The 2010 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will end where it all began on September 12 when Hawaii's 'Big Island' plays host to the sixth and final stop in this year's calendar.
After the last stop in Switzerland a week ago, the World Series makes a long-haul flight, with its final destination the small group of islands in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
It was in this tropical paradise that cliff diving began, with the last independent king of the island of Maui using the sport as a rite of passage for his warriors.
Hilo, on Hawaii's Big Island, will stage the grand final as 12 more brave athletes seek to prove their worth. Fittingly, a waterfall will provide the backdrop in this, the wettest city in the entire United States.
Leading by 19 points, with just 20 more up for grabs, Gary Hunt is all set to be crowned this year's winner. The brilliant Brit, who claimed his fourth win in five competitions in Switzerland, needs a solitary point to secure the title he has craved ever since finishing as runner-up in 2009.
“After last year I was very happy to be second, but being so close to first I really wanted to give myself every chance this year of being in that first position," he said. "So I’ve made sure that I’m a little bit more reserved, I take care in every aspect in my life and I just want to give myself every chance of being the champion.”
The only diver still capable of depriving him the win is last year's champion Orlando Duque, the Colombian who resides in Laie on the nearby Hawaiian island of Oahu.
Russian Artem Silchenko was Hunt's closest challenger until a week ago but his chances went up in smoke, or rather a splash, when he missed his second dive in Switzerland.
It is Hunt's to lose. However, despite needing only a point, there'll be no let up from the 26-year-old. Hunt is considering returning to the two and a half twisting quad, with running take-off, for the final competition and a stylish end to this year's Series is guaranteed.
For information about how you can win tickets to Sunday's competition visit our event page...
Dean Treml/Red Bull
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