On Friday, Sept. 12, Red Bull brought fun, challenge and excitement right to Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing Park on the Tennessee River. The classic competition involves one greased pole, where competitors see if they can run across it to reach the flag at the end.
However, there was a little change this time. Red Bull paid homage to the iconic 2022 moment of throwing the goalpost in the Tennessee River, and suspended two poles rather than one in the shape of a goalpost. Competitors raced each other in a bracket style to see who would be the “last man standing.”
More than 120 people accepted the challenge, putting themselves in front of nearly 1,500 fans to see if they could claim the ultimate prize: bragging rights.
With the prize only being bragging rights, there were many different motives for competitors. Climbing up a pole suspended right above the Tennessee River, greased, is not an easy feat.
Daniel Schilling and Ben Shafer, friends who challenged themselves to compete in the competition, explain that they wanted to participate to show people that no matter how old you are, it is never too late.
“We’re the old guys out here,” Schaffer said. “We want to show that the old guys can still have fun.”
On the other hand, Savannah Jobkar, a Ph.D. student at UT, explains how she feels “empowered” and wants to show that women can do anything they put their mind to.
“I’m doing this for the girls,” Jobkar said. “Especially for the UT girls.”
For some, the excitement took new heights when they unexpectedly, or expectedly, captured the flag. Anderson Clark was the first person to catch the flag, and he described the moment as “electric.” When asked why he was here, he said, “Why not? If you can do it, do it!”
Likewise, UT student Ross Bassett says that the moment was “exhilarating” when he lunged to capture the flag.
“Honestly, when I got halfway up, I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Bassett said. “But I told Swain when I went out there, I’m here for Lightning McQueen, need for speed.”
Competitors who successfully captured the flag ran to high five and celebrate with friends and family who had come to support.
Nobody’s run compared to that of the winner, UT student and Memphis native Bennett Wilson.
“I’ve been practicing all my life for this.” Wilson said.
He described what it felt like to know he had won the whole competition.
“I knew I won, I knew I had it,” Wilson said. “It was in my hand, I felt – I felt the win.”
The smile on Wilson’s face was brighter than anyone else’s as he celebrated with his friends.
“I’ve got so many friends here, it’s amazing.” Wilson said.
The event’s atmosphere was thrilling, with the music drowning out the competitor’s nerves and the bass vibrating in your feet.
