Red Bull Flugtag Miami at Bayfront Park on Saturday, July 10, 2010.  If your German is a bit rusty, Flugtag means “flying day.”   Teams from across the east coast looked to defy gravity with their human-powered flying machines at Red Bull Flugtag Miami today. After reviewing more than 270 applications, 38 teams received their boarding passes to participate in the outrageous flying competition hosted at Bayfront Park. Team American Muscle, Save Salad Toss Pizza and Das Jorts, entertained the crowd as they launched their crafts to soar across the bay.  The winning team, Team Formula Flug from Palm Beach Gardens, FL, flew more than 50 feet and their craft stayed in one piece.  All of the entries were awesome, and some were very creative.  They claim over 100,000 attendees and I believe it, so many people and so many boats it was amazing.  Can’t wait for next time, I might just have to come up with an idea and try out….GO RED BULL!!!

RED BULL FLUGTAG BRINGS THE HEAT TO MIAMI
More than 85,000 Spectators Cheered as 35 Teams Unsuccessfully Defied Gravity at Bayfront Park

MIAMI – July 10, 2010 – Miami residents probably thought they had it all after LeBron James announced his decision to play for The HEAT this week, but good things just keep coming to this city as more than 85,000 people made their way to Bayfront Park for Red Bull Flugtag Miami. An event for the young and the young at heart, Red Bull Flugtag is all about the attempt at human flight… and ultimately taking a swim in Biscayne Bay. Judged on distance, creativity, and showmanship, it was team Formula Flug from Palm Beach Gardens, FL who took the top spot with their winged Formula One race car.

“It feels spectacular to win!” said team Formula Flug’s pilot Daniel Bazzani. He and his teammates soared a whopping 54 feet (the furthest for the day) and will get the chance to hang out with Red Bull Air Race World Champion, Kirby Chambliss, at his “Flying Crown Ranch” in Arizona. “Kirby Chambliss rocks! We’re all pilots and love watching him fly!” In second place were University of Miami classmates, Ibis Engineers, with their school mascot flying machine and in third with their NASA space satellite vessel was One Giant Leap from Boston, MA.

BRING THE HEAT
A total of 35 teams comprised of their own “dream teams” showed off their creativity to impress the crowd in their attempt to grab 15 minutes of fame. A “Three Kings” slam dunk craft took flight to celebrate the signing of James, Wade and Bosh, and gave the crowd the extra energy they needed to withstand the record HEAT.

“Today was absolutely amazing!” said Miami HEAT’s DJ Irie. “I thought it was going to be impossible to beat last time but they did it.” Joining him on the judges stand were Red Bull pilots Kirby Chambliss and Chuck Aaron with Red Bull Air Force “skyaker” Miles Daisher who described the day as, “…beautiful with lots of smiling faces, hot bods, and fellow Flugtaggers who had an awesome time out here!” Co-host for Y100’s Michael Yo Show, Ninalicia Osorio, model and actress, Patricia De Leon, and local artist David “Lebo” Batard also casted their score cards to rate the team’s attempt at glory. Nearly 10,000 fans casted their vote for “People’s Choice,” but it was Team Transplace who won over the hearts of the crowd.

COME FLY WITH ME
Miami kicked off the first stop on the 2010 Red Bull Flugtag North American tour. Next on our list is Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN on July 24th before heading to Long Beach, CA and ultimately wrapping things up in Philadelphia, PA. Teams from each stop will be featured in a reality series titled “On the Wings of Glory,” which will debut on Sunday, September 5th after Marlins baseball on FOX Sports Florida.

The first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1991. Since then, more than 40 Red Bull Flugtags have been held around the world from Ireland to San Francisco. 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 at Red Bull Flugtag Nashville in 2008.