Back in August, 27-year-old Lazaro “Laso” Schaller leapt into the record books after achieving the Highest dive from a diving board, and simultaneously the Highest cliff jump.
 
In the breath-taking beautiful setting of Maggia, Ticino, Switzerland, the fearless canyoner threw himself feet-first off a 58.8 m (192 ft 10 in) rock face – that’s higher than Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa (56.71 m) or the equivalent of a 17 storey building.
 
highest-cliff-jump-portrait
Red Bull ©
 
Months preparation went into this challenge. Schaller and his team had to build a permanent, flat and rigid diving board, and the water below had to be explored using scuba gear to ensure Laso would be safe to jump into it.
The cliff jumper broke the previous record by almost five metres, which was accomplished by Olivier Favre (Switzerland) at Villers-le-Lac, France back in 1987.
 
highest-cliff-jump-laso 
Red Bull ©
 
Laso, who was born in Brazil and raised in Switzerland, regularly participates in high-dive shows and is extremely experienced in this potentially dangerous sport – this is a record that should only be attempted with extreme caution and the proper training.
 
Six tanks were in the 8 m pool to aerate the water and soften Laso’s landing, but he slightly overshot and hurt his leg and hip.
 
highest-cliff-jump-at-bottom
Red Bull ©
 
In spite of this, he was thrilled with the result, having challenged his personal boundaries and secured a place in the history of cliff jumping by achieving an incredible new Guinness World Records title.