With a popular actor, a guy who is "Nutts," and even "the Russian Darth Vader" from Siberia, the international line-up for Red Bull Crashed Ice in Saint Paul is nothing if not diverse. But the lively mix of athletes is united by a passion for the sport that is developing across destinations worldwide.
As the top contenders prepare for Red Bull Crashed Ice on Cathedral Hill in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, on February 22, one thing is clear: in this fast-growing sport, competition goes hand-in-hand with camaraderie, and the personalities are as varied as the nationalities.
One unmissable athlete is Shane Nuttley – known by his alias, "Nutts." Fans love the outgoing Canadian's signature jersey – with Nuttley's own giant, smiling face emblazoned on front and back – as well as his bright red hair with "Nutts" shaved in. Nuttley has been competing since 2008. "I love doing these races," he says. "I'm 40 and skating with 20-year-old guys, and I do everything I can to push them to deliver their best."
Another long-time athlete is 35-year-old Mikko Leppilampi, a famous actor in Finland. "I've played all kinds of sports – hockey, vert skateboarding on ramps, and even acrobatics at a theater academy, which helped me understand how to handle my body in the air," he says. Leppilampi competed in his first Ice Cross Downhill World Championship race in Helsinki on February 1, made it to the final round of 64, and was hooked. He says, "You don't have to settle down at 35. It's never too late to find excitement in your life."
Flying under the radar but no less excited is Tigh Isaac, from the United States. The polite 26-year-old seems almost too laidback to compete in the fastest sport on skates. But on the track he's an aggressive technician, and as he suits up, another facet of his personality is revealed. Isaac's calves are covered with tattoos of the gods, Zeus and Hades, as well as Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell... Why? "For the artistry," he says simply.
And then there's the skater who stands out for being just so normal. Adam Green is a hardworking guy who grew up in the American Midwest, playing hockey and competing on the Junior Man's In-Line Skate Team. Green has a degree in Finance and works at a brokerage firm, but he has made time to compete in Red Bull Crashed Ice ever since 2010. "As an American, I'm excited about this Saint Paul contest," he comments. "The crowd will be massive and people will be extra-hyped for winter sports. This is another way fans can say, 'Go USA!'"
Two Russian competitors in Saint Paul are looking forward to a similar home ice advantage when the race makes its third stop in Moscow on March 8. Andrey Lavrov and Khariton Vlasov grew up thousands of miles from each other – Lavrov in cultured Saint Petersburg and Vlasov in remote Siberia, but at the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship they're teammates on the Arctic Team. Suited up, Vlasov is intimidating in his helmet that looks like a Star Wars storm trooper. He's known as the "Russian Darth Vader," which maybe makes Lavrov the Russian Luke Skywalker. "We're enemies on the ice but good buddies the rest of the time," laughs Lavrov. "And we're really happy and proud to represent our country at such a high level."
Watch Red Bull Crashed Ice in Saint Paul!
Catch all the action from Red Bull Crashed Ice in the USA:
Webcast: We will stream the entire competition live right here on redbullcrashedice.com, Red Bull TV and Apple TV from 2am (CET) on February 23. Please note that the live webcast is geo-blocked in the US. The event will be broadcast nationally for the first time on Fox Sports 1 on Monday, February 24, at 9.30pm (ET) / 6.30pm (PT).
TV: The main event will be broadcast live on several TV stations outside the United States. Please check local listings.
Live Results: To get results and standings in real-time, hit redbullcrashedice.com/results.
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