Yes, beer was involved when Denver resident Darren Taylor won his “Professor Splash” credentials. On May 20, 2001, Taylor bet friends a case of beer that he could dive into an inflatable kiddie pool filled with 12 1/2 inches of water, and emerge alive. Since then, Taylor has eliminated half an inch of water, a Guinness World Records requirement, and set Guinness records in Italy, Spain, Japan, Germany and the U.S. Then Taylor landed in the latest edition of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” Claire Martin, The Denver Post
Q: About that beer in your inaugural high-dive: Was that before or after the dive?
A: Not during my dive. Afterward. Lots.
Q: Have you ever broken a bone in a dive?
A: Not during the 2001 jump, but three months later, I made a terrible judgment call during training for a 100-foot dive, and I broke my right foot. The heel came right off the foot, and had to be screwed back on and fused so I could walk again. It took four years to get back into the swing of things.
Q: No wonder your mom won’t watch you when you dive!
A: My mother wants nothing to do with this dive, ever. But she is very proud.
Q: Are there mattresses under the pool?
A: Guinness World Records will not sanction a shallow dive attempt without the 10-inch safety mat in place under the pool.
Q: Does it hurt when you hit the water?
A: I get real red after the dive. It hurts bad! Twice, I had the air knocked out of me for a good eight seconds. Tokyo, in ’07, knocked me out COLD for three seconds. I got it together and was able to jump out of the pool under my own power, a Guinness requirement.
Q: Crikey! How do you prepare yourself for the next time?
A: About an hour before the jump, I really get tough. I block out all distractions, and concentrate only on the positive aspects of the stunt.
Q: Like what?
A: Well, I turn black and blue on my legs and under my arms. My lower ribs are sore for weeks. It makes laughing a bit troublesome, but it is all good. I call it the Guinness Glow. There is no feeling like the fear before, or the elation at the conclusion.
Q: Do you have sponsors?
A: Not yet. They’re all scared away for the time being.
Q: What kind of swimsuit do you wear when you dive?
A: A wrestling singlet.
Q: Ever lost a suit on impact?
A: Thank God, I have not.
Q: Will you keep trying to go higher and higher?
A: No, there’s a physical limit. Once I record out, I’m gonna doctor it up. I’m a carny, OK? I learned to be a professional diver at Casa Bonita. I love show diving! The crowd contact! The stage presence! I’m gonna go on the stadium and fair circuit. I can’t wait!
