Orlando-based team wins Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster

An Orlando-based pair of tandem bike riders emerged as the winners of the first Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event in the United States, which took place this past weekend in Altamonte Springs.

As the final competitors of the day, team NFT Boombox emerged as champions of the whacky and wild contest, which involved 30 teams navigating an obstacle course over water at Cranes Roost Park on themed tandem bikes.

Teammates Jensin Holmgren and Joey Iorio missed the fastest time of the day by a few seconds but impressed the judges with their boombox-themed bike — and Iorio’s one-handed balancing act in the rear of the bike with a GoPro in the other hand.

“It’s pretty high up there,” said Holmgren, in a news release, while ranking the victory in terms of his successes. “This and graduating college are right next to each other. I have to say, this is the ultimate, ‘dad lore.’ Ten years from now, when I have kids, I’ll be telling them this story all the time.”

“I think the countless hours we spent practicing on that bike really paid off,” Iorio continued. “I gave him full control to do whatever he wanted. That’s why I told him – I only need one hand to hold a GoPro and one hand to hold on to him. That’s all I need.”

Team Channel 199 ran the fastest time at 24.53 seconds, then rode their bike all the way back to the start again in front of a crowd of more than 40,000 attendees. Riders were judged on their creativity, showmanship and distance by a panel of three judges: Orlando Magic legend Dwight Howard, Central Florida-based professional wakeboarder Meagan Ethell and social media creator Zack Fairhurst (@MaddZak).

Members of the Fun Spot Zooder Crew team, of Orlando, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Sibling Splashdown team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Celebrity judges Dwight Howard, left, Meagan Ethell, center, and Zack Fairhurst react to a team competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Monorail Mayhem team, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the NFT Boombox team, of Orlando, Fla., pose during the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Red Bull jet suit athlete Issa Kalfon perform during the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of The Loco Motive! team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Twin Pines Tandem team, of Sanford, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of The Intimidator team, from Charleston, S.C., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Golden-Ish Girls team, of Homosassa, Fla., react after falling into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Spectators arrive to the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Banana Bois team, of Ormond Beach, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Spectators arrive to the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Golden-Ish Girls team, of Homosassa, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Channel 199 team, of Elkhorn, Wisc., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Just Ride team, of Seattle, Wash., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of The Filthy Flamingos team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Fins of Fury team, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Daft Hunks team, of Orlando, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Daft Hunks team, of Orlando, Fla., pose while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Rebel Rollers team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Spectators look on as teams compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Yeast Mode team, of Orlando, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Yeast Mode team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

People attend the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Island Water Sports—Fin Frenzy team, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Bullitt Bullies team, of Orlando, Fla., compete in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Jason Siegel, president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, speaks about Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster during a press event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

A decorated tandem bicycle demonstrates the idea behind Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster during a press event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Altamonte Springs Mayor Pat Bates speaks about Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster during a press event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando-based professional wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete Guenther Oka, left, stands with public officials, from left, Seminole County Comissioner Jay Zembower, Altamonte Springs Mayor Pat Bates, Jason Siegel, president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and Guilherme “Gui” Cunha, Seminole County’s director of economic development and tourism gather during a press event for Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

The Lauwe Knaks are seen during Red Bull Stalen Ros 2024, The Hague, The Netherlands on Sept. 7, 2024. The event lands in Central Florida as Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster, representing the first time the European event comes stateside. (Marcel van Hoorn/Red Bull Content Pool)

Celebrity judges Dwight Howard, left, Meagan Ethell, center, and Zack Fairhurst show their scores for a team competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of GWagon team from Orlando fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park on Saturday in Altamonte Springs. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Seminole County Comissioner Jay Zembower speaks about Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster during a press event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

The Mad Bikers team crashes while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of Indymegasaurus team from Oveido, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of the Born to Thrive Coaster team from Orlando, Fla., crash, while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando-based professional wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete Guenther Oka speaks about Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster during a press event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamone Springs on Aug. 6, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

A map shows the course layout for Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster, which lands at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs on Sept. 27. (Courtesy of Red Bull)

Spectators react as a team competes in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of GWagon team from Orlando, Fla., fall into the lake while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

Members of Florideah Swamp Fest team from Orlando, Fla., ride past the judges table while competing in the Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event at Cranes Roost Park, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Thirty teams, chosen from more than 300 applications, competed on custom, rollercoaster-themed tandem bicycles across a 300-foot obstacle course over water with drops as high as six feet. Teams were judged on creativity, showmanship and distance. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel)

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Other pairs of tandem bike riders themed their rides and costumes with sharks, a flamingo, roller coasters, the monorail, dinosaurs, fire fighters, bagels, alligators, Super Mario, trains and even a DeLorean.

Of the 30 entries from as far away as Wisconsin and Maryland, 11 teams were able to complete the course, while the other 19 pairs of competitors plummeted into the lake at Cranes Roost Park. Many participants hailed from the Central Florida area.

“I was super excited to come back to Orlando – it feels great to be back and see all the people here,” Howard said in a news release. “My favorite moments were watching the people fall off the little rollercoaster. That was the best part – seeing them singing one moment and then flipping over the next.”

Jensin Holmgren and Joey Iorio of team NFT Boombox emerged as the winners of Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs on Sept. 27. The riders hail from Orlando. (Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool)

The bike-centric challenge started in the Netherlands in 2023 with the name Stalen Ros, which translates to English as “Steel Horse.” Dozens of competitors went head-to-head to navigate obstacles like a drawbridge and cobblestones, blending artistic design with cycling skill.

Following the success of several European renditions, including “Kolo Molo” in Prague, “Sattelfest” in Germany, “Tandemkapen” in Sweden and “Vel’eau” in Belgium, Red Bull saw an opportunity to bring this event stateside.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/29/orlando-based-team-wins-red-bull-tandem-rollercoaster/