He grew up near the middle of North America. Now he’s wowing crowds on two continents.
Cameron Naasz ’15 burnished his international extreme-sports credentials Jan. 9, winning the Munich event on the Red Bull Crashed Ice ice cross downhill circuit.
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The 26-year-old, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations, mastered a 1,214-foot long track with a 148-foot vertical drop through four rounds of racing at Olympic Park Saturday. He is 2-0 on the season, having won the Nov. 28 season opener in Quebec City.
Next up is the Jan. 29-30 race in Jyväskylä-Laajis, Finland. Then it’s on to the fourth and final event, the Feb. 26-27 Crashed Ice St. Paul at the Cathedral of St. Paul.
Will Naasz win the ice cross downhill world championship in the Minnesota capital, just 27 miles from his hometown of Lakeville and 76 miles from his university?
Founded in 2001, ice cross downhill is billed as the fastest winter sport. Skaters, wearing helmets and pads, negotiate turns, berms and jumps on a long and winding ice track. Races are hosted in an urban environment with loud music and dramatic lighting. It’s backed by Austrian beverage company and extreme-sports sponsor, Red Bull GmbH.
Naasz, who graduated fall semester, was an advisee of recently retired Mass Communications Professor Lisa Heinrich.
He has won the last three Red Bull Crashed Ice events, dating back to his March 13, 2015 win in Edmonton. He placed third in St. Paul in 2014 and third in Helsinki in 2015.
