Anybody see Crashed Ice?

Its on NBC right now. Basically, cross speed skating and a motocross style course and you got it. VERY cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppgw9DHYnbs

If that was around when I was younger, I would have done it. I never played on a hockey team that I wasn't the best skater.

I was a little disappointed a fight didn't break out.

I watched it last year. Its pretty cool.

I'd never even heard about it. That is some seriously cool stuff. Jumps, camber changes, uphill and downhill portions. On ice skates!?!?

I first found out about it in Quebec City. If you've ever been there - serious elevation change. No uphill, just stupid downhill.

And not just ice skates - hockey skates. Not at their most stable at speed, let me tell you.

First person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ZTdef1K4E

It must be hell to make the course!! I am impressed! There was a guy at hockey tonight that was talking about this with another guy, but never described what it was, just kept mentioning crashed ice. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

I worked the Crashed Ice event in Niagara Falls. it was a blast. It is one of those things you have to see live.. The ruts in the ice are like scaled down motocross ruts.

Just before the finals they held a uphill race. They got some of the top skaters who were eliminated. And had them start at the finish line and finish about 3/4 of the way up the course. You have never seen tired until you see that.

The night before the main event, there was the team challenge. Six skaters at a time Three on each team. All six start at once. The team which is the first to have 2 members cross the finish advances to the next round.

The team challenge never made it to T.V. but dare I say it was almost better than the main event the next night.

Keith Tanner wrote: I first found out about it in Quebec City. If you've ever been there - serious elevation change. No uphill, just stupid downhill. And not just ice skates - hockey skates. Not at their most stable at speed, let me tell you. First person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ZTdef1K4E

That was cool. I thought he was going to get his position back for a second there.

They've had it here twice now in St. Paul. Drew a huge crowd even with temps in the single digits.

How much do these guys get paid?

drainoil wrote: They've had it here twice now in St. Paul. Drew a huge crowd even with temps in the single digits. How much do these guys get paid?

Yeah, something like 150k people this year, on one of the coldest days to date.... I want to say the high was 4 that day....We're a strange bunch.

Now see, if it were a paved course and they hired a couple roller-derby teams to duke it out all the way down, I think they'd really be on to something.

But yeah, that's crazy as-is.

I would love to see it first hand.

I stumbled upon it and watched for a while. It was fascinating for the first couple of runs and then got kind of boring. It's gotta be a rush to try, though. I also kept imagining the sport evolving with 18-24" blades.

Woody wrote: It was fascinating for the first couple of runs and then got kind of boring.

That's kind of my feeling, too.