 |
| 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Men’s Champion Oleksiy Prygorov and 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Third Place Winner Xantheia Pennisi during the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series kickoff media day at the New Clark City Aquatic Center last April 1, 2025 (Image Source: ABS-CBN News/Mark Demayo) |
El Nido in Palawan gears up to host the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series season opener, happening on April 11-13, 2025. As part of the preparations, Red Bull Cliff Diving athletes and the Philippine Diving Team showcased their impeccable skills and talent at an exclusive diving workshop last April 1, 2025 at New Clark City Aquatic Center. The event provided participants with a rare opportunity to hear directly from the athletes about the techniques and mental preparation required for high-level diving competitions. The session emphasized the importance of mental focus, physical mastery, and synchronizing movement with the natural elements.
Diving Deep With World-Class Athletes
Attendees learned firsthand how half-Filipino, half-Australian gymnast-turned-diver and 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Third Place Winner Xantheia Pennisi and 2008 Beijing Olympics 3-meter spring synchro bronze medalist and 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Men’s Champion Oleksiy Prygorov prepare to execute their awe-inspiring dives with precision and confidence. “We spend many hours in the gym, in the pool, practicing for our dives,” said Prygorov about how they prepare for dives. Pennisi emphasized the importance of both physical and mental preparation, sharing her mental struggles last season. “Last year, I had a very difficult season. I was learning some of my harder dives when I had a struggle mentally with a certain dive, so that pulled me back a little bit.” Instead of impeding her growth as a diver, the half-Filipino, half-Australian diver shared that she used this time to “learn new dives and have fun with diving again”. Pennisi shared, “There’s only about 40 people in the world who actually do this sport. It’s definitely growing, but because there’s only a limited number of athletes, we’re always supporting each other and helping each other even though we’re competitors. I’m so lucky to be part of a sport where everyone wants each other to get better.” One of the highlights of the event was the live demonstration from the Red Bull Cliff Divers and the Philippine Diving Team which electrified the audience. This gave guests a preview into the thrilling action expected at the kick-off of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series this April. Prygorov also shared his excitement for the upcoming Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, stating, “Every year, new, young people bring in new energy. We love to keep going and keep having friendly, healthy competition against each other. It’s also good to see new places (for every competition).” Both Pennisi and Prygorov expressed their enthusiasm to have the series opening in the Philippines. “The Philippines is a special place for the sport,” said the Ukrainian diver. “Having a warm location helps. Being able to represent Australia and the Philippines is really special and always fuels me to perform better,” said Pennisi, whose family will be watching her live for the competition.
Counting Down To The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Kick-Off In El Nido, Palawan
The wait is almost over for the return of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Palawan. 24 of the best diving athletes will take on the breathtaking challenge of El Nido’s towering cliffs and clear waters. With reigning men’s champion Aidan Heslop sidelined due to injury, the competition is wide open and more unpredictable than ever. Romania’s Constantin Popovici is the only former World Series overall champion in the permanent men’s lineup, leaving room for rising talents like Italy’s Andrea Barnaba and Mexico’s Yolotl Martinez to make their mark. Meanwhile, wildcard appearances from legends like Gary Hunt and Jonathan Paredes adds a layer of intensity to the competition. On the women’s side, eight-time World Series champion Rhiannan Iffland from Australia remains the dominant force but challengers like Canada’s Molly Carlson and Simone Leathead, and the United States’ Kaylea Arnett are eager to close in on podium finishes this season. Rising stars Elisa Cosetti from Italy, Nelli Chukanivska from Ukraine, and Ginni van Katwijk from Netherlands are also set to make waves in this year’s competition. The world-class divers are set to dive from heights of up to 27 meters, starting from Lagen Island’s limestone cliffs before heading to the stunning Small and Big Lagoons of Miniloc Island. With only four stops this season, every dive is more crucial than ever as the battle for the prestigious King Kahekili trophy begins this April at El Nido, Palawan.
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in the Philippines is made possible in partnership with Mido, Xiaomi, Hertz, 7-Eleven, and Nature Republic. The event is also supported by official media partners Smart Communications Inc. and Cignal TV. The series opener be aired exclusively across the globe online via Red Bull TV and Red Bull Cliff Diving’s Youtube page. In the Philippines, check out the official social media accounts of Smart and Cignal TV for broadcast details. Follow Red Bull PH and Red Bull Cliff Diving’s official social media accounts for the latest updates.
