Men and women do battle for starting spot in Saint Paul
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Competitors gathered at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN, on Sunday, January 26.
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The qualifier was open to female skaters...
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... and men with beards!
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The ice was cold, but the action hot as the skaters competed in a series of time trials.
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The course contained many obstacles designed to prepare the participants for the rigours of an ice cross downhill race.
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The Saint Paul tryout was the sixth of a total of eight qualifiers in the US.
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It brought out the best skaters with ambitions to compete at ice cross downhill.
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A total of 50 skaters advanced to the National Shoot Out - the first race of the World Championship weekend in Saint Paul on February 20.
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