Training for Red Bull Crashed Ice took Reed Whiting back to the very beginning of his skating career. On the homemade rink his dad built him in the backyard, Whiting chipped his tooth. In 2014, training for Red Bull Crashed Ice, he broke that same tooth. It all comes back around, doesn't it? From that homemade backyard rink, Whiting would go on to play his collegiate career with Ohio State University. Now in his second year of Red Bull Crashed Ice, Whiting is ready to achieve even more. "I wake up every morning to live out my dreams," says Whiting. "The first time I went down the track was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life."
How long have you been competing in ice cross downhill?
2014 is my second year.
What first got you interested in the sport?
One of my friends sent me a message on Facebook right before the first event in Saint Paul and asked why I wasn't doing it. That moment I googled everything I could about the sport and fell in love. I set my sights on the following season with a goal of competing in the finals in Saint Paul.
If there is one piece of advice that you could offer new riders, what would it be?
Get out of your head and just have fun.
What is your best result or favourite memory at a Red Bull Crashed Ice?
My favourite memory in Red Bull Crashed Ice happened in Lausanne last season. The event started really rough for me as I nearly broke my hip on the first practice run, and then during qualifying the rivets came out of my skates and they had only a hammer to fix them. I had one more qualifying run left to make the event and was feeling the pressure and a ton of frustration. When I qualified in the top 32 to move on to the race, the emotion shooting through my body was overwhelming. I love those moments in life where things get tough and you find a way to persevere. To me that's what life is all about.
Who is your favourite sportsman?
In the sport of ice cross downhill, for sure R2 [former champion Arttu Pihlainen]. I only spent time with him at one race, but immediately noticed his amazing talent for the sport, all the while carrying himself in the most humble way you could ever imagine.
