Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series begins in St. Pete

• It's also the event's first-ever stop in Florida.

Driving the news: The two-day competition kicks off Friday from 12:30pm to 2:15pm at the St. Pete Pier and continues Saturday from 1pm to 2:45pm.

• Fans will be able to watch from multiple vantage points along the St. Pete Pier and the surrounding waterfront.
• The event is free and is expected to draw thousands of spectators.

How it works: Twenty-four athletes will dive from heights of up to 70 feet for women and 90 feet for men, and hit speeds of more than 50 mph in just three seconds of free fall before plunging into the water.

• Everyone gets four dives apiece, with scores based on execution, synchronization and artistic impression.

The big picture: St. Petersburg is the second of six stops on this year's World Series circuit, which spans three continents.

• The season opened in Bali, Indonesia, in May. After St. Petersburg, divers will head to Copenhagen, Denmark; Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Polignano a Mare, Italy; and finally, to Muscat, Oman.