< A letter to the East Coast (5x8 - 11/15/11) | Main | 'Anywhere but Minot' >

An event to make you long for the dead of winter

Posted at 11:34 AM on November 15, 2011 by Bob Collins (6 Comments)
Filed under: Sports

An announcement today that could make you turn off the weather forecasters who make cold and snow sound like a bad thing...

This is coming to Saint Paul. ~~and Duluth...~~

Red Bull - Crashed Ice from Boogie Studio on Vimeo.

It's called crashed ice. The Red Bull-sponsored event will consist of seven "qualifying events" in the U.S., with Saint Paul hosting the event from January 12-14.

It actually could live up to the press release hype:

With four athletes duking it out shoulder-to-shoulder down an intimidating and treacherous icicle in full ice cross downhill gear, the combatants will race up to 40 miles an hour down steep ice canals dotted with jumps, rollers, obstacles, banked corners and hairpin bends - until the first two cross the finish line and advance to the next round. This bracketed madness will continue until the final chapter when the four remaining competitors race to the bottom to crown the champ. Speed, agility, perseverance, toughness and courage are the ingredients needed for success

A "politicians pro-am division" would be cool...

The course will be set up near the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

(h/t: Ali Lozoff)

Comments (6)

I saw this on the lobotomy box, broadcast from Canada.

Pretty much a skating race down a luge track with lots of colored lights.

Now if they were allowed to use sticks........

Posted by Jim Shapiro | November 15, 2011 12:05 PM

One word: Awesome. Then again I'm probably part of their target audience.

I'm not surprised that RedBull is hitting MN with these events, or even that they will include us twice with both Duluth and St. Paul, considering the record shattering Flugtag last year.

This looks like a blast, and I will more than likely be there, time to dust off the mad bomber hat again....

Posted by Caleb (CHS) | November 15, 2011 12:11 PM

Nice for St Paul to get the first event in US! I can't wait to see where they erect the course - up and down the river bluffs, with a loop through downtown maybe?

Posted by John P II | November 15, 2011 12:42 PM

Watching the video my first reaction was "roller derby on ice".

Posted by JackU | November 15, 2011 1:11 PM

Beautifully and humorously said Mr. Collins. Thanks for staying- you're a keeper!

Posted by Polly | November 15, 2011 8:57 PM

How soon can we make this an Olympic sport?

Posted by Tyler | November 16, 2011 10:41 AM