2003 Flugtag Day
Sponsored By Red Bull
This was the official site for the 2003 Flugtag Day held on the piers in San Francisco. Sponsered by RedBull, teams were challenged to build 'flying machines' and try to fly them over the bay.
Attended by an estimated crowd of 35,000 spectators "Flugtag" (Fly Day in German) was hosted by the sports energy drink company Red Bull. Held as a one-day event on October 25, the weather in San Francisco was an unbelieveable 90 degrees, with perfect blue skies. This event was once again held on piers 30-32, just below the Bay Bridge, using ports on the north side of the docks. This is a genuinely fun event that I attended with friends who had insisted I visit them specifically so we could all attend. My friend Jill is studying for the bar exam - she's interning for a Louisiana maritime law practice, working both in the office as a paralegal while also posting content on their site and managing their internet presence. She's hoping to work as a Louisiana maritime attorney representing maritime workers injured on the job and helping them recover medical and financial support from the large companies that hire them. She's also an avid hang glider so was super psyched for this festival - there were actually a number of hang glider based efforts among the participants. Some seemed realistic, and others were just insane but all were very entertaining. I got to hang with my buds so it was certainly worth the trip. The event was magnificent, hilarious, and down right crazy. Once I was back home life settled down and I enjoyed looking at all the pics and videos I took at Flugtag Day. A moment in time I will never forget!
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Saturday October 25, 2003
Pier 30-32
Opens 11AM
First Flight 1PM
It's in! The final teams have been selected to participate in Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco!
So put down your hammers and put on your thinking caps... it's time to check out the competition!
This is the list of all participating teams. Get a first hand look at a truncated number of team bios, blueprints, and the futile plans of those vying for infamy at Red Bull Flugtag!
Flugtag 2003 San Francisco Champions, El Toro Guapo
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American Flyer
Around the World
Arseforce One
Bad Medicine
Big Wheel Launcher
Bug Juice
Carriage of Carnage
Da Mayor’s Pimp Hat
Demoisselle
Drunk Knights in the Marina
Earhart Express
El Toro Guapo
Fallon’s Flying Butterfly
Fearless Flyer
Flight of the Booty Bee
Fly Ditarod
Lemon Meringue Sky
Lord Drakons Cold Air Zeppelin
Monty Smurf’s Flying Circus
Persian Immersion
Project S.T.O.L.
Psycho Chicken
Red Alert
Rock Lobster
Running of the Red Bulls
Snoop’s Dogg House
Snowy Hella-Skier
Soaring Saguaros
SS Newton
Super Paper Airplane II Turbo
The Amazing Flying Jay Show
The Courage Cannon
Wet Dreamers
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Some of the Teams
Team Name: Red Alert
Pilot: Alan Tang
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
To most of us, the name Red Alert brings up images of panic, flashing lights, people running about preparing for some serious crap about to go down. Alan Tang, captain of Team Red Alert, is not like most of us. “We’re named Red Alert because we’re going to have a snowboard with wings,” he explains. Hmm, you might ask what this might have to do with “red” or “alert”? “Oh yeah, we’re going to have something relating to color too, like, a scene.” Yes, sure, a scene relating to color, ok. And is there anything “alerting” about the scene? “No, not really. It’s going to be a bunch of stuff going on, like a combination,” Tang explains. Ok, lets say we’ll just stop there.
As the concept of Team Red Alert is a bit, shall we say, “abstract,” so is the team’s “flying machine.” Protruding from the sides of an old snowboard will be “30 foot wings” and a “tail section.” Three team members will be in front of the Red Alert winged snowboard, each pulling it off the pier then serving as the ballast for a “contraption” that will hoist Tang into the air – and straight into the bay.
If this all sounds a little risqué? Nay! Consider that this team’s previous design was to build a giant cross with wings, mounting Tang Jesus-like to its front, and flinging him into the bay. Sacrilegious and offensive you might say? What’s stranger is that Team Red Alert are all devoted Christians who met through their community church. “Yeah, we thought people might take it the wrong way, like view it as blasphemous.” Hmmm, we have no idea why anyone would think that.
