http://pieinthesky08.com/

It’s SOOOO quiet here. We need a winter Flugtag...

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:36:00 -0500

It’s SOOOO quiet here. We need a winter Flugtag circuit… or something equally entertaining to kick things back into gear.

Stay tuned for Viewing Party details… we’re still waiting on Red Bull. Peace.

"Actually, for the record, Deep Dish pizza - officially known as Pie in the Sky - received the only..."

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:14:45 -0500

“Actually, for the record, Deep Dish pizza - officially known as Pie in the Sky - received the only applause break I witnessed. After eulogizing Chicago style deep dish and condemning its austere east coast progenitor, the team jumped into its dance routine to a self-styled parody of “Baby Got Back” called “Pizza Got Crust.””

- The Huffington Post

More cool pics...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:20:00 -0500

The acclaim continues...

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:54:00 -0500

Yao writes:

I loved your whole routine at Flugtag. Everything from the song to removing the sheet disguising the glider was really well thought out. Awesome job!

I was also wondering if the song you guys did is up anywhere for download. My boyfriend promised he would make it his ring-tone if I managed to find it :)

Yao, we’re glad you enjoyed the show! Here’s the song - do us a favor and post a YouTube of your boyfriend answering his phone after a few bars of I Like Thick Crust…

Seriously, if I ever heard this blare out of some dude’s cell phone I would soak myself in tears of laughter (after dancing the routine, of course).

Fanmail

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:51:00 -0500

Subject: My kind ‘o slice

Great job on Saturday & congrats on 3rd place.
Your routine and glider were awesome! Especially the pepperoni removal.
The song went over BIG as well. Crowd loved the lyrics.

Thanks Pete!

The Team, behind the team.

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:45:00 -0500

The Pie would not have been nearly as successful (hell, it may not have even existed!) had it not been for the incredible contributions of a few people.

Presenting… The Behind-the-Scenes Pie in the Sky! Team… From left: Greg & son Chris for the 70’s hang-gliding wisdom, making Scott prance around, access to a real machine shop, and for really caring about the whole thing from start-to-finish. Bill for giving us artistic superiority - making sure it was Pie in the Sky! shown on every menu tent, promotional ticket, and vespa model. Lastly, Anthony - who worked harder than the rest of us combined to make sure there were no surprises over the event weekend - Thanks Guys!

"Taking a very close third place was Pie in the Sky, a team that chose to honor the famed deep-dish..."

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:29:31 -0500

“Taking a very close third place was Pie in the Sky, a team that chose to honor the famed deep-dish pizza, a craft that caused the crowd to roar in approval. Take that New York City!”

- Red Bull Press Release

Images.

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:56:00 -0500

The tedium of reality is crashing down hard on the Pie in the Sky crew today, but at least we have a river of pictures and video to keep us going.

We were ready.

Safety meeting at Castaways. The other teams were a blast to hang-out with. Red Bull kept us busy all weekend, while simultaneously managing to put their logo on everything which was not nailed down. We’ll add after-party pictures later.

Participants never got a good sense of how packed the event really was, even from the platform it seemed like there was no end. This shot from Red Bull tells the story, amazing. © C.Santacroce/Red Bull Photofiles

Dance? In-front of 80,000? Don’t think any of us would have believed we would do that in our lifetimes.

The money shot. This is the exact picture we imagined, with 3 essential elements: Actual flight, Red Bull logo on the cart visible as it falls away, and pepperoni being jettisoned off the top.

Guess all those skydives & flying lessons helped after all! Could not have delayed any longer before pitching the nose back up. It was really difficult to get a sense of the attitude of the wing, had I understood it was so nose-down I could have gone much further. Typical hindsight 20-20 crap.

Other things to ponder:

Have we created a lifestyle brand?
Where should we have our viewing party?
Our cart flew 40’ - what place would it have gotten all by itself?
Are The Perfect Getaway guys & gals REALLY mobsters?
Even though we flew second farthest, we were awarded third. Guessing that means we were either not very CREATIVE or lacked SHOWMANSHIP, (ie: we’re lame).
Vinnie’s upcoming therapy - thanks Velcro or Trees?
How many coupons will be redeemed at Lou’s?
Is it strange that we’ve got ideas for Flugtag09?

Morning after photo of our majestic flyer…. nose down in...

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:21:00 -0500

Morning after photo of our majestic flyer…. nose down in LM. Frosty and I sat and watched the salvage crew trash 1000’s of hours of team craftsmanship and love… it was actually sad. On a related note, somebody had already grabbed our 120 pound, 8’ x 10’ launch cart… for the scrap metal undoubtdly… do these people have no souls?

