Extreme 'crashed ice' race in Bathurst biggest event of the winter

Extreme athletes from around the world will don skates in Bathurst this week and hurl themselves down a course of ramps, twists, jumps and turns in front of thousands of fans.

Competing in the extreme sport of crashed ice, or ice cross downhill, the skaters will reach speeds of more than 50 kilometres as they try toscore the fastest time on the Bathurst track.

The event is part of the Riders Cup crashed ice tour sponsored by energy drink company Red Bull, and the city has high hopes for it.

"It's the biggest New Brunswick event in the winter," BathurstMayorPaoloFongemiesaid. "You have the pond hockey in Plaster Rock and you have our event that attracts a big crowd."

Bruno Richard, a competitor and event organizer, told Information Morning Moncton that 150 athletes from 14 different countries are Bathurst for the extreme race. Qualifying rounds are Thursday and Friday.

"Crashed ice is a combination of skating, downhill skiing and Rollerblading," Richard said. "It's an extreme sport and it's pretty exciting for everybody."

This is the third year a downhill ice course has been built in the centre of Bathurst, and the second year the event has been part of the Riders Cup.

Fongemie, who is also an organizer of the race, and the director of the CCNB in Bathurst, said it's a huge boost for the local economy.

"Everybodyis talking about it," he said. "All the hotel rooms are booked for the weekend and it's not only the skaters. It's everyone coming to town to see the show."

Last year, the eventattracted 6,500 spectators, and this year Richard expects at least 8,000.

"It's really amazing,if you like any kind of racing ... the courses are really spectacular with big jumps and the fans love it ...it's full of action" said Richard.

Mild weather a concern

Last year, mild weatherforced organizers to re-schedule events in the extreme sport, also known as ice cross downhill. With above-zero temperatures expectedWednesday and Thursday, Richard is watching the weather closely.

"Last night it was really cold, so our team flooded all night to make sure we have the biggest amount of ice all over the track."

The course is about 450 metres long with sharp turns and big jumps, where Richard predicts "some guys are going to get some big air."

He said it's been fun showing the track to the athletes, who come from as far away as Poland, Estonia, Switzerland and Australia.

"This year it's really something else," he said. "I was at the track last night around midnight and we had a guy from the Netherlands and a guy from Belgium arrive, and they were just blown away with what the team has prepared."

Richard expect athletes will reach speeds of more than 50 kilometres per hour on the Bathurst course.

Students big part of event

Richard tried crashed ice back in 2008 in Quebec City and was immediately hooked.

"I didn't really know what it was ... and when I saw the starting ramp was 30 feet high and the first jump was 10 feet, I almost took a heart attack, but it quickly became a passion," he said.

His next challenge was finding a way to bring the new sport to Bathurst, where he works at CCNB.

"We decidedto organize a race and involve the programs ofCCNB," Richard said. "We're well-known for trades and now we have 30 programs involved directly in theorganizationof this event."

For example, welding students built the starting gate, technology students are in charge of thetiming, and the metal fabrication class made the trophies.

The main event in Bathurst is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m.

The Red Bull world championships in crashed ice will be held in Ottawa in March.

"Who would have thought that we would host a Red Bull crashedice international sporting event in Bathurst?" Fongemie said.