2024 in Review: The 17 Best Stories from the World of Red Bull

A Year of World Records, Unmatched Adventure, and Pure Innovation.

As 2024 comes to a close, we look back on a year packed with trailblazing achievements and audacious feats.

From record-breaking moments to revolutionary advances in sport and innovation, these 17 stories highlight the year’s most unforgettable milestones. Each tale embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence, pushing limits, and venturing into uncharted territories around the world.

• Mountain Bike Maverick Fabio Wibmer Conquers Legendary Streif at Speeds Over 100 km/h: In an unparalleled display of control and bravery, Fabio Wibmer took on the iconic Streif ski run on his mountain bike, reaching speeds over 100 km/h. Known for its dramatic drops and sharp turns, the Streif is considered one of the toughest ski courses in the world, yet Wibmer's fearless performance blurred the line between skiing and mountain biking, offering a new perspective on high-speed sports.

• Watch Max Verstappen Being Chased by the World's Fastest Drone in First-Ever F1 ‘One Shot’: Formula 1 meets cutting-edge technology in this groundbreaking chase between four-time world champion Max Verstappen and the world’s fastest racing drone. Filmed in a single, continuous take, this dynamic aerial pursuit captured F1’s lightning-fast speed and precision while sparking ideas about using this new technology to revolutionise the filming of future races.

• Red Bull Aerobatic Pilots Fly Through Rare Solar Eclipse, Creating Once-in-a-Lifetime Photos: In a stunning blend of celestial wonder and aviation artistry, Red Bull’s aerobatic pilots performed a synchronised aerial dance during a rare solar eclipse in North America. The breathtaking photos from this once-in-a-lifetime event captured the eclipse's beauty and set a new standard for aerial performance and collaborative innovation.

• 291m Ski Jump: Japanese Great Ryōyū Kobayashi Makes History With New World Record: Ryōyū Kobayashi etched his name into ski jumping history with a flawless 291-metre leap, setting a new world record. Battling high winds and pressure, Kobayashi’s impeccable technique and resilience left the sports world in awe, reaffirming his status as one of the greatest winter athletes of all time.

• Greek BMX Pro Completes World's Largest Full Vertical Bike Loop Near the City of Trikala: Greek BMX rider George Ntavoutian completed the world’s largest full vertical bike loop near Trikala. With precise execution and relentless determination, this gravity-defying feat pushed the limits of BMX and set a new benchmark for riders aiming to conquer the impossible.

• Skydivers Fly Through London's Tower Bridge in World First: London’s Tower Bridge set the scene for a daring aerial achievement as a team of skydivers soared through its central gap, descending in perfect sync with its raised bascules. This precisely executed jump transformed one of the city’s most famous landmarks into the focal point of an extraordinary aerial display.

• Estonian Jaan Roose Walks World's Longest Slackline Between Italy Mainland and Sicily: Estonian slackline athlete and Hollywood stuntman Jaan Roose became the first person to cross Italy’s Strait of Messina on foot via a 3,646-metre slackline - the longest ever constructed. Despite falling in the final 80 metres, he completed the nearly three-hour journey, battling fierce winds and enduring immense physical and mental strain to surpass the previous record of 2,710 metres.

• Paul Guschlbauer's Unprecedented Paragliding Expedition over Alaska's Augustine Volcano: Paul Guschlbauer’s daring paragliding journey over Alaska’s active Augustine Volcano blended high-stakes adventure with natural beauty. The expedition’s stunning visuals and exploration of one of Earth’s most volatile landscapes showcased the challenging conditions and boundless spirit of aerial sports.

• Soar Above the Pastel Palette of Albania's Historical Vlora Salt Fields: Greek paraglider and paramotor pilot Dimitris Kolliakos flew over the Vlora salt fields in Albania, showcasing his impressive skills against the striking pastel landscape. Known for their otherworldly palette, the Vlora flats transform with the rhythm of the seasons, creating a mesmerizing visual feast. Kolliakos’s aerial display highlighted his athleticism and the unique beauty of this natural wonder along Albania’s southern shores.

