There’s something mystical that happens when a half-kilometre long ice slope is constructed in the centre of an urban centre, and individuals race downward in an attempt to win it all. This is the premise behind the annual Red Bull Crashed Ice competition.
Once again, the backdrop for this year’s North American challenge is down the Côte de la Montagne in Quebec City, with the historic Chateau Frontenac as the starting point and the St. Lawrence River below as the finishing line. There are 64 men and 16 women who begain the run and only one from each category will end up the champion.
Each year more than 100,000 spectators take in the action, not only provided by the racers, but by full on joie de vivre in the streets as well. There is a new sectioned “Fan Zone” where people can purchase a ticket to chill at the finish line amongst 3,000 others in an enclosed licensed area with several large live-action screens, and a live concert performance.
With the track running 554 meters in length with a 60m vertical, the first hurdle is a barrel jump, after which speeds of up to 60 km/hr are sometimes reached while navigating a barrage of tightly woven twists and turns being cheered and jeered along the way, as AC/DC’s Highway to Hell screams “no stop signs, speed limits” throughout the city. The majority of the racers are hockey players who look at this as an opportunity to breakdown barriers of the traditional flat ice surface, bending both genres and blades. While there is some jostling for position along the way, most is done in good sport.
Creating history, Martin Niefnecker of Germany earned the title as the first-ever World Champion in 2010. He humbly stated, “It’s a very big honor to be the first World Champion”. While finishing second in Quebec that year, his combined point total from his first place victory in Munich earned him this prestigious honour.
Closing off the night, spectators are treated to a downhill motocross ride followed by a giant outdoor street party. The momentum around this sport is certainly building, and some racers have become recognized names, such as six-time champion Jasper Felder from Sweden, along with Alberta’s Kevin Olson and Gabriel Andre. All in all it is an action packed weekend of free outdoor entertainment that brought together everyone who was out to have un bon-temps!
Red Bull Crashed Ice 2012 takes place March 15 to 17: www.redbullcrashedice.com
Porter Airlines offers daily service from Toronto’s Billy Bishop City Centre Airport to Quebec City, with connections from the rest of the ever expanding flight network. Watch for Porter Escapes to begin offering vacation packages in the first half of 2012.
Porter – www.flyporter.ca