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The Canadian Red Bull Cliff Diving athlete completed a backwards dive of approximately 15 metres off Newfoundland after months of ice-climbing and cold-water training with Will Gadd.
TWILLINGATE, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA – 22 October 2026: Canadian Red Bull athlete Molly Carlson has become the first woman to dive off a free-standing iceberg, completing a backwards dive of approximately 15 metres off the coast of Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada on June 11 2026.
The Red Bull Iceberg Dive project fulfilled a lifelong dream following months of preparation with fellow Canadian Red Bull athlete and ice-climbing great Will Gadd.
Watch Carlson complete her highest backwards dive to date in Red Bull Iceberg Dive on YouTube.
Context
Newfoundland’s coast receives an annual influx of thousands of icebergs drifting from the north, providing a setting markedly different from the varied 21-metre platforms Carlson encounters in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
The project required extensive planning, ice-climbing skills, wetsuit testing and cold-water preparation, alongside navigating dynamic ocean swells, iceberg movements and changing weather conditions.
Gadd served as Carlson’s guide and mentor, helping her build confidence and confront fears and anxieties throughout the preparation and attempt.
Key Facts
Athlete: Molly Carlson – Canada, 28 – Red Bull athlete
Achievement: First woman to dive off a free-standing iceberg
Project: Red Bull Iceberg Dive
Location: Off the coast of Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada
Dive: Backwards dive of approximately 15 metres
Personal Milestone: Carlson’s highest backwards dive to date
Preparation: Months of ice-climbing instruction, wetsuit testing, and cold-water training
Training Locations: Canmore, Alberta, and Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Ice-Climbing Guide: Will Gadd – Canada, 59 – Red Bull athlete
Support Team: Ocean Quest, Rick Stanley, Crosby Marine Film Services, Jason Crosby
Support Expertise: Ice climbing, marine safety, and cliff diving
Documentary: Available on YouTube
Performance Overview
Carlson began preparations in Canmore, Alberta, where Gadd provided a foundation in ice climbing.
She continued training in her Montréal home base, progressing to wetsuit tests and cold-water training.
Building confidence over several months, Carlson travelled with Gadd to Twillingate, Newfoundland, for the iceberg attempt.
The team navigated unpredictable ocean swells, iceberg movements and weather conditions, drawing on specialists with decades of experience across ice climbing, marine safety and cliff diving.
Carlson and Gadd climbed to the iceberg’s peak using a temporary rigging system installed by Gadd.
Carlson successfully executed a backwards dive of approximately 15 metres from the free-floating iceberg into the icy water.
Quotes
Molly Carlson, Red Bull Cliff Diving athlete: “Red Bull Iceberg Dive has been a dream for a long time, and it is by far the craziest and one of the scariest things I have ever done. Bravery, though, is not about getting rid of fear but about not letting it decide what you’re capable of. This iceberg challenge was about seeing how far I can push myself.”
“There’s something really powerful about an iceberg, you only see the small part above the surface while so much is hidden underneath. I think in many ways the same is true for our anxieties and our fears, they can often be hidden beneath the surface but still are very present and very real.”
Will Gadd, Red Bull athlete and ice climber: “I wouldn’t have done it if it was just about climbing an iceberg. The opportunity to help Molly do something beautiful and meaningful was what drew me to this project. I first climbed an iceberg 25 years ago, to be back at it again was an adventure!”
“This incredible feat of Red Bull Iceberg Dive was only possible due to the team of experts we assembled, with decades of experience across ice climbing, marine safety, and cliff diving. It’s our collective expertise and willingness to take a not insubstantial risk that saw this through.”
Rick Stanley, co-owner and president of Ocean Quest Adventures: “For more than 30 years I have worked around icebergs, and the only thing you can count on is their unpredictability. To the average person touring our coastline, we would never encourage breaking the safe line of distance, as these magnificent forces of nature may roll, calve, or move at any moment.”
“It is only because these are Red Bull athletes, who are incredibly skilled in what they do, and the full team assembled that this project was able to proceed in as safe a way as we could. It was an honour to welcome Molly and Will to Newfoundland and be a part of this exciting adventure.”
Jason Crosby, president of Crosby Marine Film Services: “Over the last few decades, our work has taken us to pretty unique waters. This was an incredible collective effort with different minds monitoring the ocean swells and berg movements to ensure Molly and Will could achieve this safely. We’re stoked to have been a part of this team and to see all that Molly and Will accomplished.”
Why It Matters
Red Bull Iceberg Dive marked a first for a woman diving from a free-standing iceberg and Carlson’s highest backwards dive to date. It combined cliff diving, ice climbing and marine expertise in an unpredictable environment, while extending Carlson’s focus on bravery and confronting fear.
The project depended on specialist planning and risk mitigation, with the support team emphasising that icebergs can roll, calve or move at any moment and that visitors should maintain a safe distance.
About the Athletes
Molly Carlson is a Canadian cliff diver and Red Bull athlete who finished runner-up in the 2026 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. She founded #BraveGang, a community of more than four million people that encourages sharing stories of bravery and supporting one another.
Will Gadd is a Canadian ice climber and Red Bull athlete with more than 30 years of experience and titles spanning the World Cup and Winter X Games. His current projects focus on creative challenges, applying his experience in high performance, resilience, and risk mitigation in low-knowledge environments to different locations around the world.
Learn More
Watch the full Red Bull Iceberg Dive video on YouTube
Discover the story behind Molly Carlson’s mental health movement
Listen to Molly Carlson explore the inner voices behind every leap in Mind Set Win
Keywords
Primary: Molly Carlson, Red Bull Iceberg Dive, Will Gadd
Achievement: first woman to dive off a free-standing iceberg, approximately 15-metre backwards dive, Carlson’s highest backwards dive
Contextual: Newfoundland, Canada, ice climbing, cold-water training, Red Bull Cliff Diving, BraveGang
Question-based: Who is the first woman to dive off a free-standing iceberg?, Where did Molly Carlson complete Red Bull Iceberg Dive?, How did Molly Carlson train for her iceberg dive?, What was Will Gadd’s role in Red Bull Iceberg Dive?
