GARY Hunt is preparing to introduce a new dive in the coming months as he bids for a fourth successive Red Bull World Cliff Diving title.
The Southampton star, 28, won last year’s title by just two points from Orlando Duque and knows he faces another hard battle in 2013.
“Every year has got more and more difficult,” said Hunt.
“There’s not just Orlando behind me but plenty of other divers with that fire and motivation to take my title.
“I know I have to be on my toes.”
Hunt’s new dive will begin with a handstand take-off and has already been used in competition by Aldridge.
“I’m not going to try it straight away, I’m more comfortable when we get a few rounds under our belts,” he said. “Initially I’ll learn it with one backwards arm stand with two-and-a-half somersaults and three twists. “If it goes well I’ll add another twist.
“But I always have a reasonably high ratio of difficulty anyway so it’s sensible for me to get a few under my belt first.”
Hunt has also been working on his flexibility as he prepares for the opening round in La Rochelle. “As soon as the new year begins I get back into training and I’m now feeling fully ready and fit,” he explains. “Out of season, we don’t train off 27 metres but off the 10m platform, so it’s always a bit nerve wracking to know how you’re going to dive in competition. “High diving takes it out of you and there’s always that risk of getting injured, so most of us do as little as possible off 27m. “You can train the entry and take off from 10m and we prepare mentally by visualising ourselves going through the dives hundreds of times.
“I’ve also been doing contortion classes. “I’m not naturally flexible and have to work hard on it to enable me to squeeze into the smallest possible shape.”
