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Dustin Webster - 1999 Red Bull On The Rocks Cliff Diving Champion
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Homage to The Gods | About Kaunolu | Dustin Webster | Event Summary
[Event Summary: Final Results]
Four forward somersaults with a half twist...flying front somersault...3 1/2 forward somersaults with a half twist from a handstand. These are just a few of the moves that 32-year old Dustin Webster has skillfully crafted into a world-class cliff diving career.
Over an amateur and professional career that began 21 years ago in his parent's backyard pool, Dustin has earned just about every individual and team honor imaginable. From the California State Diving Title...to thirteen gold medals in international diving competitions...to only two defeats in international and World Championship competition since 1990, there isn't much he hasn't accomplished. And to think that he was once terrified of diving off anything higher than 10-feet.
As recently as July 28, 1999, Dustin added to his impressive resume by capturing the Mediterranean Cliff Diving World Cup title in Italy. On September 5, 1999, Dustin skillfully captured the first ever Red Bull on the Rocks Cliff Diving title. During those competitions, Dustin performed a 3 1/2 forward somersault with a half twist from a handstand, something no one has ever attempted in practice or competition before!
Dustin was first introduced to professional high diving in 1988, when a professional show diving team hired him out of college. While the other divers would close the show from the 80?foot high dive, Dustin was terrified on anything higher than the 3-meter board (about 10 feet). But the peer pressure got to him and in four short weeks Dustin was diving along side his teammates in the show's finale.
After performing all over the world, Dustin had his eyes set on winning a gold medal at the Acapulco Cliff Diving Championships in Acapulco, Mexico. This entailed capturing one of his lifelong dreams, diving off the famous cliffs of La Quebrada (the Break). In 1994, Dustin helped the United States win the gold medal at the championships in Acapulco, by becoming the first and only diver to perform a triple somersault off the lower level (68 feet) of the cliff. In July 1997, at the inaugural Red Bull World Cliff Diving Championships, in Brontallo, Switzerland, Dustin captured the gold medal in both the qualifying and the main events, with scores of 9's and 10's.
Dustin's cliff diving prowess soon caught the attention of Red Bull Energy Drink, and in 1998 the company made him the first-ever sponsored American cliff diver. His goal this year is to successfully defend his last Red Bull World Cliff Diving Championship title against the talented new young divers that have made their way into the cliff diving scene. Dustin has a new dive up his sleeve that has never before been attempted…an inward quad somersault with a half twist. This dive, combined with his other dives, should give him an advantage in the degree of difficulty category. Only time will tell if Dustin's experience and tough dives are enough to beat out the young and hungry pack of divers at this year's Red Bull World Cliff Diving Championships in Lanai, Hawaii on August 26th.
Dustin currently lives in Santee, California, with his wife Becca and their two children. In 1991, Dustin and his wife recited their wedding vows on a high dive and literally "took the plunge" into marriage. He splits his time between performing in live action stunt shows and competing on the competitive cliff diving circuit. Dustin has been the Captain of the United States High Diving Team since 1989, and travels nationwide to perform in professional diving shows as often as possible. At 32, his motto remains the same as it was at age 18, "if there is height and adrenaline involved count me in!!"
Media Inquiries: Ted Fragulis or Rob Bronfeld at 212-714-1280.
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