St. Paul will once again host Red Bull Crashed Ice, a high-speed downhill race on skates that's become an annual winter spectacle in the Capitol city.

Next year's race will be the fifth time the cross downhill event will be staged on Cathedral Hill but will be the first time the United States will host the final event of the world championship. The ice cross downhill competition kicks off in Quebec in November then heads to Germany and Finland before its finale in St. Paul Feb. 26-27, which will also include the debut of a Women's World Championship.

About 140,000 people attended last year's Crashed Ice in St. Paul, giving the city an economic jolt in the dead of winter.

"St. Paul lights up during this truly amazing event," said Mayor Chris Coleman. "The economic impact on local businesses is staggering, bringing in millions of dollars last year alone."

The fast and physical race sends four skaters barreling down a track at a time, flying over bumps and through hairpin curves with the fastest two advancing to the next round.

"There is nothing I want more this year than to be on top of the podium in St. Paul and bring a win home for the U.S.," said Lakeville native Cameron Naasz, the current second-place holder.

Staff report