It's been the longest season in the history of ice cross downhill, but with just one event to go there is light at the end of the tunnel for the top three US women. After a series of grueling races, exciting battles and thousands of air miles, Alexis Jackson, Sydney O'Keefe and Amanda Trunzo all have a chance of stepping up onto that end of season podium and claiming a place in history. In the first ever women's World Championship it's currently the Canadian girls leading the way, occupying the top three spots in the standings, but with the final event coming on home soil and a huge, vociferous crowd expected in Saint Paul, the American ladies will be spurred on to make one final charge for glory.
Ahead of the mouth-watering finale, let's take a closer look at the three women aiming for the top spots in the capital of Minnesota.
Alexis Jackson
Alexis Jackson, or Lex as she is affectionately known, is currently sitting in fourth place following a storming victory in Jyväskylä-Laajis, Finland last month. Jackson had her first taste of the ice at a young age, learning to skate at the tender age of 3. The natural route into ice hockey followed and she competed in the sport throughout high school. But, she says, by her late teens the passion for competitive sport had drained and all those hours on the ice had taken their toll. It wasn't until ice cross downhill came calling, when a friend alerted her to the fastest sport on skates, that Jackson fell in love with the ice again.
"My first time skating downhill was in Afton Alps in 2015. It was a fast course – I was terrified. I think I had the brakes on the whole way down. I asked the guys for pointers and they said "don't brake." I got my butt kicked in the race. But then I spent a day messing around on the track and it all clicked. When it clicks, it feels like flying. I've been chasing that rush for a while."
Like so many other athletes in this sport, it's that "rush" which reeled Jackson in and reignited her competitive spark. "Ice cross downhill makes my heart sing", says the 21 year-old from Shelburne, Vermont, and it's clear that she's totally in tune with the ice this season. She may have faltered in Munich, breaking her wrist and failing to pick up any points, but she bounced right back three weeks later, hitting the high notes with that thrilling win in Finland.
Jackson still has a chance of winning the title, but if she falls short of that then the possibility of a top three finish is a very real one. She lists fantasy novels as one of her guilty pleasures, and with so many friends and family cheering her on this weekend she will no doubt be dreaming of a fantasy finish in Saint Paul.
Sydney O'Keefe
Hot on the heels of Alexis Jackson in 5th place is Minnesota resident Sydney O'Keefe. Like Jackson, she still has a shot at the title, albeit a slim one, but a top three finish is firmly in her sights. Another young starter on the ice - she learned to skate in 2nd grade - O'Keefe found her first experience of downhill skating 'intimidating'. Despite her intitial trepidation and 'Bambi legs' she soon developed that rush, "It was easy to get addicted to ice cross downhill".
This is O'Keefe's third year competing in the sport, with her favourite moment so far coming back in that first year when she qualified as a wildcard for the Quebec event, thanks to a victory in Saint Paul. "It was an unforgettable experience", says the resident of Prior Lake, MN, who works as a hockey coach when she's not competing on the ice.
With hobbies including hikes, bike rides, rollerblading, playing hockey, exploring new trails, boating and fishing, it's clear that O'Keefe likes to keep herself active and busy. Saying that, she does enjoy curling up in front of Netflix from time to time, "I do love getting sucked into a good series, haha". Well, the script for this 2015/16 season is yet to be completed, but with the support of plenty of friends and family in Saint Paul she might just go and write herself into ice cross downhill history.
Amanda Trunzo
A little further back in the standings is another resident of Minnesota - Amanda Trunzo. Unlike Jackson and O'Keefe, her current total of 1080 points puts her out of reach of the title, but a super performance in Saint Paul this weekend might just see her steal a place on the overall podium.
Continuing the theme of early starters, Trunzo could skate by the time she was four. She was so good that her parents snuck her onto her older brother's ice hockey team at an early age, even though she was technically too young to play. From there, she never looked back, playing throughout her youth and on into college where she had the privilege of playing on the USA U-22 National team. She began her ice cross downhill career in 2012, with her best result so far coming in that season when she finished fourth in Quebec. When asked earlier this season about which race she was most looking forward to, O'Keefe had no hesitations,
"St Paul without a doubt! Friends, family, home crowd advantage with one of the biggest crowds, if not the biggest crowd of the tour, and getting to represent USA back in my home state is a going to be a great feeling."
With the finale fast approaching and the chance to step up onto that end of season podium, do we really have to ask the self-confessed Justin Bieber fan what does she mean? It's clear, she means business!
So, the pressure is on. For these three American women a place in women's ice cross downhill history beckons. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, the fervent support of their friends, family and fans may just give them the strength and courage needed to pass their Canadian rivals.
Watch Red Bull Crashed Ice Saint Paul LIVE on February 27 from 2.45am CET on www.redbullcrashedice.com and Red Bull TV. Click here for more information.