Colombian Orlando Duque, 39, represented his country as
an Olympic diver before swapping swimming pools for cliffs
in the mid-90s and going on to win the cliff diving world
championships nine times. He’s the only man to win a perfect
score in cliff diving, for a double back somersault with four
twists from 24.4m. He currently competes in the Red Bull Cliff
Diving World Series, in which he was runner-up last year. He
tells us what it takes
I started diving at the age of 10 and after many years in pools
everything became a bit samey, and I wanted a new challenge. In
a pool, the conditions are controlled, but nature is very different.
You have to consider the depth of the water and the position of
the rocks. Of course there’s an element of danger. When we hit
the water we’re travelling at about 85kph so if we make a mistake
it could be bad. But we’re experienced and we work with a safety
team we trust entirely.
In the moments just before I dive from 26 metres [the normal
height in the Red Bull series], I have to battle human nature. It’s
normal for your brain to urge you not to jump, so there’s a short
battle every time where I have to convince myself to do it. After a
few seconds I’m ready, and as I step to the edge there’s a brief and
powerful silence – the next thing I know I’m in the air.
It takes just under three seconds to enter the water but it feels
more like 10. My brain is processing so much information it’s like
time is being stretched. And it feels great. I may be falling, but
I’m in complete control. The impact of hitting the water is loud.
It hurts a bit, too, like when you trip and fall. There’s a massive
noise in my ears and then total silence. It’s very yin and yang,
going from noisy and crazy to peaceful and relaxed in less than a
second. Usually I’ll know instantly if it’s a successful dive. I’ll be
underwater smiling.
The photos may look amazing, almost impossible, but a huge
amount of thought and planning goes into every dive. It takes at
least five to 10 years of practice to get close to this level.
Now it’s your turn
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series visits La
Rochelle (25 May), Copenhagen (22 June) and Malcesine, Italy (14
July) this summer. Events involve workshops for beginners.
redbull.com
»
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE…
To jump off
a 26m ledge
in Bonifacio,
Corsica
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