The Red Bull SoapBox Race made its debut in Utah in front of 50,000 people at the Utah State Capitol June 14. There were 48 teams total — 44 of which were local to Utah — that had put together a variety of designs ranging from Uncle Rico’s van in the movie Napoleon Dynamite to conspiracy theorists’ flying saucers.
From top to bottom, the streets were full of spectators to see which soapbox could carefully maneuver the one-mile-long obstacle course. Some of the obstacles included a nice touch to Utah’s landscape, such as the BFGoodrich Rock Garden attributed to the famous Utah red rock, the sticky steps, which are for the Beehive state and a final ski jump for Utah’s ski industry.
The winning soapbox was Team Desert Rats out of Kanab.
“The energy of the crowd was amazing today! Standing at the start gate and looking down the course, it was so cool to see so many people in the crowd cheering us on,” said Matthew Henke of Team Desert Rats. “Our team, we’re all friends and also engineers, so this was honestly the best bonding experience to bring this cart to life. We were like kids with a bunch of toys getting to build together.”
Each of the participants was judged on a one-third score of speed, creativity and showmanship. The competition wasn’t just about who could get down the track the fastest, but who could do it with flair, originality and the kind of personality that makes an audience cheer. With that in mind, the panel of judges included elite athletes known for pushing boundaries in their fields — Olympic climber Natalia Grossman and Red Bull Air Force skydiver Mike Brewer, both based in Salt Lake City.
Grossman was particularly struck by the overwhelming turnout and energy of the crowd that filled the streets of downtown Salt Lake City.
“Honestly, it was wild — in the best way! I expected a good crowd, but not 50,000,” she said. “Seeing that many people show up, fully hyped, just to watch something creative and fun was so sick.” For her, the event represented not just a race but a celebration of artistry and athleticism, all fueled by an incredibly passionate community.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, Grossman also commented on how the energy of the crowd mirrored the essence of Red Bull’s mission to constantly push limits. “The energy was there, and the community really showed up. Red Bull’s all about pushing boundaries, and this event proved there’s room to keep evolving — whether it’s another soapbox or something even more unexpected. I think the community here is ready!” Her excitement was palpable, and her words hinted at the potential for future events to grow even bigger and more adventurous.
Mike Brewer echoed that sentiment, noting that while the size of the crowd didn’t surprise him, their engagement did. “I wasn’t surprised that the event drew such a large crowd; Salt Lake City is the perfect community for it. What impressed me most was their consistent engagement,” Brewer said. “Hours into the event, everyone was still energetically cheering on all the teams and creating the most fun atmosphere. Perhaps it was all the Red Bull that kept them going all day?” His remarks highlighted how the city’s energy didn’t wane — it amplified.
As the day wound down, Brewer shared a hopeful thought that captured the spirit of the event. “This community clearly absolutely loves Red Bull Soapbox, and nothing would make me happier than to see a new band of inspired participants racing down our beautiful downtown streets next year! I have a feeling that the 50,000 people in attendance this year would echo my sentiment.” Judging by the crowd’s enthusiasm and the unforgettable performances, it’s safe to say that Salt Lake City is already counting down the days until the next race.