• Watch as MTB Slopestyle Pro Takes on Staggering 24-Meter Jump to Soar Above Forest Canopy: International mountain bike slopestyle rider Erik Fedko executed a series of world-class tricks from a 24-metre-high platform above the forest canopy in Sauerland, Germany. The incredible feat showcased Fedko's precision, skill, and fearless approach as he conquered one of the most challenging courses ever built.

• Armand "Mondo" Duplantis Defeats Karsten Warholm in Spectacular 100m Sprint Showdown: At Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium on September 4, Olympic champion Armand "Mondo" Duplantis narrowly defeated 400m hurdles star Karsten Warholm by a tenth of a second. What started as playful banter turned into a thrilling race, highlighting Duplantis' versatility beyond pole vaulting and leaving fans in awe of both athletes' speed.

• Watch Freestyle Motocross Legend Tom Pagès Soar Over the Alps in World-First 'Ride & Fly' Feat: Freestyle motocross legend Tom Pagès debuted his groundbreaking ‘Ride & Fly’ concept over the scenic Alps, combining motocross and paragliding in a world-first feat. Pagès seamlessly transitioned between the two sports while soaring over the rugged landscape, highlighting a remarkable fusion of speed, skill, and creativity.

• WORLD FIRST: Red Bull Wingsuiter Sebastián Álvarez BASE Jumps from Heli and Swoops into Surfing World's Longest Artificial Wave: Chilean wingsuit flyer Sebastián Álvarez achieved an extraordinary first in Abu Dhabi by BASE jumping from a helicopter at 3,657 metres directly into surfing the world’s longest artificial wave. With a modified surfboard strapped to his feet, he expertly swooped down, lined up with the wave, and then cut away his parachute to land perfectly on a 2.3-metre wave.

• Czech Flying Bulls Achieve World-First Inverted Loop Around Europe’s Highest Railway Bridge: The Czech Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team has made aviation history by performing a world-first inverted group loop around Montenegro’s Mala Rijeka Bridge, Europe’s highest railway bridge. Executing this daring manoeuvre in a tight diamond formation, they navigated the challenges of negative G-force and the confined canyon environment, showcasing their extraordinary skill, precision, and teamwork.

• Revolutionary Wingsuit Foil Pushes Human Flight to New Limits with 12.5km BASE World Record:Revolutionary Wingsuit Foil Pushes Human Flight to New Limits with 12.5km BASE World Record: Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann wore a revolutionary wingsuit foil during his flight at Switzerland’s Jungfrau mountain, pushing the boundaries of human flight. Soaring for nearly six minutes without engine propulsion, Salzmann covered 12.5 kilometres and an altitude difference of 3,402 metres. His groundbreaking flight set world records for Longest BASE Flight Time, Furthest BASE Flight Distance, and Largest BASE Jump from start to landing.

• Circus Meets Skiing as Fabian Bösch’s 'Circus Bösch' Thrills in the Heart of the Swiss Alps: Swiss freeskiing star Fabian Bösch brings a fresh twist to circus performances with his latest project, Circus Bösch, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Schilthorn summit in the Bernese Alps. In this unique act, Bösch combines trapeze swings, bouncy balls, and snow-covered railings to perform daring tricks that merge athletic finesse with playful creativity.

• Kayakers Achieve Historic First-Ever Descent of Gabon’s Mysterious Ivindo River: Renowned kayakers Adrian Mattern, Dane Jackson, Kalob Grady, and Bren Orton embarked on an unprecedented journey down Gabon’s enigmatic Ivindo River, one of Africa’s last great natural frontiers. This historic expedition, captured in the film Gabon Uncharted: Sending Ivindo Falls on Red Bull TV, saw the team conquer some of Ivindo’s most challenging and unexplored rapids, unveiling the pristine beauty of the rainforest.