Unique and specific locations have the power to turn every event into a different experience. When you’re a photographer, having Ibiza, a sun-soaked beach, and the Old Town as your backdrop already feels like an interesting photoshoot. But throw in that familiar Red Bull spirit – in this case, an obstacle race like no other – and you know you will get great photos. I was part of a 12-person photo team tasked with capturing the first-ever Red Bull Ibiza Royale that just took place in Ibiza We documented everything down to the smallest detail – the vibe, the scenery, the challenges, and most importantly, the raw emotions written all over the contestants’ faces. Even better – thanks to near real-time photo updates, many racers arrived at Ibiza Castle already able to scroll through their own race moments, waiting for them in their folders.
Against the sun-drenched backdrop of Ibiza’s historic castle, nearly 200 teams of two from 50 nations battled through foam pits, mystery doors and swinging axes in a dazzling display of athleticism and entertainment at the debut edition of Red Bull Ibiza Royale. The qualifying round started at Playa d’en Bossa a renowned beachfront, and the race took them to Eivissa – urban landscape of Ibiza Town, while the grand finale unfolded at Dalt Vila (Old Town) with a spectacular finish at the top of the Castle of Ibiza. At the end of a high-octane final, Sweden’s Daniel Ekström and Linnea Stenson claimed the crown in what is dubbed the island’s first-ever two-person team obstacle race. Teams from Canada and Slovakia were chasing close behind. Set on a steep 90-metre climb to the summit of Ibiza Castle, the 1.4km Grand Final course featured nine wildly inventive obstacles with names like Spaghetti Boulevard and Stay In One Piece. Competitors were tested on speed, agility, strength and coordination as they leapt, crawled and clung their way uphill. Missteps were penalised, heightening the stakes in what proved to be a fiercely contested final. The event was open to all, drawing more than 40,000 global applicants. Just under 200 teams earned their place at the World Final, which unfolded over three days and included fitness sessions, time trials, and elimination heats before culminating in Sunday’s castle-top showdown in front of a live crowd.
The imaginative obstacles were brought to life by a diverse group of designers, including Olympic snowboarder Sébastien “Toots” Toutant, Red Bull OCR champion Ida Mathilde Steensgaard, esports icon Arslan “ASH” Siddique, fitness influencer Demi Bagby, and many other influential individuals.