High Diving and Extreme Stunts

 

By Kenny Richards

I grew up in Huntington Beach California, were I began my thrill seeking quest for adrenaline at the ripe old age of 10. It was surfing that gave me the feeling of adrenaline and the confidence to trust in my skills to over come my fears.

In high school I took up wrestling, This sport taught me that it takes a lot more than natural talent to become successful. It's all the hard work and dedication above and beyond the rest of the competition that brought me the California state C.I.F. championship by the time I was a senior.

It was diving that sparked my career. I began diving during the off season of my wrestling career.

Springboard diving is the sport that gave me all the acrobatic and gymnastic skills one needs to become a good stunt man. It wasn't until I was a junior in college when I was recruited by the U.S. High Dive Team. I traveled the globe for 5 years performing 80 ft. high dives, in the US High Diving Team Stunt Shows at most of largest Theme Parks in the world. This is where I learned the challenging extreme sport of Cliff Diving. After a lot of hard work and dedication, I worked my way into the top class of elite professional high divers. I have competed in four professional High Diving Championships, which include.

*Silver Med. 1996 Mediterranean Cup X High Diving Championships.

*1996 Acapulco International Cliff Diving Championships.

*1997 Mediterranean Cup XI High Diving Championships.

*1998 Mediterranean Cup XII High Diving Championships.

Click on these photos below to view some of my high dives from over 85 ft.

 

 

I decided to expand on my abilities, so I went to work for other stunt companies and started to cross-train for different roles in different types of stunt shows. I've performed in stunt shows for eight years now, and performed in everything from Wild West Shows to Water Ski Shows.

Now I'm currently working at Universal Studios Hollywood, and perusing a stunt career in film.

If you have Real Player you can watch my streaming stunt video

by clicking below

If you dont have Real Video

Below are some quicktime movie clips of various stunts that you can view.