Team “Hogan Street Hooligans” mastered “Red Bull Can You Make It”
Team “Hogan Street Hooligans” mastered the art of trading cans, traveling from Auckland to Dunedin to win “Red Bull Can You Make It”
The epic cross-country journey that was Red Bull Can You Make It? has officially come to a close, just in time for Otago University O-Week. Team “Hogan Street Hooligans” made it from Auckland to Otago in just 54 hours, using only Red Bull as currency in exchange for transportation, food and lodging.
The Hogan Street Hooligans ascended the steepest street in the world, Dunedin's infamous Baldwin Street, to reach the finish line and win the cash prize of $1,500, along with one year’s supply of Red Bull, a VIP experience at Otago University O-Week, and a prize pack from The Edge FM and Student Flights.
“We're so unbelievably grateful to the good cats of New Zealand who got us to Baldwin today! It seems like there’s nothing you can’t do with a little charm and confidence, with the help from some Red Bull,” says Jules Craft from the Hogan Street Hooligans. “Cheers to all of the boys (and girl) we raced against!”
In just over 56 hours, all six teams of three managed to beg, bribe and barter their way across 1,448km. The Three Amigo’s were just nine minutes behind the winners, followed by Lord’s of the H-Town, Team AntiPro, #Onlygirlinthecomp and the Melting Pot. Teams managed to secure rides in police cars and a ride-on lawn mower, a trip in a plane courtesy of the Waikato Aero Club, a and even enjoyed a comfortable leg of the race cruising in an RV.
Along the way, teams created their own route but had to visit checkpoints in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch. Teams completed mystery challenges at each checkpoint to earn cans for the next leg of the race. Red Bull Can You Make It? kicked off in Auckland’s Harbour Park in Westhaven on February 14, where teams had to solve a clue leading them to the Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungy. Teams proceeded to Hamilton to complete the “Sink or Swim” challenge, where they built a raft to retrieve their product from the centre of the lake. Palmerston North’s “Farmer’s Olympics” involved an egg and spade and tire flipping relay, and herding a blindfolded (human) cow through an obstacle course. Wellington’s “Hipster challenge” set the teams off swimming a lap through the iconic Cuba Street fountain, completing a circuit on a fixie bike and finishing with an apathetic walking race. Christchurch had a “City Scavenge” challenge, where teams embarked on a wild search for the city’s most iconic sites including the Pellet Pavilion, Paper Cathedral, and Bridge of Remembrance. It was in Wellington though that the underdogs “Hogan Street Hooligans” really overcame their challenges.
“Lost, alone, dishevelled, and not a single shred of hope left. With every single ferry for the next five days booked out, it didn’t look like we had a fighting chance of nailing the Cook Strait. Then by some miracle, due to a life boat malfunction, blue bridge had to book another trip at 6pm,” says Jules Craft. “Armed with only our wits, charm and Red Bull, we went on a mission asking for donations from Homegrown Festival goers. Hogan Street Hooligans were back in the race - tortoise versus the hare style!”
Applications are now open for the international Red Bull Can You Make It competition, where one New Zealand team will be selected to race across Europe in April. University students over 18 years of age are eligible to apply until March 12 at www.redbullcanyoumakeit.com.
Official race times:
Hogan Street Hooligans: 54 hours
The Red Bull Three Amigos: 54 hours, 9 minutes
Lords of H-Town: 55 hours
Team Antipro: 56 hours
?#Onlygirlincomp: 56 hours, 30 seconds
The Melting Pot: 56 hours, 20 minutes
#CANYOUMAKEIT14
www.redbullcanyoumakeit.com
Red Bull Can You Make It? New Zealand Facebook event page