World Class Divers Return To Boston's Fan Pier

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series hits Boston Harbor on August 25

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Jun 07, 2012, 11:17 ET

BOSTON, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ever fall from grace? How about from an 8 story-high platform? Back by popular demand, Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returns to the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston for the second year to give Bostonians an acrobatically aquatic expo that's worth flying for. On August 25, eleven phenomenal athletes from across the globe will stop in America's historically renowned metropolis of mutineers to dive from the roof of ICA's iconic glass building, an urban cliff perched dramatically over Boston Harbor.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120607/LA20907)

Though the divers will visit Boston for the second time, six of the seven selected locations are new to the calendar and promise a demanding competition. The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will kick off on the Mediterranean French island of Corsica on June 22, and will reach its northern apex in Grimstad, Norway in early July. Just one month later, the divers will navigate the volcanic shores of the Portuguese Azores islands, explore a mystic blowhole in Ireland, and traverse the Blue Lagoon of South Wales. The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will then climax in its ultimate round at the oasis of Oman, situated within the exotic Wadi Shab.

In the midst of this global adventure, the divers will make the only North American stop at Fan Pier Boston mid-season. The ICA, famous for its architecturally interesting building and cutting-edge contemporary art, offers a dramatic backdrop for these visionary divers as they showcase their own take on "performance art": spiraling, tumbling, and flipping mid-air, in sync with the cheering of sports-mad fans below. The eleven super athletes will compete head-to-head for a shot at the prestigious Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series title, completing two required and two optional dives. The five international judges, including four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, will award them scores from 0 to 10 based on the various aspects of the dive, the adherence to predetermined diving requirements, and the splash-less finish.

From the iconic Boston Harbor, home of the Boston Tea Party, the local fans will witness divers who will make history, like US rookie David Colturi (23 years) and former Olympian Blake Aldridge. This upcoming round will again highlight how, in the world of cliff diving, it's all up in the air.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop will be free and open to the public on August 25 from 4 to 7 PM, and will feature extraordinary dives, a live emcee, jumbo screens for viewing, and premium vending. Public areas will be stationed along Fan Pier, and the ICA will extend its hours, remaining open to the public until 9 pm that evening. Wiiings are encouraged for both divers and onlookers.

After all, why not give Boston a World Series?

About the ICA: an influential forum for multi-disciplinary arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for more than 70 years. Like its iconic building on Boston's waterfront, the ICA offers new ways of engaging with the world around us. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit our Web site at www.icaboston.org.

About Fan Pier: information about Fan Pier including site map, transportation, and directions available at www.fanpierboston.com.

For more information www.redbullcliffdiving.com

SOURCE Red Bull