The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, the world’s most thrilling high diving competition, returns to the U.S. on May 30. Hell’s Gate at Possum Kingdom Lake will host the event for the second consecutive year and is the lone U.S. stop in the global series. Last year, a crowd of 6,000 spectators on boats, kayaks and paddleboards took in the action, with more expected to join the floating-room-only crowd this year.
The competition will see divers in the Men’s Division dive off of Hell’s Gate from 90 feet above the water, while the Women’s Division competitors will dive from 65 feet. These elite divers will reach speeds of up to 53 mph during their three-second free fall, with nothing protecting them except world-class skills and their swimsuits.
The event will mark the return of 2014’s Red Bull Cliff Diving female world champion and San Antonio native, Rachelle “Rocco” Simpson, who will be returning to her home state to compete in the first stop of the women’s division in 2015. The 26-year-old high diver placed first in all three women’s events last year and will look to keep her streak alive in front of her hometown fans this May.
Other top divers include American hopeful David Colturi, who finished fifth overall last year and is aiming to take the crown from the UK’s Gary Hunt; who won last year’s Texas competition with historic high scores on the road to his fourth overall Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship.
