Tasmania has hosted the country’s first-ever Cliff Masters competition, introducing the sport of freestyle cliff jumping to the island.
Seventeen-year-old local Rohan Wilcox, who has competed internationally, was a key figure in bringing the event to Tasmania.
He said more than 30 athletes, capable of jumping from heights of up to 25 metres, competed at the old Triabunna woodchip mill.
“Freestyle cliff jumping in Australia has never been as big as it has been in America and Europe,” he said.
“It’s definitely kind of needed a competition, I feel, and a good community. And in the last year or two we’ve really been pushing the Australian cliff scene. And now we’re here.”
Participants performed dives from a 24-metre platform into the water below, showing off their flips and other aerial skills.
Event founder Pol Alberdi, a 23-year-old from Spain, said the sport is gaining popularity worldwide.
“For people that have not seen [cliff jumping before], it kind of blows their mind at first sight because it’s something weird to combine flips into water,” he said.
“It’s not something you see every day. But I definitely think everyone here will enjoy it and have a great time.”
Alberdi said as many precautions as possible are taken to make the event safe.
“Obviously each athlete is responsible for the jump they’re going to do and to what extent they want to risk or not,” he said
“We do make sure the athletes have a past of being safe but then of course we have an ambulance waiting, we have people in the water and we try to minimize as many risks as possible but it has to be said that there is a risk.”
The event sold around 350 tickets, with ferries transporting spectators from the East Coaster Resort at Orford.
