Just like stock-car racing a century ago and skateboarding in the 1970s, drone racing is uniquely of its age. It is fitting that in our video game-obsessed culture, a new sport would be rooted in a digital medium, instead of what many of us think of as sport, which is moving your analog body in some new way.
Rum-runners in the US modified their cars to make them fast enough to outrun the police during Prohibition in the 1920s. Then we started racing them against other modified cars because it was pretty fun. When alcohol became legal again, we kept racing cars and watched other people race cars while we drank alcohol.
Drones started out as large vessels that the military used for tactical operations where it didn’t want to deploy troops. Then, rather like the Jeep after World War II, we commercialized the drone, made them smaller and cheaper and found ways to use them at home. We’ve always modified technical achievements—for good or for bad purposes—and turned them into sport, and drone racing is no different.
Skateboarding went from being a rebellious outsider activity in the 1970s and 1980s to something cool, if still somewhat ridiculous, with their first X Games on ESPN in 1995. The Washington Post called the first X Games the “Look Ma, No Hands Olympics,” and sports columnist Norman Chad had this gem about the content of the games:
“Apparently—and it’s possible I’m misinterpreting a cultural trend here—if you strap your best friend to the hood of a ’72 Ford Falcon, drive it over a cliff, juggle three babies and a chain saw on the way down and land safely while performing a handstand, they’ll tape it, show it and call it a new sport.”
Today, the X Games and the Winter X Games are pretty much staples of ESPN’s lineup. Millions of people tune in around the world to watch the events, and to watch clips of tricks online.
“I think we’re going to be the same as, skateboarders, you know,” said Refsland.
Just like skateboarding was pilloried in its day, drone racing can look a bit silly, especially if you’re watching a person with goggles sit on a chair near a racetrack. But by that measure, the thousands of people around the world who share videos of themselves riding hoverboards, and all of us who spend all day taking selfies through filters on Snapchat must also look silly. It’s not restraining venture capital firms from pouring millions of dollars into virtual reality.