The opening of the DØDS Diving World League Tour in Charlotteville, Tobago, is being hailed as a success.
Already, organisers are seeing the extreme sport being embraced in a way that could result in a permanent fixture on the Tobago event calendar.
Bringing this event to Tobago was no easy feat, but Head of Sport and Media at DØDS Federation, Stine Brun Kjeldaas, is impressed at how Tobagonians, especially Charlotteville residents, have embraced them.
“Which is really cool. I am saying hi to everyone when I am walking down the street. I feel like it’s a really positive energy, the whole vibe. I feel like everyone is very inclusive, we see that everybody gets involved, everyone wants to take part in it and have fun.”
Over 20 divers from Norway, Finland, and the United States participated in Saturday’s competition, along with Tobagonians.
DØDS Coach and diving competitor Simen Fisk was impressed by the local competitors.
“They got so much speed and power out of the tower, and then they doing the trick with that. I can’t wait for the competition to see them, I am proud. Coach is proud.”
Divers were judged in two categories: the first being a freestyle round and the second being a one-vs-one battle against each other.
Even though the Tobagonian divers did not win on Saturday, they certainly made an impression on the international community.
Coach Simen Fisk is excited to see more Tobagonians get into the extreme sport.
“We need to build some towers in Tobago, like five-metre platforms and stuff like that so they can practise so the next time we come, we have, like, one hundred divers. So we need more platforms. Please, please, build some platforms.”
Stine Brun Kjeldaas has already confirmed that DØDS Diving will return to Charlotteville in 2027.
“I am saying to the Tobagonians, thank you so much for having us, thank you for supporting us and our event, and we can’t wait to come back again next year.”