Out of Town Blog
Hunt and Iffland Begin Red Bull Cliff Diving Season with Victories in the Philippines
Titleholders kick off the new season with impressive displays in El Nido.
France’s Gary Hunt returned to the top of the podium for the first time in three years, and Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland made a perfect start in her bid to win a ninth straight King Kahekili Trophy as the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series kicked off in the spectacular setting of El Nido, Philippines.
Here is all you need to know:
The new season transported the sport back to its purest form, featuring three days of competition on the cliffs surrounding the picturesque Blue Lagoon. Competitors showcased their most daring dives from man-made platforms, highlighting the beauty and thrill of the event.
In the men’s competition, 10-time champion Hunt, who returned as a wildcard after vacating his permanent spot on the tour to pursue his Olympic dream, clinched victory with an impressive Back 3 Somersaults 4 Twists Free in the final round.
Hunt, 40, expressed his excitement, saying, “I feel great! I can’t wait to tell my wife. We’ve been traveling for the past six months, and I’ve only had about eight or nine sessions in the pool since the Olympics. My performance was critical; if I didn’t do well here, it would have meant the end of the season. Now, they’ll have to invite me back.”
Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes achieved his best result since 2019 with a surprise second-place finish, joined by Romanian Constantin Popovici in third. This marked the first time in history that two wildcards secured a 1-2 finish, while the combined ages of the top three created the ‘oldest’ podium ever. In contrast, Iffand dominated the women’s 21m platform competition, claiming her 42nd victory in 52 starts.
Iffand, 33,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Out of Town Blog…