What does it take to win a Red Bull Crashed Ice event? Are they crazy? Nuts? Tired of living? Or are they actually serious athletes? But if so, what kind of athletes? Hockey players? Downhill racers? Adrenalin junkies?
The answer is, they're a combination of all of the above – Except the tired of living part because being a Red Bull Crashed Ice pilot requires an appetite for life in the fast lane. And you certainly need a collection of different skills to win one of these incredible events.
Speed:
Making a good start can be crucial to a Red Bull Crashed Ice race. Quick reactions and lots of power to accelerate out of the gate will help get you ahead of the competition.
Skating skills:
On a bumpy ice track that is sloping in every direction, your skating skills must be top drawer! You must be able to balance in any situation and at any speed, even when a competitor is trying to body check you. When crashing, you need to be able to get back up on your skates while sliding backwards down the track and you need to do this quick enough to stay in front. Or better still – you stay upright!
Fitness:
It takes quite a bit of power to do a run at full speed but if you want to win a Red Bull Crashed Ice, you also need the stamina to be able to pin it during two days: Training, qualifiers, more training, last 64, last 32, quarter-final, semi-final, final!
Racing line:
This is where athletes who have competed in racing sports rather than playing ice hockey are at an advantage. You need to be able to judge your speed before a turn, you need to know how to enter and to exit turns in a way that leaves you the maximum speed and you need to be able to pump through obstacles making speed.
Tactics:
You don’t know what happens when you race against three other competitors, so better have your moves ready when the guy behind you tries to pass you taking the inside!
Keeping cool:
Red Bull Crashed Ice is all about coolness under pressure: imagine 80,000 people watching you in the start, TV cameras pointing at you, an intimidating track in front of you, three guys next to you ready to do their utmost to beat you. Then the starter begins the count down, could you take the heat?
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