A self-confessed ice cross downhill fanatic, Quebec City native Christian Papillon is the new sporting director for the 2011 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship.
In the months ahead, he’ll be busy drawing up rules for the new world championship, developing new obstacles for the entire series, and working closely with the people who put the course together at each event. He will keep athletes and officials up to speed with all the latest goings-on at all four races in 2011.
Christian will also be the go-to guy for a host of onsite athlete services, including shuttles, scheduling, training and rest periods, equipment repairs, and blade sharpening. He will play a hands-on role in developing equipment such as helmets and protectors.
1.) Christian, first of all, congratulations on your new role! How do you feel about becoming sporting director for the 2011 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship?
Thank you! I’m honoured to be part of a team of professionals that’s looking to drive forward what has been my favourite sport for four years now! I can’t put into words how important ice cross downhill is to me. It’s incredibly exciting, to say the least!
2.) To what extent will you be involved in designing courses on the circuit?
I work directly with the course designers. They have lots of experience and I respect their opinions. I’ll be bringing ideas that have been kicking around in my head for a while to the series, although I don’t intend to overhaul the basics. My job is to draw up the tracks with the designers and approve the courses at the end.
3.) What changes or new additions will your experience with Red Bull Crashed Ice and your own private track bring to the courses?
I have a ton of ideas thanks to everything I’ve learned from being involved in the sport and I’ve looked to other action sports for inspiration. I’m a big fan of obstacles that give competitors the chance to push themselves to the limit. Athletes like that and it always makes for a thrilling spectacle. I also like plenty of speed and jumps. So there’s going to be lots going on at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in 2011!
4.) You’ve raced in the past in Quebec City, Helsinki, Munich, and Prague. What do you remember most about those races?
After taking part in all those competitions in so many different countries, I’m sure that the sport is here to stay and ready to move on to the next level. Spectators love a show. The races are drawing bigger and bigger crowds every year, and the competitors are always hungry for more!
5.) What will help you most in your new role?
Needless to say, having taken part in a number of Crashed Ice races around the world, discussions with people involved in sports, people I know, and also the experience I’ve gained from organizing sports events and in my own career.
6.) You’ve moved from athlete to sporting director. What relationship will you have with other Crashed Ice athletes?
I’ve always had a great time with the other competitors. Of course, you were on your own at the starting gates, but off-track we all had a blast. Things won’t change for me. I’ll do what I have to do at the races, but nothing will have changed once it’s all over!
7.) You’ll be travelling to Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia over the course of the 2011 season. What do you consider each course’s forte to be?
Each track will be very different from the others because we’ll be working in different conditions for each stop in the series.
The Munich track will be built in a huge setting so we’ll have lots of space and leeway when it comes to building the course. Once again this year, the key point will be the 180 degree turn halfway through the race, bringing the athletes almost to a complete stop and having them accelerate explosively for the second time in the same race. Some of them will be running low on energy at this point and may even lose their places!
The Valkenburg course will be lightning quick and littered with obstacles, including new additions that should throw up a surprise or two for the skaters, while the Moscow track will feature a new type of obstacle that will encourage passing.
8.) In 2010 a knee injury ruled you out of the final. How did that feel?
It still hurts whenever I talk about it. Even if I’m involved with the event on a daily basis, I try not to think about it. I think it still hasn’t sunk in! I know that the first race in January in Munich will be something special. I’ll be happy to see the race from a different angle, but I’ll also be a bit nostalgic about all the sensations I’ve experienced with Red Bull Crashed Ice and that I’ll never feel in quite the same way again.
9.) Can you give us a sneak preview of the changes to the athletes’ schedules and training sessions in 2001?
Changes in 2011 will allow racers to spend more time on the track and put on more of a show. The event will be held over one more day this year, with national and international heats held on the Thursday and Friday, followed by an elimination round on the Friday and the final on the Saturday.
The elimination round will follow the same rules as the final: four skaters will race at a time, with the top two moving on. A practice session on the Saturday morning will give the athletes a chance to put the finishing touches to their strategy for the grand final on the Saturday evening!
10.) Finally, can you tell us a little about how the sport has evolved?
The sport hasn’t stopped evolving since its beginnings in 2000, and from now on it’s only going to develop even faster. Tracks and obstacles will develop too. Blades are now being made specially for the sport, and protective gear will surely follow, both in terms of performance and look.
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