• Steven LoBue prepares to dive from a high take-off board during the practice round on the first day.
    Steven LoBue prepares to dive from a high take-off board during the practice round on the first day.
  • Gary Hunt gives the OK to the judges before diving from the board during the first round.
    Gary Hunt gives the OK to the judges before diving from the board during the first round.
  • Artem Silchenko, from Russia, dives from a 27m high take-off board during the first round.
    Artem Silchenko, from Russia, dives from a 27m high take-off board during the first round.
  • The judges' boat on the last day of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2012.
    The judges' boat on the last day of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2012.
  • Crowds gather to watch the final day of the competition.
    Crowds gather to watch the final day of the competition.
  • Crowds watch the final day of the competition.
    Crowds watch the final day of the competition.
  • This multi-layered composite image shows diver Blake Aldridge, of the UK, diving from the 27m high take-off board during the first round.
    This multi-layered composite image shows diver Blake Aldridge, of the UK, diving from the 27m high take-off board during the first round.
  • Spectators enjoy the cooling water of the wadi.
    Spectators enjoy the cooling water of the wadi.
  • Michal Navratil, from the Czech Republic, after a dive in the first round.
    Michal Navratil, from the Czech Republic, after a dive in the first round.
  • Winner of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2012, Gary Hunt, leads the climb back to the board.
    Winner of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2012, Gary Hunt, leads the climb back to the board.
  • Michal Navratil appears to soar above the cliffs on this first round dive.
    Michal Navratil appears to soar above the cliffs on this first round dive.
  • Gary Hunt being interviewed by the press after taking the title.
    Gary Hunt being interviewed by the press after taking the title.

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series by Antonie Robertson

Mark Asquith

September 27, 2012

  • English
  • Arabic

Oman's spectacular Wadi Shab today played host to the final stop on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, making it the first Middle Eastern location to hold the event.

The canyon, which lies inland from the coastal highway linking Muscat, the country's capital city, and the southern town of Sur, drew large crowds to watch the divers plunge from 27m at up to 90kph.

Gary Hunt, of the United Kingdom, successfully defended his title, seeing off challenges from America's Steven LoBue and Orlando Duque of Colombia.

The previous leg of the event, in Wales, was won by LoBue ahead of Duque and Hunt and that result had left Duque 70 points ahead of the Briton coming into Oman.

However Hunt hit, what the Red Bull website called his "trademark triple quad" to win by just two points over the Colombian.

For more information on the Cliff Diving World Series visit Red Bull's website.

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