Crashed Ice comes to Ottawa: skate racing meets roller coaster

The Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships gave a whole new perspective to skating on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal.  Thousands gathered on Friday and Saturday in bitterly cold temperatures to watch competitors from all over the world skate downhill, uphill, over jumps, and around tight curves on a specially designed, elevated course over the steep canal locks between the Chateau Laurier and the Ottawa River.

Crashed Ice is the more common name for Ice Cross racing, and judging by the risks involved, the word “crashed” makes a lot of sense. The Ottawa races were the final ones on this year’s international circuit. Several took place in Europe. The single U.S. event was in St. Paul Minnesota, and two other Canadian races took place in La Sarre Quebec, and Bathurst New Brunswick.

First place overall in women’s competition went to Canadian Jacqueline Legere, American Amanda Trunzo was second, and Myriam Trepanier from Canada came in third.  In men’s competition, first overall was American Cameron Naasz, Canadian Scott Croxall was second, and third place went to Maxwell Dunne from the U.S.

The crowds were huge for the event, it was difficult to get a good place to watch.  A special thanks goes to Jean-Nicholas Martineau who had a good viewpoint at the Friday night races and contributed two of the photos.

 

 

Tags: crashed ice, events, ottawa, sports