The 2017 Red Bull Crashed Ice world championship in photos
Some 28,000 people watched Saturday's finale, say police
If Jim Watson has his way, this weekend's Red Bull Crashed Ice world championships in Ottawa won't be the last.
Watson joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and thousands of other people at the Rideau Canal's Ottawa Locks Saturday for the second and final day of the high-stakes downhill ice skatingchampionships.
The two-day competition, Watson said Sunday afternoon, "really exceeded" the city's expectations.
"We've started negotiations to try tosee if we can get Red Bull back every three years," Watson told Radio-Canada.
"The organizers were very satisfied with the organization, the logistics. It worked out really well for them, and we'd love to have them back."
Ottawa police said it was hard to count how many peoplebraved Saturday evening'sfrigid temperatures because so many people were moving in and out, but at its high point they estimatedabout 28,000took in the fast-paced spectacle.
- Meet the Gatineau team keeping Crashed Ice competitors safe
- Lone Ottawa skater feeling 'no pressure' as Crashed Ice spectacle nears
JacquelineLegere, from St. George, Ont., clinched a second consecutive women's championship on the weekend, while American CameronNaaszwon the men's championship also for the second straight year.
Crews are now tearing down themassive ice slides which made up the course at the Ottawa Locks,next to the Parliament buildings, the Chteau Laurier and Major's Hill Park.
Relive the weekend's action with this photo gallery.
Corrections
- A previous version of this story reported that police said about 15,000 people attended Saturday's finale. The Ottawa Police Service now says, at its high point, about 28,000 people attended the Red Bull Crashed Ice finale.Mar 05, 2017 8:14 PM ET