KALL (Sweden) – The sport of Ice Cross Downhill run under the aegis of Red Bull Crashed Ice has become popular around the world in just over the first decade since it was created. Now what is certainly the most extreme sport on skates has developed a new training method. The racy training alternative was baptized spontaneously Ice Cross Hope Rope during the world premiere today on Lake Kall near Are in central Sweden, where the idea was tried for the first time.
World championship Ice Cross Downhill athletes Adam Horst (CAN), Tigh Isaac (USA), Fabian Mels (GER) and Claudio Calouri (SUI) took turns being pulled through a slalom course set up on the frozen lake while attached to a cable being pulled by a Mini Countryman Cooper S, which was equipped with a 186-horsepower engine and spiked tires. Test rider Claudio Calouri (SUI), a professional mountain downhill racer, was duly impressed with the new riding sensation. “You need to have a lot of stability and balance to be able to withstand the tremendous amount of pressure in the turns,” he said.
After the successful initial tests, there are plans to make it even more challenging with not only buoys to navigate around on the slalom course but also jumps and waves built will be built into the ice track.
“We’re always searching for new ways to be able to train for Ice Cross Downhill and this is a very good way for athletes to get accustomed to the speed of the sport,” Calouri said.
The third race of the 2012 world championship takes place in Are on Saturday. Kyle Croxall (CAN) is leading the championship ahead of Fabian Mels (GER) and Arttu Pihlainen (FIN).
