Summit Spectator Safety Tips for St. Paul’s Crashed Ice Event

Two hundred international athletes have gathered in St. Paul this weekend to take their chances in a spectacle of downhill skating and snowboard racing on a sheet of ice that plunges 1410 feet in hairpin turns, jumps, slides, and a 131-foot vertical drop from the summit of St. Paul’s Cathedral hill to its base. The Red Bull Crashed Ice event on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is wildly popular. This is the third consecutive year that the ice downhill event has come to St. Paul, and organizers expect to draw more than 100,000 spectators.

When the sport is this extreme, so is the risk of injury to athletes. Summit Orthopedics is pleased to provide medical support to Crashed Ice. Our sports physicians will be on hand to treat any athletes injured during the competition, as well as onlookers who may need assistance.

The combination of frosty air and daring competition makes for exciting viewing. In fact, cheering spectators at winter sports events are estimated to burn about 60 calories every 10 minutes while they are watching the action. Although those calories may be a boon to lagging New Year resolutions, they also signal the importance of dressing warmly for a cold weather event. Exposure to frosty temperatures can be dangerous if you aren’t prepared.

Dress in layers of water- and wind-proof clothing. Polyesters and wool are good options that will keep moisture away from your skin, protect you from the wind, and allow you to accommodate to changing temperatures. Parking is always an issue at Crashed Ice, so plan for a hike from your car or shuttle to the hill. Choose footwear that is comfortable, warm, and dry, and gather up a hat, mittens, and scarf to protect your face if the wind picks up.

If you attend daytime events, be sure to apply sunscreen. Plan breaks to warm up, and remember that uncaffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids are your best bet to stay hydrated.

With a little advance planning, you can focus on the athletes battling the icy course, instead of battling the winter temperatures.

Summit Orthopedics supports healthy communities

Community health flourishes when specialized orthopedic care is conveniently available close to home. Summit Orthopedics is proud of our fellowship-trained subspecialty teams offering the full spectrum of orthopedic expertise in bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint conditions—in addition to our wellness, prevention, and rehabilitation services. We have the expertise to proactively improve fitness, evaluate discomfort, and deliver personalized treatment to quickly and safely return you to the lifestyle you love.

Start your journey to a healthier, more active self. Visit our Facebook page to learn about our wellness services and schedule a free wellness consultation online. Find your orthopedic expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

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