Final race will take part of the Ottawa 2017 celebration and join Marseille as new venues in 2017 Ice Cross Downhill calendar
OTTAWA, Oct. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Ottawa will host the Ice Cross Downhill World Series Season Finale for the first time on March 4, 2017, as the country celebrates its 150th anniversary in the nation's capital. The final race will feature a track built on the Ottawa Locks of Park Canada's historic and picturesque Rideau Canal, overlooking some of the most iconic views in Canada.
The championship series will kick off in the brand new location of Marseille, France followed by two popular returning stops in Jyväskylä-Laajis, Finland and Saint Paul, Minnesota.
"This sport just keeps growing in popularity every year and this year is definitely going to take it to the next level," said Christian Papillon, the championship's sporting director. "Along with two popular stops coming back in Jyväskylä-Laajis, Finland and Saint Paul, Minnesota, we've got two new races in incredible environments on the calendar: Le Vieux Port de Marseille in France is a mind-boggling location because it's not even close to being a winter city; and we're going to introduce a new location in Ottawa. They're going to be insane."
RETURN OF ATHLETE RECRUITMENT
Canada has historically hosted local qualifier events across the country to recruit athletes to compete in the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship. Again this season, The ATSX Federation (All Terrain Skate Cross / www.atsx.org) will act as the governing body for the sport of Ice Cross Downhill, requiring all eligible athletes to become ATSX Federation members in order to register for one or multiple Red Bull Crashed Ice and Riders Cup events. A full overview of rules and standings will be available soon at www.atsx.org.
NEW JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The new Junior World Championship will make its exciting debut to all stops of the series this season. For the first time, athlete's ages 16-20 will compete at each Red Bull Crashed Ice race with the same rules as the main races. This new category will work with the ATSX Federation to create more opportunity for young athletes to get involved in the sport.
RETURN OF THE RIDERS CUPS EVENTS
As the sport continues to grow there will also be six Riders Cup competitions – races staged by riders for riders that are worth ¼ as many championship points as the Red Bull Crashed Ice stages. The traditional season opener will be in Wagrain-Kleinarl, Austria on Dec. 10 with the next stop in Rautalampi, Finland on Jan. 28, as well as in Sherbrooke, Canada. The forth stop will be in Moscow on Feb. 4 and the last two races will be in Canada, in La Sarre on Feb. 18 and back in Bathurst, Canada on Feb. 25.
CANADIAN ATHLETES LOOKING TO RECLAIM TITLE
The 2015 champion and Canadian hometown hero, Scott Croxall (ON) will look to reclaim his title after American rival Cameron Naasz won the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship in 2016. Another Canadian hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Dean Moriarity, will be looking to beat out his competition after finishing 3rd last year and training in the off season to take gold in his country's capital city.
RED BULL CRASHED ICE 2017 CALENDAR
Jan. 13-14 - Marseille, France; Jan. 20-21 – Jyväsklyä-Laajis, Finland; Feb 3-4 – Saint Paul, USA; March 3-4 – Ottawa, Canada.
Riders Cup Calendar: Dec. 10, 2016 – Wagrain-Kleinarl, Austria; Jan. 28 – Rautalampi, Finland; Jan. 28 Sherbrooke, Canada; Feb. 4 – Moscow, Russia; Feb. 18 – La Sarre, Canada; Feb. 28 – Bathurst, Canada.
ABOUT RED BULL CRASHED ICE
Created in 2001 and established as world championship in 2010, Red Bull Crashed Ice are the pinnacle events with athletes racing four-at-a-time down narrow obstacle-filled ice tracks of up to about 500 meters long at speeds of up to 80 km/h in a mad dash to the frozen finish line in an attempt to take first or second place and thus advance to the next round. The world's fastest sport on skates is now part of the ATSX Ice Cross Downhill World Championship. Athletes from more than 20 countries and five continents take part in races held on artificial or natural ice tracks set up on slopes in the center of major cities or at ski resorts in Europe and North America.
ABOUT OTTAWA 2017
Throughout 2017, Ottawa will be the focal point for the festivities marking Canada's 150th anniversary. Ottawa 2017 will deliver 12 full months of bold events, immersive experiences and all-out celebrations, including Red Bull Crashed Ice, to mark this important milestone. Stay informed on plans for Canada's 150th birthday celebrations in the nation's capital. Visit ottawa2017.ca, follow us on Twitter @2017ottawa (#Ottawa2017) and on Facebook.
RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Red Bull Crashed Ice hi-res photo and video content are captured and made immediately available, free for editorial use on the Red Bull Content Pool. Media of all channels including television, film, print, mobile, and digital can access the content at www.redbullcontentpool.com.
RED BULL CRASHED ICE NEWSROOM
The Red Bull Crashed Ice Newsroom allows media partners to view, retrieve, display, and share hi-res photos, recordings and moving images of every Red Bull Crashed Ice stop, completely free of charge. For more news and content including media accreditation, please visit the newsroom at www.redbullcrashedicenewsroom.com.
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SOURCE Red Bull Canada
Image with caption: "Ottawa will host the Ice Cross Downhill World Series Season Finale (CNW Group/Red Bull Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161012_C8145_PHOTO_EN_793749.jpg
MEDIA CONTACTS: Caroline Dunnet, Edelman, 416.816.9947, [email protected]; Marie-Michelle Gagné (Québec), Gestev, (418) 561-6762, [email protected]
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