In the classic event, competitors fly horizontally with their arms and legs extended until they hit the water, with no rotations.
[1] Competitors curl into a pike position (similar to a fetal position) just before entering the water, landing first with their feet and hands or knees and elbows to avoid serious injury; dives are judged on speed, air time, complexity, how long the diver holds the original pose, the closing and the splash.
In freestyle, the competitors do various tricks during the air travel, including rotations and flips.
The current world record in height is 44,3 meters and is held by Côme Girardot (FRA).
The current world record in freestyle death diving is held by Lucien Charlon (SUI) with a height of 41,7 meters.