Sweden to host Crashed Ice

2nd February 2012, by Chris Gill

Crashed Ice competition (c) Red Bull

The Swedish ski resort of Are will host the third stop of the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship 2012 from 16 to 18 February, a fast and furious race that originated in Stockholm in 2001.

Red Bull Crashed Ice is a combination of ice hockey, downhill skating and skiercross, and has developed into one of the toughest winter sport events. Four ice-hockey racers at a time hurtle down a 500m long course of bumps and rollers, just in skier cross events, reaching speeds of 70km/hr. And, like its related ‘cross’ competitions, it’s the first person down the course who wins and proceeds to the next heat. Of the 64 starters, only one will be crowned the champion.

Back in 2001, the race was won by a Swede too – the ice cross downhill legend Jasper Felder who went on to dominate the sport during the first half of the noughties. In 2012, the event began in Saint Paul, USA, and progressed to a venue in the Netherlands. After Sweden, it’s the final stage in Quebec, Canada.

The main event takes place in the evening on Saturday 18 February (6pm-8pm), with a start up the mountain to the right above Timmerstugan; the finish area is in the town centre, at Åre Square. It’s free to watch.

The partying kicks off on the Thursday 16 February, with an après-skate gig at the Tott hotel followed by the Crashed Ice party at Dippan (fronted by a popular DJ). Qualification heats take place on the Friday, followed by another dance party (at Bygget). But the best is for last, with an even bigger party in the TV4 Sport Arena in the Holiday Club – doors open from 9pm. Tickets costs 250 Swedish Krone (@£25), and you’ll need to be over 18 years old to get in.

For more about Åre resort, check out our Review

Links: Red Bull Crashed Ice

• racing
• sweden
• are
• boardercross

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