Men’s Health Australia — September 2017

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TAKE THE PLUNGE

In the rarefied world of female cliff

diving, Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland

rules. Her advice on conquering fear

This has a name, which

means you’re not alone

and probably normal. It’s

called “high place

phenomenon,” says

clinical psychologist

Jennifer Hames. About

half of people likely

experience some

variation of this, she says.

“Some people might start

to notice their heart

racing or feel dizzy,”

Hames says. “In response

to that, their bodies react

and they back away from

the ledge or grasp a

railing tightly to keep

themselves safe. When

they realise that they

were actually safe the

entire time, they

conclude that they must

have wanted to jump.”

This all happens in a split

second. Most people who

experience this

phenomenon are feeling

their body’s survival

instinct kick in.

Why do I wonder

what it’d be like to

jump when I’m up

somewhere high?

66

Percentage of Australians

who said “involvement in

the local community” made

them happy. It was the top

response, trumping even

harmonious relationships

and financial confidence.

SOURCE RABODIRECT FINANCIAL

HEALTH BAROMETER 2017

You need a level head when

you’re leaping from a 20m

platform and pulling off all

manner of acrobatic tricks on

the way down. As the defending

champion in the 2017 Red Bull

Cliff Diving Championship, which

climaxes in Chile in October, the

sweet-natured Iffland is doing

this better than anyone. Her

secret? “I enjoy every single

minute of it,” says the 25-year-

old from Nords Wharf, NSW. “I

love it and want to be up there.”

MEN’S HEALTH: How did a nice

girl like you get into something as

risky as cliff diving?

RHIANNAN IFFLAND: I started

out as a diver and trampolinist

around age 10. Later on, I worked

on cruise ships putting on diving

shows, and on one ship they had

a 17.5m high-dive. I realised I

wanted to be up there.

Are you fearless by nature?

No. I’ve just learned to control my

thoughts – which anyone can do.

Though compared to most girls

my age, yeah, possibly. I do

carry the feelings and

experiences I get from

diving into everyday

life. Life’s there to

be taken on.

What’s your No. 1 tip for

controlling fear?

Before I step onto the platform,

there are many thoughts running

through my head and I’m quite

scared and nervous. But I always

find myself taking a moment of

nothingness. I clear my mind. I

look around at where I am and

think, this is really cool; I like this

place; it’s just me and the ocean.

After that, you put your toes over

the edge and dive right in. The

only thing in my head by then is

the take-off and what I have to

do in the air.

Do dives go wrong?

I haven’t had a horrible

experience as of yet. When it

does go wrong, it’s like belly-

flopping onto concrete. I did see

a bad one at the beginning of the

year. I hate to say it, but she was

coughing blood and damaged

on the inside.

How’s the spirit among the girls?

Really nice. We spend half the

year travelling to these amazing

locations and doing what we

love. There aren’t many of us – 15

to 20. We’re like a small family.

How long will you do this for?

For as long as my body will let

me. If my passion stays alive, I’ll

be doing it forever.

RANDOM QUESTIONS

Q Jack, what’s the most

common regret you hear

from old guys? Thomas

The same things as young guys:

I shoulda gone to uni, shoulda

got the degree, married the girl,

taken the job, sobered up before

I drove home, blah, blah, blah.

You can’t drive by looking in the

rearview mirror. And there are

lots of things no guy regrets. For

example, I never hear anybody

say, “If only I’d stolen more cars

and bought more lottery tickets”.

Q I still love my ex even

though I was the one who

broke it off. Now she has a

new boyfriend. How can I

get her back? Jack

Jack, I’ve given this advice so

many times it’s a joke: the only

way you can ever get a woman

to come to you is by walking

away. Nothing else works. Just

pack up your self-respect and

make a quiet exit. Who knows?

Some day she may call you –

right in the middle of dinner with

your wife and the kids.

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JACK THE

BARMAN

Straight-up advice on things

that drive men crazy