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Grab a partner. Build a bike. Don’t fall in. That’s the premise for the Red Bull Spin Off competition in Chicago this weekend.
If you’ve seen ads around the city for the upcoming event and aren’t sure what the heck it is, here’s the scoop: On Saturday, June 13 at 10am, 39 teams of two will race down floating tracks on homemade tandem bicycles at 12th Street Beach by the Adler Planetarium.
To win, teams must, of course, not fall in the water. Those who do cross the finish line (check out the full course below) will also be judged on the design of their bike, race time and showmanship. Teams are given minimal guidance on concept, which, in past years, has made way for creative bikes like a Roman chariot, Santa’s sleigh and a fish tank on wheels.
This year’s lineup includes teams like “Chance the Snapper Returns,” “Magic School Bike,” “Subway Surfers Chicago Edition,” and “Windy City Dive Bomb.” Check out the full list of teams here. As is already clear by the names on the roster, absurdity, creativity and ridiculousness will be on full display on Saturday.
Red Bull has tapped a trio of top talents to judge this year’s competition: Brooklinn Koury, a pro skateboarder and content creator; Matas Buzelis, a pro basketball player and rising Chicago Bulls forward; and Laila Edwards, a Team USA women’s hockey gold medalist.
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In addition to the actual race winner, the team with the most fan votes for best bike build will be crowned the People’s Choice Award winner. Voting ends the day before the race on Friday, June 12, so check out the bikes and vote for your favorite here.
This is the first time Red Bull Spin Off is coming to the U.S. It debuted in the Netherlands in 2023 and will continue its tour in Washington, D.C. later this month.
Red Bull Spin Off is free to attend and open to all ages. You don’t need a ticket, but spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot. The event will also be livestreamed on the Red Bull channel in the Live TV section, as well as on Amazon Prime Video, Roku Streaming Devices, Vizio Smart TV devices and WatchFree+.