Cliff diving: jumping from height with the execution of acrobatic elements

In search of thrills, the man came up with many sports that are actively developed and practiced today. One of these "inventions" is cliff diving. Jumping into the water from a height is truly extreme entertainment, which is not everyone's dare. Just imagine yourself standing on a steep rock, without any security elements, and ahead - an unknown watery abyss. Already breathtaking!

Where did it all start and where is better to make jumps from a height?

History

In the 18th century, Hawaiian King Maui made the first extreme jump from the high cliff of one of his islands. Soon this act became widely known, and the ruler decided in this way to check the courage of his soldiers. Diving from height to water became a kind of dedication. Brave soldiers with excitement accepted this offer and even began to compete, who will enter the water smoothly, with a minimum number of bursts.

The change of power in Hawaii gave the leaps into the water even greater scope. They became a real sporting match. There were professional judges who assessed the style and quality of jumping.

In the early 20th century, the cliff diving left the sports pedestal. However, in 1968 in Mexico, in the city of Acapulco, unexpectedly held competitions of international level, which caused a new wave of interest in this sport. Young people in many countries, where natural conditions allowed, began to unite in groups of divers, conducted competitions. For some athletes, this sport has become not just fun and a way to get a thrill, but also a serious hobby.

Glory was won by true professionals of that time. In the 80s, the record holder was American Lucky Wardle, who jumped from a height of almost 37 meters. A little later this figure was exceeded by Swiss Oliver Favre, whose record was 53.9 meters.

Competition

Despite such keenness of the youth, the cliff diving in most cases remained an entertaining attraction at sea resorts. Everything changed in 2009, when the well-known company Red Bull brought this sport to the World Series. Athletes in such competitions are 8 stages, making jumps from a height of about 27 meters.

Desperate professionals, gracefully flying into the water from picturesque rocks and performing acrobatic elements, immediately attracted the attention of curious spectators and the media. The original technique, bewitching body plastics and strength of mind have now become a sporting fashion and have turned a lot of representatives of the younger generation into extreme cliff diving.

rules

It would seem that talking about the rules? Jump, group, dive ... But everything is much more complicated. To begin with, you should divide the cliff divers into novices and virtuosos, amateurs and professionals. From the side they are easily distinguished from each other. The first jump from the rock in the pose of a soldier, that is, kicked into the water and without performing tricks. Of course, and the height indicators for them are determined separately. For men, the standard height is 23-28 meters, for women - 20-23 meters.

Experienced athletes during the jump perform more than one acrobatic stunt and dive, as a rule, head into the water. The maximum height is determined by the courage and preparation of athletes. Usually it is more than 30 meters.

Preparation

Before proceeding to extreme jumps, athletes-divers carefully prepare. The training system includes visiting the pool with a tower, developing acrobatic elements (somersaults, twists), increasing stamina, strengthening the muscles of the body. After all, the most dangerous moment in the cliff diving is the entrance to the water. For a few seconds a person in flight accelerates to 100 km / h, and then sharply resets it to zero. This difference requires the athlete to be as focused as possible: the muscles must be stretched to keep the body level. The slightest mistake can cost lives, because there are no elements of insurance for jumping from a height.

High-diving

Not all countries have suitable natural conditions for the practice of cliff diving. Many people have a desire to test their willpower. How to be? In this case in 1996 was invented high-diving. These are the same jumps in the water, only not from rocks, but from artificial platforms. The advantage of this sport is its practice regardless of geographical location and independent choice of altitude. After all, the constructions are built taking into account the preparation of a group of athletes.

Every two years the world championships in high-diving are held. The first was held in 2013 in Barcelona. It was held in the format of the World Cup in water sports. Among men, then won the gold Orlando Duke, a Colombian high-diver, among women - an American Cecilia Carlton. The second championship was held in Kazan (2015). There was positively met by Russian athlete Artem Silchenko, who won bronze.

Also in 2014 and 2015 the competitions for the World Cup took place. At the second meeting, which took place on Fr. Cozumel, Artem Silchenko won first place, defeating champion Orlando Duque. High-diving along with the previous jumps from the rocks has become one of the most popular extreme sports.

The best places

To become a spectator of exciting flights and to feel all the acuity of experiences, it is not enough to stay at home and watch a couple of thematic videos. It is better to go to the sea resort and combine the pleasant with the spectacular. There are several places on the planet where true virtuoso wrestlers-divers gather. They can not only see, but also take part in such a difficult matter, having personally received a couple of valuable advice from professionals.

• In the south of Thailand, the city of Krabi is comfortably located. It has all the necessary reliefs and resources for the Cliff Divers. In addition to extreme jumps, here you can simply enjoy the picturesque landscapes of caves, carved rocks and waterfalls.
• The Australian town of Kimberley also boasts steep slopes and gorges, waterfalls and rivers that are ideal for jumping from a height of different levels.
• Diversify the meditative rustle of sea waves, intoxicating sangria and the gentle sun in Santorini (Greece) can only virtuoso flights of the cliff divers. This is an ideal place for beginners and extreme lovers, as the height of local rocks does not exceed 10 meters. Professionals are very rare here, only those who came here to relax and hone their skills.