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One by one, teams of creative minds ran and pushed and held on tight and hoped and prayed that their human-powered vehicles would soar off into the sunset and into immortal glory. They did not, but it didn't matter. The first-ever Red Bull Flugtag event held in Long Beach on Saturday was more than successful, and Red Bull officials say that more than 105,000 people attended the free event.

It may seem difficult to believe that so many people could squeeze into the Shoreline Village harbor, where space is limited and open spaces are few. But the high ground at the Lions Lighthouse was standing-room only and railings around the entire harbor were packed, sometimes with crowds that were at least five people deep. It was difficult to move anywhere, but if you found a good spot, it was worth it.

A crystal clear day provided the perfect backdrop for fans to watch contestants plunge, crash and sometimes even fly off the 30-foot high runway and into the drink. Without a single cloud in the sky - maybe someone on high was trying to get a good view? - and a cool breeze running into the harbor, Long Beach continued its tradition of holding exquisite conditions when a big event is in town. Ask yourself, when was the last time it rained during the Grand Prix? Never. That's when.

It was more of the same on Saturday, and that's part of what has attracted Red Bull to hold recent events in Long Beach with their record-breaking rally car stunt on New Year's Eve, the wildly successful Flugtag event this weekend and rumors continue to circulate that the energy drink giant is considering holding a stage of their Red Bull Air Races in Long Beach in the future. With the kind of crowd and stage that the city provided, it's little wonder why.

But of all the adrenaline-filled events that Red Bull has become famous for, Flugtag stands apart because the stars of the show are not necessarily extreme sports professionals or highly-trained pilots - they're just regular joes with a dream. A wacky, wacky dream to construct a craft creative enough to delight fans and structurally sound enough to sail a few feet. While most of the contestants succeeded in the former, they failed miserably in the latter. One craft after another simply teetered off the edge and glided like a rock. But that's ok! Flugtag is not all that much about success. It's about the spectacle, and there was plenty of that in tow.

One craft was made in President Obama's likeness and used his ears as wings. Two, count 'em, two separate teams had their promising designs flip over and break on the runway when they weren't heavy enough to withstand the breeze. Another team made up of Coast Guard servicemen sported a rescue helicopter with working rotors that ended with a real rescue from a real Coast Guard helicopter and a high-speed flyover. Their design didn't fly very far, but they more than made up for that with the entertainment value. In the middle of all that were teams inspired by the Jetsons, Gilligan's Island and the Flintstones. Plenty of non-television themed crafts provided just as much entertainment.

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