Elizabeth Gist

Republican staff writer

 

Andrew Schilling, a Rushville resident and Ball State University senior, was one of five college students picked in the nation to go on an “undisclosed adventure” after sending a video to Red Bull.

Red Bull’s vision is to put ordinary students in extraordinary situations: Air and tear; Slams and cams. It’s pretty sweet watching Travis Pastrana back flip a dirt bike – or seeing Kirby Chambliss rip an 11G turn, but Red Bull wanted to show students that it’s even better in person – doing it themselves. The winners will get the opportunity to learn from the world’s best and then be turned loose right there on site. It’s their chance to test waters, tracks and air like nobody else.

Red Bull opened the challenge up to college students all over the country. They created short one-minute videos that told the company why they should be picked as the next Red Bull First Person. Videos were placed online, and viewers got the chance to vote for their favorites. Red Bull then narrowed it down to the 10 best, and the committee weighed the results of voting along with their favorites to choose the top five.

Schilling’s video showed his daredevil side, to say the least, performing BMX, dirt bike and crotchrocket stunts that would take the breath out of anyone. His ramping into lakes on rollerblades and speedboat stunts earned him a spot in the top five for the chance of a lifetime.

The energy drink company sent each participant a phone to keep on themselves 24/7, and when it rings, they have just a few hours until Red Bull representatives snag from their ordinary life and drop them in the middle of a secret destination to live the life of a Red Bull Athlete.

Those athletes include the likes of Shaun White, pro snowboarder and Olympic medalist; Beach volleyball player Todd Rogers; Freeskiier Andrea Binning; Skateboarders Benny Fairfax and Jereme Rogers; Kolohe Andino, pro surfer; Wakeboarder Dallas Friday; B.A.S.E. jumper Felix Baumgartner; BMXer Daniel Dhers; and hang glider Aaron Swepston to name a few. Their talents are many (and to most of us sane people, scary), so Schilling and the other four persons chosen as Red Bull First Person winners had their work cut out for them.

Schilling and the other five winners were put through some unbelievable training by Red Bull athletes, according to the site.

“That means Pastrana could be training them how to navigate a rally car track, or Brian Vickers showing them how to push it through Turn 3,” it reads. “What they do or where they will go as First Person will remain a mystery up until the last minute. Yeah ... we’ve got goose bumps too.”

According to the website, www.redbullfirstperson.com, Andrew received his call and was told to pack clothes for warmer weather and cooler nights, outdoor gear, shoes to be active in and a bathing suit as well as emergency contact details and his drivers’ license - not exactly narrowing down any locations.

According to his blog on the website, Andrew had the following to say about his arrival:

“Well ... I arrived at my first destination,” Schilling wrote. “And Red Bull picked me up outside the airport and we were immediately on our way to the hotel/casino. So far it has been awesome; valet parking, room service (prime rib), and the excitement that I have no clue what I got myself into. I just want to say thanks to everyone for giving me this great opportunity. The real adventure begins tomorrow at 8:30! I’ll update this blog again when I’m sure I’ll have something more interesting to talk about!”

The next day’s blog was definitely more interesting as Andrew had promised:

“I said it was going to get more interesting and it definitely has,” Schilling wrote. “I’m presently in the middle of training to go skydiving for my first time. The best part is, I get to free fall solo (not hooked up to instructor) for my first jump. I’ve been training for about two hours and I’m going to be diving within the hour. I’m pumped! I’ll get back at you guys after the jump ...”

After the jump, Schilling, a first-time skydiver, was understandably stoked, according to his blog.

“I just got done jumping solo out of a plane for my first time ever!” he writes. “Without question, that was one of the best experiences of my life. It probably took 2.5 hours of training total and then we were on our way. I got to free fall from 13,000 feet with two Red Bull skydivers and then I pulled my chute at 5,500 feet. Hands down, it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. On top of all that, I’m getting ready to dive again! I’ll update again when I’m done. Hope everyone in the east is doing well ...”

Schilling is expected back on the ground today.



Rushville Republican staff writer Elizabeth Gist can be contacted via e-mail at elizabeth.gist@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story, visit our website at www.rushvillerepublican.com