Steven LoBue takes second career-win in the 2014 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Portugal
The 29-year-old American presses his claim for this year’s World Series title with victory in the Azores. Colombian Orlando Duque and third-placed David Colturi, of the USA, also produced their best performances of the year this Saturday in front of 2,000 spectators on boats and ships. During four rounds of competition, the 14 cliff divers dove more than 27 metres from three different locations on the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, which included two rounds directly off the cliff face. The leader of the overall standings, Gary Hunt, missed out on a place in the final for the first time in his career, finishing a disappointing 11th, while his nearest challenger prior to the event in Portugal, Jonathan Paredes, fared little better in 10th, meaning it’s all to dive for going into the final two World Series events of the year.
Halfway between Europe and the American east coast, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it was the Florida-based “turbo-spinner” who scored highest, performing his quint-half for 8s and 8.5s in the rough waters of the Portuguese Azores islands. After a flying start to the competition, Steven LoBue (468.15pts) beat a reinvigorated Orlando Duque (458.00pts) to the top spot. 25-year-old David Colturi (436.40pts), never better than sixth in 2014, showed the newly-learned triple-quad with a Degree of Difficulty of 6.2 for the first time in competition, which earned him his first podium finish of the year.
In the season’s most natural cliff diving competition with off-the-cliff dives in the required rounds and only the more difficult dives from the 27m platform it was a question of mental strength and judging the rocky sea best. For the first time in the history of the World Series, the leader of the overall standings, Englishman Gary Hunt, did not make the cut for the final of the top eight. After today’s fifth stop, Hunt’s lead in the standings shrank to 150 points over Steven LoBue (610pts), followed by 10-time world champion Orlando Duque (520pts) in third. Today’s competition on the volcanic islet with its colossal monolith serving as the take-off point in the Seeding Round proved again that the competition is tight and you need four great dives to earn a place in the top positions.
After a short summer break, the cliff diving elite will meet for the sixth stop in Bilbao, Spain, on September 20.
QUOTES OF THE WINNERS
Steven LoBue (USA)
The past two years here have been rough for me. When this stop was on the schedule at the beginning the year I was eyeing that one and thinking that I’d better be ready for what was coming up. But now I’ve been here a couple of times, I’m starting to get more comfortable with the specific challenges that this place poses and I took some time to train in Austria last week and get my focus back after a disappointing result in Norway. Once I did my quint half from the platform, I had a feeling that maybe I would be able to put it all together and come away with the win.
Orlando Duque (COL)
My third dive of the four wasn’t as good as it can be. I got 110 points for it, when it’s usually 130 or 140 for that dive and I was only 10 points short of first place so I could have won. I knew when I hit the water that I’d made a mistake, but I’m still happy. Being in second place in front of some guys who have much a higher Degree of Difficulty than me it shows that the execution of the dives is still important and that I can still compete. I’m aiming to finish the season in the top-three. Gary (Hunt) and Steven (LoBue) look like they will be the top two, but it’s up to me to keep pushing them until the end.
David Colturi (USA)
I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s about time I got back on the podium! I’ve been hoping to do this all season long and I’ve just been struggling with some minor stuff. It feels so good to have it all come together, even after a rough first day. It’s been amazing to be stood up there in this epic location with my best buddy (Steven LoBue) right next to me! I learned the back triple triple in Malcesine last year and I learned the new back twist here in Portugal and it went really well first time. I feel really good on that dive, and I really like that one. There’s still room for improvement, but hopefully it’ll be my big dive from here on in.
RESULTS STOP 5, AZORES
1. Steven LoBue | USA | 468.15pts
2. Orlando Duque | COL | 458.00
3. David Colturi | USA | 436.40
4. Blake Aldridge | UK | 415.30
5. Kris Kolanus | POL | 411.35
6. Andy Jones | USA | 377.45
7. Alain Kohl (wildcard) | LUX | 371.35
8. Artem Silchenko | RUS | 357.30
9. Michal Navratil | CZE | 263.90
10. Jonathan Paredes | MEX | 247.50
11. Gary Hunt | UK | 233.70
12. Kyle Mitrione (wildcard) | USA | 200.30
13. Andreas Hulliger (wildcard) | SUI | 192.15
14. Sasha Kutsenko (wildcard) | UKR | 152.00
Red Bull Cliff DIving World Series 2014
It’s pure, it’s fast and it takes your breath away. Cliff divers leap aesthetically from almost three times the Olympic height and hit the water at speeds of 85kph, protected only by their concentration, skill and physical control. Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has featured the biggest talents, the most promising newcomers, and since 2013 has also provided a platform for women. Seven tough competitions for the men, three challenges for the women – in its sixth season this jaw-dropping sport will hit new as well as proven ground in the Caribbean, the continents of North and South America and Europe between May and October to determine a new champion for both men and women.
Maurice Lacroix is the official watch partner of the 2014 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Press Office