Crashed Ice comes to a close in Quebec

The Red Bull Crashed Ice Championship 2012 came to a close Saturday with Red Wing High School graduate Andrew Bergeson making the round of 32 in Quebec, Canada.

He won his first race Friday and finished second in his first race Saturday before being eliminated. He ended the day in 22nd place, the top finish for Team USA.

“It turned out pretty well,” Andrew said. “I had a little luck on my side. I stayed on my feet. It was nice to get through the first night, just to get a chance to skate in front of a 100,000 people. Friday night, it’s just not quite the same. It felt really good to get there.”

Danny Bergeson, also of Red Wing, was knocked out in the elimination round Friday along with Tigh Isaac and Cameron Naasz of Team USA.

“We were all pretty bummed,” Danny said. “Every guy expected to get through the first round. We made some mistakes that were uncharacteristic.”

Danny came into Friday night’s competition in 56th place but ended in 76th. He finished in 90th place in the world standings.

The top 32 skaters during the 2011-12 Crashed Ice seasons automatically qualify for Red Bull Crashed Ice 2013. Isaac, of Salt Lake City, was the only American to automatically qualify, in 31st place, but Andrew said he expects to make Team USA again. He finished in 45th place despite missing five out of the eight races.

“It’s wait and see but I feel pretty confident,” Andrew said.

Team USA finished eighth out of 23 teams. Team Canada won Red Bull Crashed Ice 2012 by almost 2,000 points and Canada’s Kyle Croxall won the individual title.

Both Bergeson brothers said they made big improvements from their first race in St. Paul during January to Quebec City. They hope that progress gets them on Team USA next year. Andrew said he never expected to be disappointed with finishing in the top 32 but his goals changed from race to race.

“We just wanted to qualify to have a chance to go down the track in St. Paul,” Andrew said. “Everything was a whirlwind. I didn’t even think it was possible … I know that I can do better and know that St. Paul wasn’t a fluke. I don’t know if I can win a whole series but I definitely think I could be a top eight or a top four (athlete) for sure.”

Danny said Red Bull plans to bring Crashed Ice back to St. Paul next year and might add a fifth total event, two in Canada, for 2013. During the long layoff, Andrew and Danny said they will try to get back into skating shape. Being away from hockey for multiple years put them at a disadvantage but they still found a way to compete, Danny said.

“Not trying to make too many excuses, but we relatively hadn’t skated in two or three years,” Danny said. “I think if both of us put some serious time into it, we can improve our results for next year … we thought we’d have been a lot better at it when we were still in hockey. You’re in completely different shape.”

Andrew put together three finishes within the top 32 during this Crashed Ice season and only two years removed from playing football for Augsburg College, it gave him an outlet to compete, he said.

“It’s been shocking, it’s been so awesome,” Andrew said. “I don’t know how you can describe going from having sports done and it gives you that tingling feeling again like when you run out of the tunnel for football. It’s something only sports can give you. It gives you a chance to go out and compete.”

Tags: red wing, sports, proam, hockey