The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returns in 2012 with new locations, new athletes and new rules...
From 27 metres high and reaching speeds of up to 85kph, the world's best divers will compete head-to-head in seven stops between June and September in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2012 Calendar:
June 22-23 | France
July 6-7 | Norway
July 20-21 | Azores, Portugal
August 3-4 | Ireland
August 24-25 | USA
September 7-8 | United Kingdom
September 27-28 | Oman
2011’s top seven divers, including two-time champion Gary Hunt and his predecessor, Orlando Duque, have all qualified automatically for the World Series' fourth edition. 15 others – including five World Series athletes from 2011 – will fight for four available slots at the qualification competition in Australia in February.
The field of 11 permanent participants will be added to with up to three wildcard divers per event and they will for the first time get awarded points towards the overall ranking and in a sport where three seconds can be an eternity and even the smallest mistake could cost you victory, a head-to-head battle will spice things up even more.
The competition which will consist of two required dives and two optional dives will see the top seven divers after three rounds (and one lucky loser) make it to the final heat and will be scored by a pool of five international judges, including US diving icon and four-time Olympic gold medallist Greg Louganis.
Stay tuned to redbullcliffdiving.com in January for further details on each of the stops and all the latest news from the qualification competition.
NEW YEAR, NO FEAR: DIVE INTO A NEW SEASON IN 2012