But alas. We digress. We are not hear to talk about previous digressions – we’re hear to talk about how Red Alert plans to win Flugtag with their new craft. “We don’t plan to win,” Tang says in a particularly revealing moment. But do they plan to fly? “Definitely! At least we pray that we will.” And so do we brothers and sisters, so do we.
(Alan Tang, Antonio Xavier, Maggie Chan, Serena Leung, William Kong all live in San Francisco)
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Team Name: Psycho Chicken
Pilot: Rob Innes
Hometown: Redding, CA
Anyone who has seen the movie Babe knows the skinny about life on the farm. All animals live in terror of being the next blue plate special, and the very lowest in that morbid pecking order is the chicken. It’s enough to make a bird go bonkers.
The Fools, a Boston-based band, revealed the mental travails of poultry with their 1979 single “Psycho Chicken,” a parody of the Talking Heads hit “Psycho Killer.” And now, two decades and a continent away, Team Psycho Chicken will parody that parody at Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco.
Psycho Chicken – qu’est que c’est? “The song offers clues to those with the patience to study its complex lyrics,” opines team pilot Rob Innes. “For example: ‘Colonel Sanders wants to cook his goose/ but Psycho Chicken is still on the loose.’ Sure, it’s good versus evil. But might it also be an indictment of bio-engineered foodstuffs?” He manages to keep a straight face for about five seconds and then gives the scenario:
A chicken with an expandable, 15-foot wingspan (Innes) is stalked by “Colonel Sanders” (Tom Rowe), and “Farmer Dan” (Dan Piazza). Fearing that he’s next in line to become Extra Crispy, the bird flips out and turns the tables; e.g., the hunters become the hunted. Just before carnage ensues, Psycho Chicken realizes that murdering his tormentors would take him from life in a pen to life in the pen; so he simply wets their appetite by chasing the duo off Pier 30/32.
Actually, the whole team is familiar with flight – in water. The Redding-based buddies design and build “bionic dolphins”: nimble submarines that literally fly though the water. (Dr. Evil used one of their dolphins in Austin Powers in Goldmember. See pictures at www.innespace.com.) Innes isn’t sure the team’s professional skills will translate into hang time for their chicken, but he’s thinking positive: “We are supremely confident that our bionic chicken will fly at least as well as the real thing.”
(The Psycho Chicken team consists of Rob Innes [pilot], Dan Piazza, and Tom Rowe. Although Innes hails originally from New Zealand, all three team members currently reside in Redding, California.)
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Team Name: Drunk Knights in the Marina
Pilot: Ben Jennings
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Every San Francisco neighborhood has a unique character. North Beach brims with Italian heritage. The Haight is renowned for its counterculture vibe. And Chinatown is world-famous for, well, Chinese stuff. But the Marina District is the playground of young professionals. The Marina’s grocery store is known as a “meat market” not for its butcher shop, but for the singles trolling its produce department. The Marina, friends, has one simple motto: Work hard. Play harder.
So who better to represent The Marina at Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco than five successful businessmen who’ve spent their formative nights at neighborhood waterholes? We’re talkin’ about guys who are trilingual, if you count “Drunk Fool” as a dialect. We’re talkin’ about guys who aren’t nearly the jackasses this write-up is making them out to be.
Meet Team Drunk Knights in The Marina.
“From extreme sports to extreme partying, we’ve done it all,” says team captain Ben Jennings. “At work or at play, we’re always taking it to the next level.”
Actually, the five friends do a lot more than party in their spare time. Jennings, at 6’8”, is a dominant basketball player who also shares ownership in a racecar. Team pilot Michael King is a part-time actor who recently starred in a TV pilot. Teammates Brad Massey and John Lusk have both played semi-pro soccer, though Massey fills the off-season with triathlons, while Lusk penned the book The MouseDriver Chronicles. And Brendan King is a trained Irish dancer who can cut a mean jig.
