Photos: Feats of daring at Crashed Ice event

January 26, 2013

Nearly 200 skaters are taking part in the second annual Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships Thursday through Saturday in St. Paul. Skaters dressed in hockey gear come out of the starting gate four abreast, trying to stay upright while navigating a course loaded with bumps, twists and drops. Last year, the event drew up to 90,000 to St. Paul. The 2013 finals are scheduled for Saturday night.

A group of skaters drops onto the track Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, during the elimination round to determine which national and international athletes advance to Saturday's finals at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Switzerland's Reto Maeder leaves his three competitors behind at "Hangman Hill" on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, during the elimination round of the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition in downtown St. Paul. The top 64 skaters advance to Saturday night's finals. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Minnesotans braved the cold to watch the elimination round Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in downtown St. Paul. The top 64 athletes will advance to the finals on Saturday night. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Skaters race down the 400-meter-long course during the elimination round Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Champion in downtown St. Paul. Racers enter the course from atop a 48-foot ramp near the Cathedral of St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Workers keep crampons handy to gain traction on icy terrain Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Athletes try to gain speed as they cross Summit Avenue in front of the Cathedral of St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in downtown St. Paul. The top 64 competitors from this elimination round advance to Saturday's finals. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Skaters descend "Hangman Hill," a 16-foot-high wall, on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, during the elimination round of the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Shane Nuttley of Canada, center, poses for pictures with fans after his run Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, during the elimination round of the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson) link to this photo

Racers drop onto the Crashed Ice course in the quarterfinals of the team competition on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan) link to this photo

Minnesota native Brian Schack flies over jumps on the Crashed Ice course in the quarterfinals of the team competition on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan) link to this photo

Racers prepare for a big dropoff as the Crashed Ice course heads down from the St. Paul Cathederal in the semifinals of the team competition on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in downtown St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Nate Ryan) link to this photo

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Photos: Feats of daring at Crashed Ice event

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