The World of Extreme Red Bull Sports

It doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch for the world’s most popular energy drink to endorse extreme sports.  Even their slogan, “It gives you wings”, is in keeping with the adrenaline rush an individual feels when taking part in activities that test both endurance and mettle.  And considering that Red Bull claims its products can improve performance, concentration, and reaction speed, it’s no wonder they appeal to sports enthusiasts worldwide.  While Red Bull has certainly used the marketing opportunities presented by sporting events to their benefit (nothing gets your brand name out there like naming a team after your product and slapping the logo on equipment and structures), they have also sponsored a number of sports, teams, and individuals in an effort to help them reach the limits of extreme sporting.  Here are just a few of the activities they have been linked to.

1. Football.  Red Bull garnered a lot of attention state-side when they attached their name and logo to the New York football (soccer) team (formerly the MetroStars) in 2006.  This not only led to increasing awareness of their brand and nation-wide sales of their energy drink, it also proved a clever merchandising ploy as consumers snapped up team jerseys, caps, and other paraphernalia.  Red Bull also has teams in Brazil, Germany, and Austria.

2. Motocross. When Red Bull teamed up with AMA National Motocross and Supercross’s all-time winning-est brand to form Honda Red Bull Racing, they not only got to paint a giant, bucking bull on the side of the bus, they also entered into an arena of extreme sports that is both color- and gender-blind.  In 2008, the team welcomed Women’s Motocross Champion Ashley Fiolek into the fold, a milestone move in Honda’s storied history and a signal to everyone that the Red Bull brand is all about expansion and diversification.

3. Racing. Whether it’s England-based Formula 1 Red Bull Racing zipping around the track, America’s Team Red Bull competing in NASCAR, or Red Bull Off-Road Barlow Motorsport trucks kicking up dust, there’s no doubt that the drink that makes people go loves to sponsor the automobiles that go the fastest.

4. Hockey.  Austrian team EC Red Bull Salzburg looks lean and mean in their shockingly red jerseys out on the ice.  And while they narrowly lost the championship last year, they’re no doubt snorting in the pen, slurping down some sweet energy drinks, and perfecting their slap shots and hip checks in order to once again become the reigning champions of the ice.

5. Crazy. This may not be a recognized sport, but when you see people engaged in activities like leaping from the statue of Christ the Redeemer and narrowly escaping authorities to parasail over the city or Rio de Janeiro, or jumping a dirt bike 278 feet (85 meters) over the Corinth Gap to break a record, or plummeting through the atmosphere in an attempt to go supersonic (with nothing but their body), you can’t really call it anything but pure, unadulterated, straight-up crazy (as sponsored by Red Bull).

BIO: Lisa Kendricks writes for Medical Assistant Schools. You can look for a medical assistant job description that’s right for you.