RB Cliff Diving World Series 2016: Stop #3 at Azores, POR - July 09th 2016

Brilliant Brit and rocking rookie take victory at the natural cliff diving spot of the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on the Azores, Portugal on July 9

In a test of pure cliff diving, Gary Hunt made it back-to-back wins from 27m with a stunning and comprehensive victory in the Azores, powering past American Andy Jones, who had a personalbest second place, and Mexico's Jonathan Paredes in third. In the women's event, wildcard Australian Rhiannan Iffland also made it two wins out of two following her debut success in Texas. Canada's Lysanne Richard secured a second-place finish, with American Ginger Huber completing the podium. Lifting off from a natural surface as well as battling the elements the ocean waters threw at them, the world’s top 23 cliff divers displayed their skills directly off the cliff face on the volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic to wow the spectators spread out across 100 boats.

The 32-year-old Brit came fresh from his win in Copenhagen three weeks ago and stepped up to another level at the pure Portuguese cliffs, especially impressive considering the tough diving conditions. As his rivals struggled to perfect their entries, the 5-time World Series champion produced a precise and clinical display, maneuvering magically through the air and disappearing beneath the waves with barely a splash 3 seconds later to make it three wins in this location after 2013 and 2015.

Flying into second-place, the highest position of his career, USA's Jones was a model of consistency throughout the weekend, gliding gracefully and piercing the water at 85km/h when many of his competitors where thumping it hard. With today’s third-placed finish Jonathan Paredes from Mexico City makes it his third podium in a row following his win in Texas and second in Copenhagen.

After three of nine competitions, Gary Hunt climbs to the top spot in the overall standings of the 2016 World Series season ahead of Paredes and Colombia’s Orlando Duque, who played the trump card of the experienced to only miss the podium a mere margin.

In the women's 20m competition, 24-year-old Rhiannan Iffland, continued to defy her wildcard status, cruising past her more experienced rivals with another impressive display, proving her skills this time from the rocks as well as the platform. Lysanne Richard from Montreal grabbed the second spot on the podium thanks to a truly spectacular final round dive which earned a score of 104.00 - the highest ever for a single dive in the women's competition. The experienced Ginger Huber (USA) rounded out the top three with another solid performance, a repeat of her third-place finish here last year. In the Women’s World Series overall standings, 24-year-old Iffland soars into a clear lead with the maximum of 400.00pts. after two of seven competitions, followed by today’s runner-up Lysanne Richard and by the World Series’ youngest-ever athlete Helena Merten from Australia’s Gold Coast.

From the purest venue on the calendar the men move on to the World Series’ most classic spot in La Rochelle, France, for the next stop in two weeks’ time.

Quotes from the Winners
Gary Hunt, GBR
I got dealt the right cards today and obviously there’s skill involved. I wanted to finish my dives early, so that I could get a look at the water as quick as possible. If you’re doing big dives and you hit the top of a wave, there’s not much you can do about it. so I tried to get everything moving as quick as possible. I took a twist off my front twist and just played it safe. It was the right thing to do.

Rhiannan Iffland, AUS
I have no words to explain, to be honest. Obviously I’m overly happy and I’m very grateful for this beautiful place. I enjoyed it so much, that’s all I can say at this moment.

Results – Stop #3, São Miguel, Azores | POR
MEN
1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 540.40pts.
2. Andy Jones, USA – 469.10
3. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 464.00
4. Orlando Duque, COL – 462.25
5. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 450.50
6. David Colturi, USA – 441.20
7. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 438.90
8. Steven LoBue, USA – 412.85
9. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 296.00
10. Michal Navratil, CZE – 295.10
11. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 279.15
12. Kris Kolanus (W), POL – 263.50
13. Todor Spasov (W), BUL - 258.40
14. Miguel Garcia (W), COL - 214.20

WOMEN
1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS – 251.00pts.
2. Lysanne Richard, CAN – 245.30
3. Ginger Huber, USA – 237.00
4. Helena Merten, AUS – 231.10
5. Yana Nestsiarava (W), BLR – 216.50
6. Cesilie Carlton, USA – 213.25
7. Rachelle Simpson, USA – 196.90
8. Adriana Jimenez, MEX – 181.30
9. Jaki Valente (W), BRA – 173.80

Standings MEN (after 3 of 9 stops)
1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 510pts.
2. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 460
3. Orlando Duque, COL – 270
4. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 240
4. David Colturi, USA – 240
6. Andy Jones, USA – 230
6. Michal Navratil, CZE – 230
8. Kris Kolanus (W), POL – 200
9. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 130
10. Steven LoBue, USA – 130
11. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA – 98
12. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 68
13. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 59
14. Alain Kohl (W), LUX – 50
15. Miguel Garcia (W), COL – 17
16. Todor Spasov (W), BUL - 9

Standings WOMEN (after 2 of 7 stops)
1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS - 400pts.
2. Lysanne Richard, CAN - 250
3. Helena Merten, AUS - 240
4. Cesilie Carlton, USA - 230
5. Ginger Huber, USA – 190
6. Adriana Jimenez, MEX - 160
7. Rachelle Simpson, USA - 130
8. Yana Nestsiarava (W), BLR - 90
9. Tara Hyer-Tira (W), USA - 50
10. Jaki Valente (W), BRA - 40