27 meters high and Polignano a Mare—that alone would be enough to describe what Red Bull Cliff Diving is all about: pure emotion and adrenaline. And when it comes to adrenaline, emotions, and sports, the connection to the Red Bull world is immediate; the hashtag #givesyouwiiings takes on a different tone, becoming something you truly understand deep down.
We were lucky enough to be direct witnesses to this event, pampered by the Red Bull team, who not only organized a show-stopping event but also took care of their guests, immersing them in a unique atmosphere. 45,000 spectators under a sun that didn't scorch us (yes, it showed us mercy) in one of Italy's most breathtaking locations; add 24 athletes from all over the world, a height of 27 meters—which for those who don't know equals 9 stories—and you get the final seasonal stage of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
When talking about extreme sports, challenge, and pushing beyond limits, the connection with Red Bull is instant: you can't help but think of a brand that creates the world's biggest sporting events and, through #givesyouwiiings, accompanies its athletes in making their dreams come true. We spent time with their team—whom we've grown to know well—and their guests, experiencing this competition firsthand, but above all feeling the team spirit present at every single event; we felt part of something special (and we have to admit the CALA PONTE hotel was an extra treat we won't easily forget). Organizers know that managing an event like this is extremely delicate because anything can become an unexpected hurdle, but everything ran seamlessly and felt perfectly organized—even the cameraman on the cliff edge (yes, he's still alive, and we're sure he got the best footage).
But to talk about Red Bull Cliff Diving, we decided to pass the mic to one of the athletes; it only felt right that the emotions we experienced from Red Bull's rooftop viewports were told by someone who actually lived those 27 meters.
Davide Baraldi, 25 years old, started diving at age 6 and is now one of the most promising athletes in world cliff diving.
“So, regarding the first question about how much madness it takes to jump from 27 meters... I could answer in two different ways: on one hand, a whole lot, because jumping from up there goes completely against your brain and your survival instinct. On the other hand, when you're standing on the platform, you know you've put in the work, that you have countless dives under your belt, so you know you're capable and can handle every single moment of the dive. As for what goes through your mind up there... it's unique because it's a mix of contrasting emotions. You feel plenty of fear, absolutely, and plenty of anxiety, but you're also ready and determined to overcome it. Once your feet leave the platform, though, you experience a sense of freedom and weightlessness that is impossible to replicate, just like the adrenaline rush you feel the exact moment you hit the water.”
Freedom is a big part of Spaghetty Western; we talk about it often and try to live it every way we can, and watching those athletes dive from that height, we felt that same sense of freedom too. I could describe those feelings in many ways. In the simplest term, "freedom"; in a more complex way... for those three seconds, truly living by doing what you were born to do—feeling like your true self. When you attend a Red Bull event, the hardest thing to grasp is the sheer sacrifice and dedication behind everything. It all looks effortless because the final result is always mind-blowing and curated down to the smallest detail. It's the same feeling when you watch someone perform a movement with disarming simplicity, like launching themselves off a 9-story building into the open sea.
“Sacrifices, as with everything in life in my opinion, are plenty. There are hidden ones that start long before you ever dive from high platforms. My parents and I made many sacrifices when I was young just to get me to practice. Both working—sometimes night shifts—they always found a way to take me to the pool. On my end, there were physical sacrifices, and at times social ones with friends and family, missing out on fun because one way or another you had to be ready to train. Growing up and transitioning to high diving, the technical progression moved step by step, so that stopped feeling like a sacrifice; instead, practical sacrifices kicked in—the time you take away from your personal life, the time you invest to reach high-level competitions. But all my life I've believed that as long as you love what you do, nothing is a sacrifice. It only becomes a sacrifice when it starts weighing on you. So the short answer would be: no sacrifice is needed to do this sport.”
Red Bull has always accompanied its athletes toward excellence, doing the same with its own team by pushing them to raise the bar every day—and trust us, they do. Often, when you push past the limit, fear steps in. People are frequently taught not to be afraid, but perhaps the greatest victory is learning how to manage it.
“This last question is great because people usually ask "Are you scared?" or "Are you still scared?". Yours was "How do you manage it?", which I like because yes, we are scared on the first dive and we'll be scared on the hundredth, the thousandth... it will always be there, and honestly, I've always said "The moment you aren't afraid is the exact moment you should start being afraid." Because when you're up there, you have to respect what you do. I manage it partly by convincing myself that I am capable, that I've repeated the technical movement billions of times so it can only come naturally. I also rely heavily on breathwork—calming myself before the dive, breathing slowly, and stepping into my own bubble, leaving the outside world behind.”
And now the question we asked ourselves during all those dives: the dive is amazing, everything is amazing, but what the fk do you feel when you land in the water?
“Well... that's another feeling that's hard to put into words. A massive rush of adrenaline and a deep sense of personal achievement, because you know you managed to conquer your fear, overcome your own limits, and execute an extreme task well. So alongside the heavy adrenaline, there's immense personal satisfaction.”
And for everyone who treats Red Bull as a celebration, the party was definitely there, with people dancing right out on the rocks... once again, they left their mark.
