Red Bull Flugtag Brings Chicagoans Back to North Avenue Beach

Smurfs, Santas and Mike Ditka(?) Invade the Windy City

More than 75,000 Chicagoans flocked to North Avenue Beach today to witness 28 homemade, human-powered machines take to the skies at Red Bull Flugtag. Although no flight records were shattered, expectations surely were with an impressive array of vehicles, uniquely talented dancers and an international cast of characters (thank you Canadian team for adding a global perspective). Team Crustacean Avengers took first place with a gravity-defying flight of 120 feet coupled with a skit including one very angry lobster that finally got his revenge on the snotty Swedish chef.

Chicago's own New Style Flyers flew into second place donning large baseball bobble heads and carrying bats saluting both their favorite beer and sporting team (Chicago Cubs of course!) "We got everyone behind us from day one, but it isn't until you actually come out here and experience Red Bull Flugtag -- it's unreal," stated a New Style Flyers team member.

Taking a very close third place was Pie in the Sky, a team that chose to honor the famed deep-dish pizza, a craft that caused the crowd to roar in approval. Take that New York City! Today also saw Chicago win another long standing rivalry...Chicago Black Hawks VS. Detroit Red Wings. As it should be, the Chicago Black Hawks scored higher. Unfortunately, the Detroit Red Wings still have the Stanley Cup.

FIRST CLASS CABIN PASSENGERS ONLY

While Red Bull Flugtag is a flying competition, teams needed flare to make the podium. BMX biker and recent bronze medalist Jill Kintner, multi-platinum R&B singer Avant, basketball star Shannon Brown, X Games Gold Medalist, Levi LaVallee, Gaming superstar, David "Walshy" Walsh and ex-Chicago Bear footballer, Jerry Azumah scored the participants on their creativity and showmanship.

"I've seen a lot of characters going nuts up there, and the crashes have been phenomenal! I saw so many people lawn dart and face plant and destroy their carts. This is crowd is impressive, and I'm having fun," stated Kintner.

UP, UP AND ....A-SPLASH?

The first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1991. Since then, more than 70 Red Bull Flugtags have been held around the world -- from Ireland to San Francisco -- attracting more than 1 million spectators. The record for the farthest flight to date currently stands at 195 feet set in 2000 at Red Bull Flugtag Austria. The U.S. record stands at 155 feet set just last year at Red Bull Flugtag Nashville.

Chicago marked the third and final stop on this year's Red Bull Flugtag national tour. The event visited Tampa Bay on July 19, Portland on August 2.

While there has never been a limit on creativity, there were a few rules and regulations. First off, all flying machines had to be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power). Secondly, all crafts had to be less than 30 feet wide. And finally, no matter what they say, size does matter -- all crafts had to weigh no more than 450 lbs. (including the pilot).

For media information including interviews, please contact Jen Belongia at (312) 320-6260 or jennifer.belongia@us.redbull.com. For hi resolution photos visit www.redbull-photofiles.com.