But enough about them. What about their entry? The lads will be constructing a 30-foot dragon. Dressed as knights, they’ll chivalrously lead the beast right off Pier 30/32 to cool its fiery breath in the soothing waters of the Bay.
Why a dragon? Jennings has the answer: “We figured a dragon would be much easier to conquer than the wily female creatures of The Marina District. You’d be amazed at the peril a man can encounter post 2:00 a.m.!”
(The Drunk Knights in The Marina team consists of Ben Jennings [captain], Michael King [pilot], Brendan King, John Lusk, and Brad Massey. They live in San Francisco and the south suburbs.)
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Team Name: Around the World
Pilot: Holly Albert
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Around the World Team Captain Adam Albert has a three-year history with Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco. “The first year, our team was Bull Rings and we won. Last year, we didn’t even place. But this year, we’re going to go very, very far,” he says confidently. “We understand that the current Flugtag distance record is 195 feet. We will shatter this record.”
How can he be so sure? Well, Team Around the World has more minds at work than most Red Bull Flugtag teams—twelve so far, three of whom are engineers. Another great resource is eighty-year-old Roy Clough, a writer who brings over fifty years of airplane experience to the table. “His magazine articles have appeared in everything from Air Trails in 1951, to Model Airplane News in 2003,” says Albert. “He sent us the model for the propulsion system we’ll be using this year. It’s a pedal powered propeller. Try saying that three times fast!”
Around the World was originally a helium-filled sphere, but helium goes against the rules, so now the World is flat, “a large 18 foot diameter dinner plate,” as Albert describes it, with a bicycle underneath it. And who will power the pedal that makes this world go around? Albert’s petite wife Holly has volunteered her services. Albert himself is too large for the job. “I’m 6’4” and 220 lbs.,” confides Albert. “She’s 5’1” and weighs… wait, am I going to get in trouble here?” Okay, let’s just say she’s a lot lighter than 220.
Preflight antics have yet to be determined, but Albert states, “I have already vetoed the idea of all of us singing ‘It’s A Small World After All.’” If, in addition to keeping the world safe from that kind of thing, Around the World manages to do what Albert says and fly two hundred feet, you’ll be glad you were there.
(Team Around the World consists of Holly Abert, Adam Albert, Maureen Lovan, Wendell Lovan, Bill McBride, Felita Fox, Brian Fox, Roy Clough, John Kanalakis, Lourdes Adrondo, Arlene Shimabukuro, and Jeff Chamberlain.
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Team Name: American Flyer
Pilot: Charles Carter
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Spectators catching a glimpse of the American Flier team at Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco will likely think that the entry’s name is a typo. With an aircraft in the shape of an old-time fire engine, and a crew composed entirely of bona fide firemen, shouldn’t the moniker be American Fire?
“Well, sure,” answers team pilot Charlie Carter good-naturedly. “But isn’t the point of this whole thing to fly?”
As a firefighting professional of 35 years, Carter is a natural at organizing his brothers from the San Jose Fire Department into a fearsome Flugtag contender. John Diquisto, Gill Moralas, Mike Tapia, and Rich Toledo will be helping Carter launch a replica of a Victorian-era, steam-pumper fire engine, pulled by a highly untraditional team of horses: sea horses. Because the underwater creatures are notoriously unreliable on land, Carter will speed them along by pedaling a concealed bicycle.
The 62-year-old pilot should be plenty fit for pedaling – he recently returned from the World Police and Fire Games in Barcelona, Spain, where he competed in four cycling events and came away with silver and bronze medals. He also took fifth place in the 40-story stairclimb. But as proud as he is of these achievements, he explains that this Flugtag entry isn’t all about him, or even all about firefighters. “We’ve agreed that if we win any prize money, we’re going to donate a substantial portion of it to send kids to Burn Camp,” Carter relates, noting that the camp offers programs where young burn survivors can get together and enjoy fun summer activities in a supportive environment.
