Mountain Running
New course records set in the return of Red Bull 400 to Copper Peak
Picture perfect spring conditions set the stage as racers from around the world returned to Copper Peak today for the second ever Red Bull 400 in Ironwood, Michigan.
With competitors travelling from as far as Malaysia and Australia, the second year did not disappoint as the field of competition doubled to 1,000 athletes up for the challenge of the world’s steepest 400m race.
A competitor gives it his all
© Ryan Taylor/Red Bull Content Pool
The energy and excitement of an international competition returned back to the historic jump, as thousands of spectators descended upon Copper Peak once again to watch the intense action and enthusiastically cheer on the athletes as they raced up the largest artificial ski jump in the world. The day included entertainment from local vendors and a jump from Red Bull Air Force, who skydived and swooped down the ski jump with a landing at the starting line, which captivated the crowd.
A competitor races up the steep ski hill
© Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool
With more than 20 heats throughout the day, the top 40 men and top 40 women from the day moved on to the championship round.
For the Men’s Championship, Red Bull 400 vet Miles Fink-Debray (4:38.0) took first in the final heat, securing his title as the Men’s 2019 Red Bull 400 Copper Peak Winner. The 23-year-old will go on to race for the title at Red Bull 400 Park City for the second year in a row and will then head to the Red Bull 400 World Championships in Whistler later this summer. The runner hopes to secure the trifecta of three first-place finishes at the North American Red Bull 400 races for the 2019 season.
Miles Fink-Debray
© Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool
“This is the coolest race. It's been fun to have this as my focus right now and to come here and win is the best feeling in the world,” said Fink-Debray. “I drew a lot of my experience from last year’s race in Park City and I tried to conserve my energy and save everything for the finals. I just put my head down and never looked back.”
Sarah Hendrickson
© Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool
Among those vying for a podium spot was ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson. The 24-year-old, two-time Olympian proved that she is just as equipped to travel up ski jumps as she is to fly down them, taking the title of Women’s 2019 Red Bull 400 Copper Peak Winner. With a time of 6:13.4 Hendrickson had second place Kristen Monahan right on her tail, but ultimately reached the top first and clinched the winning title.
Winners on the podium
© Ryan Taylor/Red Bull Content Pool
“I'm stoked to win, and to see the amazing community and atmosphere around a ski jump warms my heart,” said Hendrickson. “A lot of people in the States don’t know what ski jumping is and I am so excited that Red Bull puts on these events to bring awareness to my sport, and it makes it even more exciting to win!”
After a busy event weekend in Lahti, Finland and Michigan’s Copper Peak, Red Bull 400 travels to Sapporo, Japan for the fourth race of the 2019 season on May 18.
Red Bull 400 Copper Peak – men's results
PLACE
NAME
TIME
1.
Miles Fink-Debray (USA)
4m 38s
2.
Matt Novakovich (USA)
4m 51s
3.
Ian Torchia (USA)
5m 04s
Red Bull 400 Copper Peak – women's results
PLACE
NAME
TIME
1.
Sarah Hendrickson (USA)
6m 13s
2.
Kristen Monahan (USA)
6m 15s
3.
Kameron Burmeister (USA)
6m 37s
You can view the complete 2019 Red Bull 400 Copper Peak results by clicking on the 'results' section of the Red Bull 400 event page.