Red Bull may give you wings, but for a selective group of daredevils, they’re fine taking their chances free-falling from 28m into open water. That will be the scene at Dubai Marina when the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series puts on a show in the emirate this Friday, October 28.
It will be the first ever World Series event in the UAE and, after five months of stops all around the world, the 2016 champion will be crowned in the final showdown.
Dubai, fittingly, will serve as the climax to the World Series. It is, after all, a city known for its towering skyscrapers and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
The take-off point for the best of the best in cliff diving will be Pier 7, with the popular, seven-floor venue overlooking the picturesque Arabian Gulf. The World Series follows the traditional high diving format and is a mix of rules from the Red Bull Cliff Diving Sportive Committee, FINA and HDA.
To show their skill and versatility, the divers are required to execute take-offs from five basic dive groups: front, back, inward, reverse and handstand. Five international judges will determine points for each dive based on takeoff, position in the air and entry into the water.
There’s a lot of technique and form required, but for spectators, the real joy will come from watching the athletes jump in an open setting and under the lights of Dubai Marina.
Information:
- What: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
- Where: Pier 7, located in Dubai Marina
- When: Friday, October 28, from 20:00
- Contact: Visit www.redbullcliffdiving.com for more information including how to stream the event live
To watch the event, the main viewing areas are on the promenades outside Dubai Marina Mall towards The Address hotel, or on the other side of the water in front of the InterContinental hotel. You can also take in the action from Pier 7, Silverene Tower, the Al Gharbi Street bridge, or Bay Central.
If you’re unable to make it down, you can always watch live on Red Bull TV and streaming on www.redbullcliffdiving.com. Those that do attend will also have plenty of other entertainment available, as is the case with all Red Bull events.
There will be a virtual reality dive, a souvenir diving photo booth and a Red Bull Cliff Diving Game to try.
As far as the stakes go, Briton Gary Hunt clinched the overall title in the previous stop in Japan, but that won’t stop him and his competitors from dazzling the crowds in what is sure to be a riveting night of thrills.