To seal the deal, Carter promises plenty of exciting surprises for spectators on Flying Day, and though he doesn’t want to give too much away to his competition, he offers one small hint. “The San Francisco fire boat is stationed only a few blocks from Pier 30/32, and I’ve got a call in to see if it’s available on October 25.”
(The American Flier team consists of Charlie Carter [captain and pilot], John Diquisto, Gill Moralas, Mike Tapia, and Rich Toledo. All are San Jose, California, firefighters.)
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Team Name: Snoop’s Dogg House
Pilot: Cu Mai
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
“We wanted something big, original, and cool,” explains Cu Mai, team captain of Snoop’s Dogg house. “So we brainstormed a bunch and came up with Snoopy – we’re going to have a big dog house, you know, using the Red Baron theme.” All right, sounds great. But what we want to know is where does Snoop Dogg come into all of this? Can we expect a little 187in’ on undercover cops? any gin and juice? any Dogg Pound thuggin’? Cu Mai sounds perplexed. “Well, we’re using Snoop Dogg in the team name, isn’t that enough?” Perhaps it is, Cu, perhaps it is.
Though he is sketchy on the details, Mai insists his plan is grade A. “We’re first going to dance around, you know. Then we’re going to get the dog house, which will have wings sprouting from its roof, on this ramp. From there our strategy is to get the dog house in the air, you know, so that it can fly.” Yes indeed, getting the craft in the air is a noble strategy, especially for a flying contest.
But Flugtag ain’t just judged on flying – it’s judged on creativity too. And in this category, we wonder why Snoop’s Dogg House is tied so tightly to the Snoopy thing, seems like the crowd would really dig some old school Snoop Dogg stylings, yes? Mai claims he’s way ahead of us: “By using Snoop Dogg in our name, we’re putting a twist on our design.” Great, but, we hesitate to ask (again!) why just use the name when you could incorporate Snoop Dogg himself? “No way, we haven’t really thought of that…that’s might be a good idea!”
Claiming they will go “50, or over 60 feet” in their Snoopy Dogg House, the team -- who all met a few years ago at San Jose State University – sees in their plans imminent victory. “Yeah, and when we win, we’re gunna have a fat ass party.” Perhaps they’ll make Snoop Dogg proud after all.
(T.J. Chen, Jimmy Cheung, Pamela Santos and Darin Woon live in San Francisco.)
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Team Name: Soaring Saguaros
Pilot: Samual Maples
Hometown: Glendale, AZ
When you think of a cactus (c’mon, don’t tell us you never daydream about cacti), the variety that probably comes to mind is the Saguaro. It’s the classic, tall, spiny desert cactus, with arms that reach for the sky like a horse rustler caught by the sheriff. It’s also incredibly valuable to desert inhabitants. With a lifespan approaching 150 years, this giant can reach 50 feet in height and weigh over 10 tons, offering both fruit and a home to animals.
The Soaring Saguaro team from Glendale, Arizona, has found an entirely new use for the sizable succulent, however: they’re turning it into an airplane.
“We’re going for a Western theme,” says 16-year-old team pilot Sam Maples, explaining that their 20-foot cactus replica will be the centerpiece of a skit involving a multi-generational team. Sam will be joined on the Red Bull Flugtag San Francisco flight deck by friends Jose Cano and Thomas Wyatt, as well as his uncles Scot Cummins and Willy Barish – all clad in old-fashioned, flap-bottomed long johns.
The entry was Sam’s idea, but friends and relatives were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Those that don’t appear in the skit will be cheering on the sidelines; even Sam’s grandmother is making the trip.
In fact, Sam’s family members seem to have a great deal of confidence in the aerodynamics of the cactus craft, but its pilot is more circumspect. “My mom thinks we have a good chance,” Sam says sheepishly, “But I have no idea. I never planned on winning – I just thought it would be fun.” Given that the Ironwood High School student has already exhausted such local entertainments as jumping off rooftops, firing off “an unthinkable amount of combustibles,” and riding off on everything from office chairs to motorcycles, he’s probably right.
