Trevor Mack insists he’s not crazy, despite hearing about broken shoulders, popped ankles and even a broken back while competing at last year’s Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in Quebec City.
In fact, the 19-year-old from Williams Lake said he’s looking forward to this year’s event even more than last year’s.
For those not familiar with the Crashed Ice world championships picture this: take the top qualifiers from around the world and dress them in hockey gear, dump them four at a time on a modified bobsled track with jumps, obstacles and bumps and watch as they battle each other at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour in a race to the finish line.
Mack, a graduate of Columneetza secondary, is currently attending film school at Capilano University in Vancouver. There, the opportunity presented itself for him to attend the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship qualifying event, held Feb. 11 at Coquitlam’s Planet Ice.
“There were about 250 people there,” Mack said. “The [qualifying] track was twice as long as it was last year, and it involved a lot more physical endurance.”
After not making the final 32 competitors at last year’s world championship Mack said he decided to train a little more for this year’s competition.
“I did a lot more training,” he said. “I’ve been going to my school’s gym and playing hockey, but last year gave me a strong idea of what to expect this year and the kind of mindset you need for it.”
Mack’s training paid off, as he finished second out of 250 people attempting to qualify, finishing in 22.640 seconds. The winner finished in 22.610. At the 2011 qualifier, Mack finished seventh.
“That gives me a better understanding of where I’m at as opposed to last year and how much I’ve improved,” he said.
Qualifying events just like the one held in Coquitlam were also held across the country. The top 350 then converge Quebec City for a televised broadcast (on Rogers Sportsnet).
“Hopefully I’ll make it to live TV this year,” Mack said, adding the Rogers Sportsnet broadcast goes March 17.
“I just want to get a better placing than last year. When you go to Quebec City there are about 250 guys eliminated by the time it gets to TV, so that’s my goal is to make it there.”
Anyone wanting to see Mack’s qualifying run can view it on YouTube at http://youtu.be/mMrngb-dWJU?hd=1.