The midway point of the 2011 World Series will witness an exciting new line-up for the competition at the historic French port of La Rochelle live on Red Bull TV.
Kyle Mitrione (USA), Kris Kolanus (POL) and Blake Aldridge (GBR) have been added to the diving roster ahead of the pivotal competition on Saturday, June 18.
The trio replace three of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series' more established performers. Hassan Mouti is forced to watch the competition from home soil following his continued recovery from the missed training dive at the third stop in Athens last month, while Orlando Duque and Steven LoBue miss out through injury and work commitments respectively.
In the midst of a cosmopolitan line-up, home hopes will rest on Cyrille Oumedjkane – the Strasbourg-based diver who goes in search of France's first-ever podium finish in a World Series event following an impressive start to the season that has seen him secure two fourth-placed finishes in Mexico and Greece.
Among those standing in his way will be LoBue’s compatriot, Mitrione, and the Pole Kolanus who both competed at the World Series qualification competition in Australia in January. Aldridge, meanwhile, becomes the second Englishman to take part in a World Series event as he follows in the footsteps of Gary Hunt.
Hunt’s return to top form in Athens sees him installed as the favourite to win this year’s title. The English champion, who began his assault on the 2010 World Series with victory here in the first stop last May, is determined not to let his standards drop and is working hard to improve his two compulsory dives.
“I’ve been thinking of doing a flying front and an inward double half as well, but I will see how it goes in training ahead of La Rochelle,” said Hunt.
70,000 spectators are expected to attend Saturday’s event which has been a highlight of every calendar since the Series’ inception in 2009, not least because it features the highest platform – 27.5m – of any competition.
For those who cannot see the action from the Saint Nicolas Tower unfold in person, the competition will be webcast live on Red Bull TV from 7.30pm (CEST).
New line-up for La Rochelle