If the team does take home a prize, Uncle Scot has a plan for the cash: a scholarship fund. Sam adds quickly, “And definitely a party, too!”
(The Soaring Saguaro team consists of Sam Maples [pilot]; Willy Barish; Jose Cano, Scot Cummins, and Thomas Wyatt. Barish resides in New Jersey. The rest of the team live in Arizona [Glendale and Phoenix].)
More Background On FlugtagSF.com
FlugtagSF.com served as the dedicated online home for the 2003 Red Bull Flugtag event held on Piers 30–32 in San Francisco. Though the website is no longer maintained, archived versions and external information sources provide a clear picture of its once-active role in communicating event details, promoting participating teams, and building excitement for one of Red Bull’s most whimsical, high-energy aviation-themed public spectacles. Flugtag events—meaning “Fly Day” in German—are known globally for their blend of creativity, comedy, engineering experimentation, and entertainment. The San Francisco edition maintained that spirit while adding its own flavor, energy, and distinctive Bay Area personality.
The site documented the one-day event held on October 25, 2003, a date remembered for unusually warm weather and massive turnout. Estimates consistently place attendance at approximately 35,000 spectators, all gathering along the waterfront and on the pier structure to witness a procession of homemade flying machines being pushed off a ramp extending over San Francisco Bay. FlugtagSF.com functioned not only as a promotional tool but also as a public archive of team biographies, construction concepts, flight strategies, and humorous narratives attached to each entry.
While the event itself was temporary, the website played an important role in capturing the cultural atmosphere, event organization, competitors, and broader community engagement surrounding Flugtag San Francisco. Through archive records and secondary sources, a comprehensive portrait emerges of the website’s content, its objectives, and its broader significance within both the Red Bull brand ecosystem and the city’s major event landscape.
Ownership and Purpose of the Website
FlugtagSF.com appears to have been affiliated with the broader Red Bull Flugtag promotional network, created specifically for the 2003 San Francisco event. Like many Red Bull micro-sites from the early 2000s, the domain likely served as a custom marketing asset rather than an independently owned property. Its purpose was to provide:
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Event schedules and location details
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Participant team lists and profiles
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Photos, sketches, and blueprints of flying machines
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Rules and guidelines for entry
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A publicity channel for the event’s sponsors
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A platform to build hype and community engagement
Red Bull, already known for its aggressive and creative promotional strategies, utilized event-specific websites across cities worldwide. FlugtagSF.com fit squarely within this pattern: flashy, entertaining, informative, and designed to support brand visibility through spectacle.
Location and Proximity Significance
The San Francisco event took place at Piers 30–32, a familiar waterfront structure located just south of the Bay Bridge. This location served several advantages:
1. High Public Visibility
The piers sit along the Embarcadero, one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors, especially on weekends. Nearby points of interest include:
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The Ferry Building
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Oracle Park
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Rincon Park
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The Bay Bridge anchorage
This meant foot traffic, public transit access, and scenic value were exceptionally strong.
2. Deep Water Access
The flying machines—most of which humorously plummeted straight into the water—required a safe landing zone. The deep bay waters off the piers provided optimal conditions.
3. Maritime Infrastructure
The site’s proximity to local fire boats and rescue teams enhanced safety. As highlighted in event content, organizers coordinated closely with waterfront emergency services.
4. Visibility for Passing Traffic
Drivers crossing the Bay Bridge and boats navigating the Bay had clear views of the festivities, further amplifying exposure.
FlugtagSF.com highlighted these advantages through its maps, directions, and location information, helping visitors plan their attendance and experience.
Popularity and Cultural Reception
The 2003 San Francisco Flugtag was widely praised as one of the most entertaining and successful Red Bull events on the West Coast at the time. Massive attendance and strong media coverage underscored its popularity.