Team picture from the award ceremony. Left-to-Right, Frosty,...

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:16:00 -0500

Team picture from the award ceremony. Left-to-Right, Frosty, Chris M, Marty, Chris W, and Vinnie.

Updated - Old video link died. This one shows the entire ordeal....

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:15:00 -0500

Updated - Old video link died. This one shows the entire ordeal. ~~Here’s the best video of our flight I’ve see so-far. Could the pepperoni shedding-off during the take-off roll be any more perfect? Lot’s more to come from our weekend!~~

Pie in the Sky grabs 3rd

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:59:05 -0500

With a stunning 90’ flight, good for the second longest of the day. Team Crustacean Avengers come out of nowhere to win with a beautiful 120’ flight, the second farthest ever in US Flugtag history. Lot’s more tomorrow, thanks to all our families & friends for helping make this day one to remember forever.

VOTE FOR US!!!

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:33:24 -0500

Help us win the coveted Red Bull Flugtag People’s Choice Award!!

We need help from YOU and every person you know in order to pull this off!

Voting is just like American Idol, except meaningful. Plus, your actions will not haunt you through an endless stream of crap music.

Here’s what to do:

Anytime between this morning (Friday) 9am and Saturday 3pm

Text the message: TEAM 23

To this number: 72855

Then repeat 4 more times (each phone number may be counted for up to 5 votes).

Thank You!

Flying high or crashing with style

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:31:00 -0500

Flying high or crashing with style:

Daily Herald article, with a few choice (lame) quotes from us.

FLUGTAG IS SATURDAY!

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:54:00 -0500

Boy oh boy! It’s getting close! We hope you’re planning to come cheer us on Saturday as we claim our championship and cement our place in the Flugtag record books.

Red Bull published this handy Event Guide which seems to answer most questions.

When you get on-site, we’ll be located in hangar #23 which is basically hidden amongst a bunch of trees and closest to the sand.

On the off chance you need directions, the map below may help.

View Larger Map

We’re looking forward to seeing everybody!

Put us down for 23' 3"

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:25:00 -0500

Fellow competitors, The Perfect Getaway offers $5 betting on their flight distance. After checking-out the newest photo’s of their irreparably flawed concept, we’re pretty sure that our estimate is spot-on and we’re also going to win their betting pool.

In related news, it is pretty cool that they have some guy called “Mr. Good” affiliated with their team - we need some serious renaming on our side.

We’re about to unleash a torrent of happiness, tastiness,...

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:08:00 -0500

We’re about to unleash a torrent of happiness, tastiness, and airworthiness on Flugtag Chicago.

fanmail

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:23:00 -0500

“I just wanted to say our team got a big kick out of your website. I guess we’ll see ya guys next Friday! Bring ur A-game though…if you think your pie will out distance our fly!!!”

Greg
Team Housefly

Dude. We don’t even have a B-game.

Pre-Launch Party

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:50:00 -0500

The festivities continue for the Pie in the Sky gang. With game-day only a week away it was time to have a little pre-party to celebrate our soon-to-be historic flight.

The excitement and love surrounding the team is almost embarrassing at this point. Even the 14 year old Red Bull girls (wtf?) at our party could barely contain themselves around Scott. Everyone just wants a little piece of the energy coming off this team.

Lot’s of Red Bull, combined with some much-better-than-usual weather made for a perfect night on the rooftop at Durty Nellies in Palatine.

BTW, if you ever want to play Baggo - Durty Nellie’s is apparently the place. They even have the rules posted on a very official looking sign. We’re guessing a few too many brawls from creative rule making in the past.

This was such a happening in the Red Bull Flugtag universe, that competitors The Flying El’s chose to forego their own party in exchange for just for 3 passes into ours - that really warmed our hearts.

This was clearly a good move for their team. Between just hanging out with us and overhearing a few of our ideas - they probably moved themselves into position for a podium finish… most likely the bronze.

Red Bull also brought out their Party Flugtag game where people get to build their own flying machines. The creativity of the people around us never ceases to amaze. The BLO-ME and eventual grand champion Hot Flash entries are particularly worthy of a shout out.

Thanks again to the Red Bull crew (Bruce, Brian, etc.) for another good time. Stay Tuned - lot’s more coming soon. Peace.

FAIL.

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:57:00 -0500

Imagine you took our team… loaded us up with Xanax, poured a bunch of scotch down our throats, maybe had us sniff some glue… THEN challenged us to enter Flugtag and build our flyer.

The result? Probably similar to this:

Photo courtesy of: ~~United Association of Phil Collins Impersonators~~ Who wants a mustache ride?