Diving off a cliff into the unpredictable waters below from the height of an eight storey building requires guts and precision. But can you imagine doing this as your job?
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is in its sixth year and is again touring the globe. The seven stop tour is held between May and October and visits death defying drops in the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Europe.
Currently half way through the competition, the 14 men and eight women in this year’s tour just completed dives at Kragero in Norway where they plunged 88.5 feet and 65.5 feet respectively.
So what does it take to be a cliff diver and why do they choose to put their life on the line in the name of sport?
29-year-old American Steven LoBue from the USA is currently ranked second in the series and he spoke about life as a cliff diver, and the techniques and mental strength needed to dive into the ever-changing waters below.
How did you become a professional cliff diver?
“Cliff diving at the end of the day is all about my passion for the sport of diving. I started diving at age seven and dedicated my life to training. As a result, the sport has taken me on an incredible journey through life.
“When I first saw Red Bull Cliff Diving I thought the guys were crazy. I had done some high diving before and was fortunate enough to be invited to the Red Bull Cliff Diving qualification competition in Australia in 2011. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself in to, but I was confident in my diving abilities and I managed to qualify for the tour that year.
“I instantly fell in love with the sport and I feel genuinely fortunate that I get to continue following my passion.”
What does a typical day of training look like?
“I work as a diving coach and a personal trainer so I am lucky that I am constantly either at the pool or in the gym. I usually work out in the gym in the mornings about four to five days a week and then I train at the pool in the evenings three to four days a week.
“I would say the mental preparation is the most important. I try to take maybe 30 minutes a day to just lie down and visualise my dives. I try to think about the feeling of being up on the platform and then when my heart speeds up and my palms get sweaty, I practice calming myself down.”
What’s the highest cliff you’ve dived from?
“The highest I’ve ever dived from was about 100 feet in Portugal.”
Have you always been into extreme sports?
“I grew up skateboarding and diving. I always thought that if I wasn’t diving I would try to be a pro-skateboarder.”
What’s the worst injury you’ve had?
“The worst injury I’ve had was in my very first competition for the Red Bull Cliff Diving qualifications in 2011. I fractured my tailbone the day before we had to compete.”
Have you ever got to the top of a cliff and freaked out?
“For sure, each time we step on the platform we are scared. It’s all about respecting your fears and learning to control your racing thoughts. Sometimes if a bad thought goes through your head you have to take a step back and go through the process again.”
What speeds do you hit the water at?
“We hit the water at about 55 miles per hour.”
How do you control your impact into the water?
“The water impact is always super strong. We usually have some agitators or have the rescue team splash the water just so we have a better visual of where the surface of the water is. If the water is really clear, it can be hard to judge where the surface is and that can be pretty dangerous.”
What do you love about cliff diving?
“At the end of the day I get to keep diving. I love the sport with all of my heart and we are fortunate to be a part of such an amazing sport. I would also say the camaraderie is something that is pretty unique, all of the guys have such respect for each other and we are all the best of friends.”
Favorite spot in the world to cliff dive from?
“I’m in love with Thailand and the Amalfi Coast. We have had some pretty awesome locations so it’s hard to choose but I would say those two are at the top of my list.”
Is being a professional cliff diver a full time job?
“We compete in about nine competitions every year. Unfortunately, the sport isn’t lucrative enough that it can be a full time job. When I am home between competitions, I work two jobs, seven days a week.”
Any tips for beginners?
“Be SAFE! Seriously though, if you’re going to jump from somewhere, the buddy system is a must. Take the extra couple of minutes and check the water depth and have someone in the water near your entry point in case there is a bad landing.
If you are interested in actual competitions, I would say join a local diving club and work on the fundamentals of the sport.”