Why It Drew Such Large Crowds
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San Francisco’s culture is uniquely suited to creative spectacle
The city has long supported offbeat festivals—Bay to Breakers, How Weird Street Faire, Carnaval, and others—making Flugtag a natural addition. -
Red Bull’s global reputation for adventurous events
Fans were familiar with the brand’s extreme sports initiatives, and Flugtag was promoted heavily in nightlife and sports communities. -
Spectator participation vibe
Flugtag events are not passive; crowds cheer, react, and celebrate the successes and comical failures of each launch. -
Diverse team backgrounds
The teams included firefighters, engineers, artists, students, sports enthusiasts, and even professional builders of aquatic “bionic dolphins,” making the field of competitors compelling to watch.
Goals of the Website and Event
FlugtagSF.com emphasized several thematic goals:
1. Encourage creativity
Teams were encouraged to construct unique, imaginative flying devices. Many submissions were whimsical rather than aerodynamic.
2. Showcase community participation
The website featured dozens of team bios, highlighting local involvement.
3. Promote Red Bull’s brand identity
Flugtag aligns perfectly with Red Bull’s image: energetic, unconventional, fearless, and humorous.
4. Provide logistical clarity
Schedules, directions, start times, and rules ensured spectators and participants understood the event flow.
5. Celebrate performance as much as flight
Judging was based not only on distance but also creativity and showmanship.
Team Profiles and Creative Concepts
One of the most compelling aspects of FlugtagSF.com was its extensive catalog of team information. The website showcased dozens of teams—ranging from the serious to the bizarre—each bringing highly individualized themes, costumes, and contraptions.
Below are several curated examples drawn from site archives and additional historical accounts.
Team Highlights and Notable Themes
El Toro Guapo – Event Champions
This team was crowned the overall winner of the 2003 San Francisco Flugtag. Their flying machine combined comedic flair with a surprisingly effective design. While many teams emphasized theatricality, El Toro Guapo delivered both performance and measurable flight distance.
Team Red Alert
Known for their conceptual unpredictability, Team Red Alert designed a winged snowboard with massive wings and a tail section. Despite unusual mechanics, the team prioritized fun over aerodynamics. Their background as a church-based group added humorous contrast to their original (and ultimately scrapped) idea of a crucifix-shaped flying machine.
Team Psycho Chicken
Inspired by pop-culture references and comedic chaos, Team Psycho Chicken built a giant chicken with an expandable 15-foot wingspan. Their pre-launch skit dramatized a battle between the chicken and characters modeled after Colonel Sanders and Farmer Dan. Team members had professional experience building “bionic dolphins”—submersible vehicles used in film productions—which added technical depth to their humorous presentation.
Drunk Knights in the Marina
Representing San Francisco’s Marina District, this team embraced a nightlife-infused identity. Their 30-foot dragon highlighted craftsmanship, theatricality, and team performance. Members had diverse athletic backgrounds—semi-pro soccer, triathlons, Irish dancing, racing—bringing an amusing mix of skills to their airborne dragon stunt.
Around the World
Led by Adam and Holly Albert, this team incorporated engineering expertise and mentorship from aviation writer Roy Clough. Their pedal-powered propeller system attempted a serious attempt at breaking the Flugtag distance record. Their craft, styled as an 18-foot “dinner plate world,” embodied both whimsy and engineering ambition.
American Flyer
A team of San Jose firefighters constructed a Victorian-era fire engine with sea-horse “motors.” Their mission also incorporated philanthropy: they pledged to donate prize money to a burn camp for children. The team blended community service, athletic conditioning, and creative design.
Snoop’s Dogg House
Combining the Snoopy doghouse and Snoop Dogg’s name for comedic effect, this team built a winged doghouse. While details were intentionally vague and humorous, their commitment to entertainment made them crowd favorites. Their intention to celebrate a win with a “massive party” fit the playful character of the event.
