Daredevils wow thousands by jumping from 88-foot board in the cliff diving world series off Northern Irish coast

  • Reading time:4 min(s) read
Movie channels                     Music channels                     Sport channels

A quaint seaside town in Northern Ireland was taken over by none other than Red Bull this weekend and transformed into an extreme cliff diving venue.

The picturesque Ballycastle Harbour became the site of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

Thrillseeking divers executed incredible acrobatics after flinging themselves from boards 88 feet above the Irish Sea.

Ballycastle Harbour was the athlete’s fourth stop as part of the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series. The seaside town followed the likes of Athens Greece, Boston, USA and Polignano a Mare, Italy.

Their next stop? Oslo, Norway.

A quaint seaside town in Northern Ireland was taken over by none other than Red Bull this weekend and transformed into an extreme cliff diving venue

A quaint seaside town in Northern Ireland was taken over by none other than Red Bull this weekend and transformed into an extreme cliff diving venue

Thrill-seeking divers executed incredible acrobatics after flinging themselves from boards 88 feet above the Irish Sea

Thrill-seeking divers executed incredible acrobatics after flinging themselves from boards 88 feet above the Irish Sea

Athletes, including Constantin Popovici of Romania (pictured), dive from heights of more than 88-feet above the Irish Sea

Athletes, including Constantin Popovici of Romania (pictured), dive from heights of more than 88-feet above the Irish Sea

The women jump from a height of 68 feet, while the men launch themselves from a platform 88 feet above the sea

The women jump from a height of 68 feet, while the men launch themselves from a platform 88 feet above the sea 

But the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty did not disappoint.

Read More

‘Don’t jump!’ The Australian rookie who is beating the pros in world series of cliff diving says the hardest part is leaping off the edge

article image

A spokesperson for the event in Northern Ireland said: ‘Nestled within the Glens of Antrim, an area of outstanding natural beauty, the choppy Atlantic waters of Ballycastle will prove both a danger and a delight for those both competing and spectating.’ 

Despite grey skies, crowds gathered on the Causeway Coast to watch the extreme sport.

Twelve men and 12 women compete at every event to earn maximum championship points.

The women jump from a height of 68 feet, while the men launch themselves from a platform 88 feet above the sea.

The drop takes just three seconds and unlike Olympic divers, cliff divers have no choice but to entre the water feet-first. 

Each diver is judged by a panel on their acrobatics and artistic moves during the dive.

The UK's very own Aidan Heslop acknowledges the crowd from the 88-foot platform during the final competition day

The UK’s very own Aidan Heslop acknowledges the crowd from the 88-foot platform during the final competition day

Heslop dives from the 88-foot platform at Ballycastle Harbour

Heslop dives from the 88-foot platform at Ballycastle Harbour

James Lichtenstein of the USA tucks into himself as he jumps from the platform in Northern Ireland

James Lichtenstein of the USA tucks into himself as he jumps from the platform in Northern Ireland

Rhiannan Iffland of Australia hugs her arms as she prepares for the dive

Rhiannan Iffland of Australia hugs her arms as she prepares for the dive

Archie Biggin of the UK spins upside down as spectators watch from the harbour below

Archie Biggin of the UK spins upside down as spectators watch from the harbour below

Ginni Van Katwijk of the Netherlands dives from the 68-foot platform during the second competition day on the Causeway Coast

Ginni Van Katwijk of the Netherlands dives from the 68-foot platform during the second competition day on the Causeway Coast

Independent athlete Nikita Fedotov pulls an acrobatic trick mid-air as he jumps from the platform

Independent athlete Nikita Fedotov pulls an acrobatic trick mid-air as he jumps from the platform

The UK's Aidan Heslop (left) and Rhiannan Iffland of Australia pose for a portrait with the winners trophies at the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Ballycastle Harbour

The UK’s Aidan Heslop (left) and Rhiannan Iffland of Australia pose for a portrait with the winners trophies at the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Ballycastle Harbour

At the end of each season, a champion is crowned in each category and awarded the coveted King Kahekili trophy.

The trophy is named after the founder of the extreme sport – King Kahekili.

He was a Hawaiian chief who leapt from the holy cliffs of Kaunolo in the 1700s.

At Ballycastle Harbour, it was the UK’s very own Aidan Heslop that overpowered rivals to life the winner’s trophy.

He excelled in the cold, wet and windy conditions to claim victory by an impressive 46-point margin.