On
May 10th Havana lived the emotions of an impressive discipline, "Cliff
Diving" or "leaping into the water from extreme heights" which
challenges risk just as "Balserismo". Habana citizens felt this way in
the first stage of the Cliff Diving World Series 2014, in Morro Castle. In
contrast to the U.S. embargo on the Castro tyranny RED BULL sponsored the
Championship in Cuba; which on one hand is an excellent advertising to
encourage tourism to the slave island, on the other hand, the event served as a
fitting tribute to those who daily with much more risk have also jumped into
these seas in search for freedom.
The
14 best specialty divers came to this capital to make their jumps at a height
of 27 meters, from a specially built platform for the event and which was
placed on the cliff at the entrance to the capital's bay. Among the highlights
were Colombian Orlando Duque, first monarch of the circuit in 2009, Russian
Artem Silchenko 2013 champion and world ranking leader; and Briton Gary Hunt, three
times winner of the event (2010, 2011 and 2012). Others were Czech Michal
Navratil bronze in the 2011 version, American Steve LoBue, third in 2012; also Mexican
Jonathan Paredes, bronze in the World Championships last year; and American
Andy Jones and David Colturi, Kris Kolanus (Poland), Miguel García (Colombia),
Jorge Ferzuli (Mexico), Brazilian Junior and Edivaldo Jucelino Keda and British
Blake Aldridge who won the event. The world records are held by Swiss Oliver
Favre, who jumped from 54 meters, on August 30th, 1987, in France, and U.S.
Lucy Wardle, who did the same from 37 meters, on April 7th, 1985, in Ocean Park,
Hong Kong. To be continued...
