After eight races in five countries, the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship concludes with two races in the United States. Going into this weekend's final Riders Cup race in Mont Du Lac, Cameron Naasz is going all out to become the first American to win the title but is up against tough competition from Canadian rival Scott Croxall.
Both men have a chance to win the title in the world's fastest sport on skates at the end of a season which concludes at the fourth and final Red Bull Crashed Ice race on February 26/27. The two leaders will be among a field of 155 of the world's best Ice Cross Downhill athletes from 18 countries racing in the resort near Superior, Wisconsin.
While attempting to become the first American to win the title, Cameron Naasz is looking forward to the final two races of the season on home ice after surrendering the overall lead to Croxall at the Riders Cup race in Bathurst, Canada two weeks ago. But Croxall, the reigning world champion, is on a hot steak with four straight podiums at the last two Red Bull Crashed Ice races and the last two Riders Cup events – now leading the championship with a total of 2,950 points. Naasz, who is in second with 2,870 points, is glad to be home after six weeks on the road and hoping to win the 250 points up for grabs for the winner of the Riders Cup race in Mont Du Lac and the 1,000 points reserved for the winner of the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition in Saint Paul a week later.
Croxall is full of confidence after fighting his way back into the overall lead with a record six podiums this season. "My goal this weekend is the same as always, I'm going to follow my game plan to be in the finals and get on the podium," said Croxall, who got first place in the last Red Bull Crashed Ice race in Jyväskyla-Laajis, Finland and a pair of third place finishes at the Riders Cup races in Bathurst and Sherbrooke. "A top spot would be a cherry on top after having a first place and two third place podiums."
Canada's Moriarity, in third overall with 2,300 points, will be looking to win his third Riders Cup race this season after winning two of the last three stops. "It's important for me to do well in every race and these Riders Cups do help towards the big goal of the world championship," he said. "It's exciting to be doing good in races and now I'm and fully focused on the last race."
The track features a steep 65-meter vertical drop over 440 meters with eight rollers, two tabletops, three banked turns, and a grueling 50-meter uphill skate. There will also be a corner step down, a step up hip feature that has never before been used at an event. About 1,500 spectators are expected and a local band, Brother Ali and the Black Eyed Snakes, will be on hand to entertain the crowd.
"We're super excited to bring the Riders Cup to Mont Du Lac as this will be the third year of Ice Cross Downhill here," said organizer Reed Whiting. "The first race here in 2014 helped spur on the Riders Cup and the growth of the sport. The race gets bigger and bigger every year."
The Riders Cup was created as a feeder event to open the sport to even more competitors in more locations. The six Riders Cup races are part of the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship alongside the major four Red Bull Crashed Ice races.
World Championship Standings – before Riders Cup Mont du Lac, USA:
Men: 1. Scott Croxall (CAN) 2,950 points, 2. Cameron Naasz (USA) 2,870, 3. Dean Moriarity (CAN) 2,300, 4. Tristan Dugerdil (FRA) 1,510, 5. Luca Dallago (AUT) 1,457, 6. Pacôme Schmitt (FRA) 1,445, 7. Kilian Braun (SUI) 1,320, 8. John Fisher (CAN) 1,082, 9. Paavo Klintrup (FIN) 995, 10.Max Dunne (USA) 882,5
Women: 1. Jacqueline Legere (CAN) 2,250 points, 2. Myriam Trepanier (CAN) 2,090, 3. Elaine Topolnisky (CAN) 1,700, 4. Alexis Jackson (USA) 1,500, 5. Sydney O'Keefe (USA) 1,420