In the early 19th century Napoleon built the imposing Fort Boyard off the French coast to help protect his country from British invaders.
200 years later French high divers Hassan Mouti and Cyrille Oumedjkane (pictured) met their British rival Gary Hunt for a trial of strength only a few weeks before the start of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2010 in La Rochelle on May 15.
It was an icy welcome in French waters for the 2009 series’ runner-up: the sea around Fort Boyard – an impressive stone solitaire in the Atlantic which measures 61 metres in length and 31 metres in width – has a temperature of only 11°C.
Britain’s Gary Hunt (25) still tried to intimidate his French opponents at the historic venue and put himself in a strong mental position for the real battle in four weeks’ time. “Our countries have been enemies in former times and first it was the French who won and the next time it was the English. In cliff diving we are fighting on a sporting level and I know I am in good shape and ready for the series. I got a lot of experience last year and I am always working on new dives. However the first dive of the season is always challenging and it’s good to start in a nice place like this,” stated Hunt, whose aim is to finish in the top three of all six competitions.
'I got a lot of experience last year and I am always working on new dives' – Hunt
Despite witnessing a perfect English twisting action launched from a helicopter hovering alongside the fort, more than 20 metres above the sea, the national pride of France’s cliff diving heroes was not permanently damaged. The Strasbourg based divers also proved well prepared for the kick-off of this jaw-dropping series in France. “It’s great to start the season in France, almost an honour. I’ve invested a lot of time in training on new dives during the off season and feel better prepared physically than ever,” said Mouti.
His countryman Oumedjkane added: “Despite the cold water the dives in front of the fort were a good warm up for the season. Of course it adds to my motivation to start the series in my home country. I will show off a new dive and definitely want to finish in a better position than last year."
On May 15 the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2010 will return to France and bring 12 of the world’s best cliff divers to the Saint Nicolas Tower in La Rochelle. Following France the series will take a leap over the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico (Yucatán) and come back to Europe for competitions in Norway (Kragerø), Italy (Polignano a Mare) and Switzerland (Sisikon), before reaching the land of the sport’s origin, Hawaii (Hilo), on September 12 for the grand final.
Comments
Add a comment