Diving in Stuðlagil Canyon without fear
Viktor Yngvi Ísaksson, a 19-year-old enthusiast in death diving. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
The 19-year-old risk-taker Viktor Yngvi Ísaksson made the bold decision to dive into Stuðlagil Canyon recently. He has been diving out in nature for three years and has gained considerable experience in his practice during that time.
“I’m traveling around the country, seeing lots of different places, and when I was there, it was just so beautiful and perfect for a jump, so I got into it,” he says when asked what led him to dive in this popular landmark.
Put his head in the water to assess the conditions
When asked how he can be sure of landing in the right place, Ísaksson says that he is usually with people, and one starts by diving down to the bottom of the lake and exploring the situation. As Ísaksson was alone this time, he stuck his head into the lake and saw that it was deep enough. He had also seen a video of a friend jumping from the same spot.
Ísaksson expected the water to be freezing when he landed but he says it was surprisingly moderate.
Double Icelandic Champion in Death Dives
“Well, I’ve been jumping from rocks for three years now. I’m now a double-Icelandic champion in death diving,” he says when asked if jumping from such a high altitude doesn’t require a lot of practice and experience.
According to Ísaksson, it looks like you’re about to hit your stomach when performing a death dive, but just before you touch the water, you close your body in a kind of sandwich, with your hands and feet coming together.
Always some stress but important to get ready for it
He says he was afraid of the sea before he started diving three years ago. Then he learned that there was an Icelandic competition in death diving and decided to try it, even though he had only three weeks to go. He didn’t have a long time to practice before this Icelandic tournament in a discipline he hadn’t competed in before.
“I trained every day and it was a huge success”
“Well, when you’re up to a certain height or you start doing certain tricks, you’re always getting stressed out, but you just need to get yourself ready for it,” he says.
He adds that he has never been to Stuðlagil Canyon before. “I just had to take advantage of this opportunity,” he says, “and Stuðlagil Canyon turned out to be a little higher than he had expected.”
Has been practicing parkour since the age of ten
However, Ísaksson has been practicing parkour for nine years, since he was nine years old.
He was also training in gymnastics and judo as a child but he didn’t feel free enough. As a child he was jumping from the roof and doing all kinds of tricks, and his mother suggested that he start practicing parkour.
Ísaksson has sprained his muscles and been hit on the head a few times, but says it goes with the territory.
Stuðlagil was higher than Ísaksson expected. mbl.is/Jón Pétur
Jumping from a height of 21 meters in Norway
This summer he competed in a death diving competition in Norway in front of thousands of spectators, where he jumped from a height of 12 metres. On the same trip, he and several of his compatriots jumped from a height of 21 meters.
When asked if he has any goals he wants to achieve, Ísaksson says he has at least five places he dreams of diving into and making some tricks in the air.
He says he doesn’t have one final dream, because as soon as he reaches one goal, he always wants to go further.
It’s important to believe in yourself
“Do your drills in the right conditions and rely on yourself. As soon as you rely on yourself, you can start doing this [jumping and diving] everywhere and whenever you jump, you strengthen both mentally and physically and become more ready for the next steps. Just keep going and find the right company,” he says when asked if he has any advice for those who are making their first steps in sport.
