The athletes are just beginning their warm up dives, and here's how today's action will unfold -
13.25 - Women's 1st Round
13.40 - Women's 2nd Round
14.20 - Men's 1st Round
14.50 - Men's 2nd Round
Some unfortunate news for Ginger Huber. The American has had to pull out due to an injury.
A little delay getting started here, but the women will be underway with their 1st round dives shortly.
Here comes Anna Bader then to kick off the action. The German picks up just sixes for her Back 2 Somersaults 1 Twist.
Now, Helena Merten with her Reverse 1 Somersault. 8, 8.5, 7.5 from the judges, and that's a nice start for the Australian.
Rhiannan Iffland, returning from her knee injury last month, can only pick up 6.5, 6.5, 7 from the judges. Is that injury still troubling the defending champion?
Wildcard Yana Nestsiarava steps up to the 21m platform now for her Back Flying 1 Somersault. 6.5, 7, 7 and the Belarusian moves into second place as it stands.
Adriana Jimenez has a chance to take her first ever World Series title this weekend. Can the Mexican get off to a good start here?
Brilliant from Jimenez. 8, 8, 8.5 for her Inward 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist, and she fires herself into the lead.
Last up it's wildcard Jaki Valente. The Brazilian is up onto her hands for an Armstand Forward 1/2 Somersault. Very nice, 7, 7.5, 7.5 from the judges for that one.
Women's 1st Round results -
1- Adriana Jimenez (MEX) – 63.70
2- Helena Merten (AUS) – 62.40
3- Cesilie Carlton (USA) – 58.50
4- Jacqueline Valente (W) (BRA) – 57.20
5- Yana Nestsiarava (W) (BLR) – 53.30
6- Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) – 52.00
7- Anna Bader (W) (GER) – 46.80
It's straight into the second round dives for the women now. The men's first two rounds will follow after this.
It's not turning out to be a great day for Anna Bader. Low scores again for her Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist. 5.5, 5.5, 6
Helena Merten now with a Forward 3 Somersaults 1 1/2 Twists. Not bad, three sevens from the judges.
Rhiannan Iffland steps for her second dive of the day. Can she improve on that first effort?
A little better from Iffland. She picks up 7, 7, 6.5 for her Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist, but we're used to seeing much higher scores from the Australian.
7.5, 7.5, 8 for Yana Nestsiarava, but Cesilie Carlton follows that with just fours from the judges.
Adriana Jimenez has a chance to turn up the heat on Iffland here, but her Reverse 3 Somersaults doesn't go well and she picks up just fives for that.
Jaki Valente steps up for the final dive of this second round. It's a difficult Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists, and the Brazilian fails to nail it. Just threes for that one.
Women's standings after Round 2 -
1- Helena Merten (AUS) – 144.30
2- Yana Nestsiarava (W) (BLR) – 140.70
3- Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) – 129.90
4- Adriana Jimenez (MEX) – 122.20
5- Anna Bader (W) (GER) – 104.60
6- Cesilie Carlton (USA) – 99.30
7- Jacqueline Valente (W) (BRA) – 95.90
So, lots of ladies struggling in these cold and wet conditions next to the crashing waterfall. Merten and Nestsiarava were the only stand out performers on day one. Let's see how the men can do.
The men will have 20 minutes of warm up dives now before they get their first round underway. Stick with us for updates.
Just a little update on the women's overall standings. If things were to stay the same as they are now after Saturday's final rounds, Iffland would win the title by 10 points from Merten. So don't rule out the reigning champion yet. She knows there are no heroics needed here, just to keep her dives solid and she'll be crowned champion once again. Merten will hope to keep the lead and that Rhiannan drops at least a place after the next two rounds. What an exciting final we have in store on Saturday.
Apologies for the delay, we're just waiting to hear when the men will begin their dives.
Due to severe conditions the decision was taken by the sports committee to postpone the men’s first two rounds on Friday afternoon. All remaining rounds for men and women will now take place on Saturday.
On Friday the women completed their first two rounds here at Lago Ranco, and it's Helena Merten who leads at the half way stage, with defending champion Rhiannan Iffland in third. Adriana Jimenez is in fourth, and all three could still take home the King Kahekili trophy today. The men's first rounds were postponed due to severe conditions, and they'll need to complete all four rounds today. Gary Hunt, Jonathan Paredes and Blake Aldridge all still have their eyes on the title.
The men are just finishing their warm up dives, and will begin their first round very shortly
Russian wildcard Nikita Fedotov will get the men's first round underway. Fedotov had an amazing debut in Mostar a few weeks ago, making the podium at his first attempt. How will he do here?
What a start from the 22-year-old. He nails his Forward Flying 1 Somersault, picking up 8.5, 8.5, 8 from the judges.
The men are not hanging around here, the dives are coming thick and fast as they try to squeeze their first two rounds into the busy schedule. Americans Kyle Mitrione, Steven LoBue and Andy Jones have all completed their dives, but none of them score above 7 and Fedotov still comfortably leads the way.
Jonathan Paredes lights things up though with three 8.5s from the judges. The Mexican edges ahead of Fedotov.
Here comes the title-chasing Gary Hunt. And it's a spectacular dive from the Brit - 9, 9, 8.5. Just the start he needed to calm any nerves in this title showdown.
Just three divers left in this men's first round, and Hunt still leads the way. Fellow Brit Blake Aldridge is up on the platform next.
Very nice from Aldridge. Three eights and he's happy with that start.
We've just heard that David Colturi has pulled out of the action due to an injury. It's been a great season for the American after returning from shoulder surgery last year, let's hope he's fit again soon and back in action next season.
Michal Navratil wraps up the first round with a wonderful Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist. 8, 8, 8.5 for the Czech showman as he targets his first podium of the season.
Here are the men's standings after round one -
1- Gary Hunt (GBR) – 74.20
2- Jonathan Paredes (MEX) – 71.40
3- Nikita Fedotov (W) (RUS) - 70.00
4- Michal Navratil (CZE) – 68.60
5- Blake Aldridge (GBR) – 67.20
5- Sergio Guzman (MEX) – 67.20
7- Alessandro De Rose (W) (ITA) – 65.80
8- Kris Kolanus (POL) – 63.00
9- Miguel Garcia (W) (COL) – 61.60
10- Orlando Duque (COL) – 58.80
10- Steven LoBue (USA) – 58.80
12- Kyle Mitrione (W) (USA) - 57.40
12- Andy Jones (USA) - 57.40
We're already half way through the men's second round now, as they power through the dives that were postponed on Friday. Paredes is into the lead after an immaculate Forward 3 Somersaults 1 1/2 Twists which scored him three nines. Hunt could only take 7.5s for his second dive and currently sits in second place.
De Rose bumps Hunt down to third place with a superb dive that earns the Italian 8.5, 8.5, 9 from the judges and moves into second behind Paredes. Blake Aldridge can only score sixes though and that could well mean the end of his title challenge this season.
The 2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series reaches its conclusion in Lago Raco, Chile this weekend, with three men and three women still in contention for the title. Everything will come down to the final dives, so stay with us right here for live updates.
3 & 1/2 hours of competition in the cold waters of Chile. When the going gets tough... #redbullcliffdivingby Gary Hunt via twitter 10/21/2017 3:52:42 PM
