Canadian Kyle Croxall struggled through training and was a dismal 17th place in qualifying in the southern Holland town of Valkenburg, where the longest and most difficult Ice Cross Downhill track in the history of Red Bull Crashed Ice was built in recent weeks. He was not among the favorites before the race on the 575-meter long artificial ice track with its steep ramps and challenging obstacles and trailed behind Kilian Braun of Switzerland, the fastest qualifier, and his younger brother Scott. But the 23-year-old Kyle Croxall, a bull of a man weighing 97 kg, came out on top once again with a stirring come-from-behind victory. After knocking defending champion Arttu Pihlainen out in the semi-finals, Croxall was the only one of four finalists to stay on his feet in the final.
The Canadian stayed close on the heels of Mels in a high-speed final and took advantage of his chance when the towering German stumbled late in the race. The 22-year-old from Cologne is the shooting star of the 2012 season and nevertheless moved into second place in the championship with his first career podium. Finland’s Paavo Klintrup, an outstanding jumper, took third while Scott Croxall was fourth after breaking a skate blade in the final.
“I wanted to win this more than anyone else,” said Kyle Croxall. Local hero Glenn Bakx (NED) took 26th place. Racers accelerated to over 70 kmh on the track. The start ramp had a frightening 7-meter drop on a 50-degree angle. Belgium's Pieter Gysel, a former Olympic short tracker, finished a strong 23rd while the usually strong Czech team disappointed with Lukas Kolc as their best in 19th place.