adriatic Sea via a private living room, the wind created two-meter high waves and made emotions run high on July 26 in Polignano a Mare. The water police felt obliged to set the red flag and removed all boats and people from the water for security reasons. The only men allowed in the water were twelve brave hearts at their best. Being cheered on by the enthusiastic and competent Italian audience, the divers mastered acrobatic plunges perfectly despite the almost stormy and thus additionally challenging conditions. However, not only the divers on the platform had a difficult task, but also the judges. Wind conditions demanded the jury’s extra attention, with the waves producing large splashes, which at times was hardly distinguishable from the divers’ splash upon entering the water.

Four competitions, three victories – one man dominates the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series 2009 as he has controlled the sport for the last years. Orlando Duque (346.80 points) proved his outstanding skills in turbulent wind conditions during the fourth stop of the series in Polignano a Mare. ‘My strategy is really working well and I could not be happier after today,’ Duque said. ‘Yesterday I was still thinking about doing a new dive with a higher degree of difficulty but then I felt I wasn’t ready for it. In the end, doing easier dives close to perfection was the right decision. Now we’re half-way through and I feel strong in the leading position, but Gary Hunt is not so far behind. Anything can happen. In the weeks to come, my focus will be on training more difficult dives, so maybe I’ll be able to come up with something new for Turkey,’ the Colombian said. As at the third stop, the podium was rounded off by two next generation divers – Gary Hunt (341.40 points) from England and Artem Silchenko (330.60 points) from Russia. It’s these three world-class divers who represent the leader board after the first half of this unique sport’s series. Kick-off winner Andrey Ignatenko (UKR) is tied in fourth place in the current overall standings.

Being half way through the first Red Bull Cliff Diving Series with still four competitions to come, more than 160,000 eyes have witnessed one man’s supremacy and a tight fight for all positions behind to date. Coming from nine different countries, twelve of the world’s best high divers have proven their nomination. During the first four rounds they performed this aesthetic and extremely technical discipline on the highest sportive level. ‘So far we’ve never had an eight-competition series,’ explains Gary Hunt. ‘However, your form improves and you become more confident after three or four competitions. So here everybody is trying to develop new dives and prove his skills. We’re talking a lot about new dives, and the more you talk the sooner you have to realize them. Otherwise the guys think you’re full of nothing but hot air.’ According to runner-up Gary Hunt, motivation and confidence among the divers are growing, which will have us expecting more spectacular high diving action in Antalya, Turkey, on August 8.