Just because Red Bull is a brand, it doesn't mean that The Red Bulletin is a vanity project with minimal editorial control," he says. "It's as hard to write for and as professional as any other international magazine I have been involved with. The idea is for The Red Bulletin to be seen as a great lifestyle magazine first and a Red Bull project second."
Alison Smith, a New Zealand-based freelancer — who cut her teeth following and writing about the world surfing circuit — worked with the Red Bull marketing team from 2000 to 2002.
"Much of the media strategy was in its early stages in New Zealand at the time, so developing a team of freelance photographers and video people to work on projects with was also part of what I did," Smith says. "At the same time, they wanted someone cool enough — if I’m allowed to say that — to get on with their athletes, understand their culture and be fun to be around when attending the events and trips with athletes.