Soaring Saguaros
A cross-generational family team from Arizona created a 20-foot cactus replica as their aircraft. Their costumes, storyline, and familial support made them one of the most charming entries. Their design demonstrated craftsmanship but, like many Flugtag entries, prioritized fun over distance.
Event Experience and On-Site Atmosphere
Flugtag San Francisco in 2003 is remembered for:
1. Perfect Weather
Unusually warm temperatures—around 90°F—created a festive, beach-like atmosphere.
2. Massive attendance
An estimated 35,000 spectators lined the piers and waterfront.
3. Continuous entertainment
Teams performed choreographed routines before launches, creating a carnival-like ambience.
4. Safety coordination
Rescue divers and boats from nearby fire stations ensured safe water retrieval.
5. Sound, commentary, and spectacle
Music, live announcers, and cheering crowds contributed to the sense of theatricality.
FlugtagSF.com played a key role in shaping audience expectations and offering recap content afterward, including team profiles, highlights, and event photography.
Press & Media Coverage
Red Bull Flugtag events regularly attract substantial press coverage, and the San Francisco installment was no exception. Media attention focused on:
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The size of the crowd
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The creativity (or absurdity) of the flying rigs
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The humorous team narratives
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The brand’s ability to draw young, energetic audiences
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The safety logistics surrounding the launches
Local news outlets, national entertainment channels, and various magazines covered the event as a major spectacle. Because Flugtag functions as both entertainment and marketing, Red Bull’s media strategy closely aligned with the event website’s messaging—colorful, playful, energetic, and memorable.
Cultural and Social Significance
A reflection of Bay Area creativity
San Francisco’s culture of innovation, artistic expression, and eccentric public events meshes perfectly with Flugtag’s ethos. The event highlighted:
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Do-it-yourself creativity
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Engineering meets absurdity
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Communal joy and spectacle
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Non-competitive camaraderie
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Performance art blended with sport
An accessible form of participatory art
Unlike many high-budget events, Flugtag encouraged contributions from everyday citizens—students, firefighters, engineers, artists, amateurs, families. This democratization of creativity gave the event wide public appeal.
Boosting waterfront activity
Large-scale public gatherings along the Embarcadero help local businesses, increase tourism visibility, and reinforce the waterfront as a recreational hub.
Brand-driven experiential marketing
Flugtag is a prime example of early 2000s experiential marketing—events designed not just to advertise a product but to embed the brand into popular culture.
Website Structure and User Experience
Historical records show that FlugtagSF.com included:
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A team directory
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Short bios and humorous commentaries
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Event schedule and start times
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Venue location maps
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Rules and craft guidelines
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Announcements about selected teams
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Recaps and highlights post-event
The writing style was comedic, energetic, and informal, helping establish a fun tone consistent with Red Bull’s identity.
Legacy of FlugtagSF.com
Although the website is no longer active, its archived content preserves a unique moment in early-2000s event culture. It continues to serve as a snapshot of:
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Early Red Bull branding
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San Francisco’s vibrant festival environment
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Community participation in unconventional competitions
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The playful intersection of engineering and entertainment
For researchers documenting cultural events, experiential marketing, or digital ephemera of early 2000s promotional websites, FlugtagSF.com remains a valuable artifact.
FlugtagSF.com once played an essential role in supporting, documenting, and promoting Red Bull’s 2003 San Francisco Flugtag. The website's archived materials reveal a dynamic blend of creative expression, performance art, engineering experimentation, humor, and community involvement. The event itself became part of San Francisco’s larger history of vibrant and unusual public gatherings, and the website stands as a digital record of that energy. Through detailed team profiles, event logistics, and narrative summaries, FlugtagSF.com fostered excitement before the event and celebrated its exuberant spirit afterward.
The legacy of FlugtagSF.com showcases how early branded web experiences helped shape public engagement with live events, leaving behind a rich digital footprint of creativity, spectacle, and local culture.
