# Downhill Ice Skating Roller Derby Meets Hockey at the Red Bull Crashed Ice Competition By Howard Wu | Published 2009-11-14 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/downhill-ice-skating-roller-derby-meets-hockey-at-red-bull-crashed-ice-comp References: [skatelog](http://www.skatelog.com/countries/cz/2005-crashed-ice.htm) In Quebec City, downhill ice skating has a huge following among adrenaline junkies and residents alike. With four teammates barreling down an ice surface at ridiculous speeds, this somewhat contact sport seems to gain popularity every year. The [Crashed Ice Competitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/x-games-aspen-2026), as seen in this video, are quite fittingly sponsored by [Red Bull](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-missed-workouts) energy drinks. This sport has International events as well—the images here are from the 2005 Red Bull Prague Crashed Ice Competition. **Implications** - It's become increasingly important for companies -- whatever business they're engaged in -- to tie their brand with real-world events and products. Sponsoring an already established sport or convention is a good start, but buzz is created and broadcast best when large companies reach out to small, grassroots movements and fund their growth. This builds word-of-mouth advertising (arguably, the most convincing) and wins the support of an entire community. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 1% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Downhill Ice Skating:** A growing trend among adrenaline junkies and sports enthusiasts, presenting opportunities for new products and technology in related industries such as winter sports equipment and apparel. - **Red Bull Crashed Ice Competitions:** A trend in extreme sports events, offering sponsorship opportunities for companies seeking to reach a young and adventurous demographic. - **Grassroots Sponsorship:** A trend in corporate social responsibility that benefits both companies and communities, presenting opportunities for sponsorships and collaborations with local organizations. ### Where This Applies - **Winter Sports Equipment:** There is an opportunity to create specialized equipment and gear that cater to the needs of participants in downhill ice skating and other related winter sports. - **Sporting Events:** Companies can explore new opportunities to sponsor and host extreme sports events targeting a young demographic. - **Corporate Social Responsibility:** There is an opportunity for companies to engage in social responsibility initiatives by sponsoring grassroots movements and benefiting both the community and their brand reputation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ice Cream-Themed Esports Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/team-vitality-4.md) - [Portable Ice Resurfacing Rentals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zamboni-rentals.md) - [Customized Roller Skate Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roller-skate-kit.md) - [Skate Culture Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-bunt-jam.md) - [Rugged All-Terrain Rollerblades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allterrain-rollerblades.md) - [Canadian Fan-Based Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/performance-enhancing-canadians.md) - [Energy Drink-Branded Ski Competitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/x-games-aspen-2026.md) - [Regular Exercise-Encouraging Brand Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-missed-workouts.md) - [App-Controlled Skates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/appcontrolled-skates.md)