Mass ja drive: mis on Red Bull Homerun võistlused?

The ski season in Russia is slowly coming to an end, but it is ending on a high note. So, on March 14, the Red Bull Homerun amateur competitions for skiers and snowboarders took place on the Green Mountain in Sheregesh. However, it was not like a usual downhill race – at the start of the race there was an additional test for the participants.

We tell you how the race went, what is the highlight of the format and what the athletes think about it.

What is Red Bull Homerun?

Red Bull Homerun is a unique combined competition not only for professional athletes, but also for fans of alpine skiing and snowboarding. They combine a 100-meter race with a mass downhill. Both skiers and snowboarders roll down the same course at the same time (although they do not compete with each other).

The first Homerun was held in the UK in 2008. And in 2021 it was held in 16 countries, including Russia for the first time. Russian athletes had the opportunity to test themselves in the new mixed format twice. First, as part of Homerun, they rappelled down the Rosa-Khutora track in Sochi on March 4. And less than a couple of weeks later the competition reached Sheregesh – a ski resort in the Kemerovo region.

What is the peculiarity of the format?

The organizers borrowed the term home run from baseball. It is a situation when the batter and his partners manage to run a whole circle and return to the “home”. Skiers and snowboarders had to run during the competition.

Conditionally, the distance can be divided into two stages: a run to the equipment and, in fact, the descent. First, the participants run 100 meters to the skis or boards: they do it in full equipment, including special shoes. Many people expected that it would be easier to get through the snow in ski boots, but this part of the way turned out to be not so difficult for snowboarders.

Konstantin Fomenkov, snowboarder: Adrenaline is just off the scale. It was the first time I took part in such an event, but I liked it all very much.

Vyacheslav Evstigneev, snowboarder: It was a little scary on the descent, though, because there were a lot of beginners and amateurs in general: they brake, and you fly at speed. But everyone was respectful to each other. No one was pushing, skiers were not waving their poles, everything was cool. The girls were even let in the front, I was surprised.

Most of the participants found out more about the Homerun format after they had registered.

Ekaterina Eletskaya, skier, 2nd place in the standings: I decided to stick to the strategy of taking my time when buckling in. Because I haven’t practiced buckling in, and I haven’t practiced running in boots either. But if I lose time somewhere, I can catch up on the track.

Alexander Zaitsev, snowboarder: When I first started to ride on the board, two years ago, I shot a video for fun and wrote “Red Bull, where is my contract?”. And now I’m participating. I wasn’t familiar with the format before. Today I just want to have fun.

Alisa Russkikh, skier: See‘ s spectacular, of course, when it’s so massive – it’s impressive. But there is fear. Because of the fact that many people start at the same time. And the equipment flies away, I saw (on the video from Homerun in Sochi – ed.). But the drive is definitely there!

Nikita Druzhilov, snowboarder, was number 1: The format is unusual, of course. But I’m also a track and field athlete, I think it will help me. I had never heard of Homerun before. First I registered, and then I opened YouTube, typed in “Red Bull 2020 Sochi” and got a little freaked out. But, I think, okay, I’m insured – everything is fine, you can go. There is fear, but I am sure I will have unreal fun. I will give my best.

How was Red Bull Homerun in Sheregesh?

The venue was chosen for a reason. Although Sheregesh itself is a village with a population of less than 10 thousand people, it is called the “ski Mecca” of Siberia. In 2019, it took second place in the top of the best ski resorts in Russia.

Not only avid skiers and snowboarders participated in the mass start. The tournament was primarily aimed at amateurs and enthusiasts, not professional athletes, although there were some of them. Among those who dared to participate there were people with a wide range of experience: from newcomers, who recently got on the board, to winners of junior cross-country skiing competitions. And there was only one condition for participation – age from 16 years old. Those wishing to participate had to register on the official website: fill out a questionnaire and make a contribution of 500 rubles.

Andrey Zuev, snowboarder: I’m the fifth day on the board. Seriously, no kidding. My whole life is like this: we live once, so you have to try everything. And if you don’t have time to learn, you’ll learn in the process, it’s no big deal. I’ve already learned how to button my shoes! And to run: we saved money on cabs, so I had to walk to the mountain – that’s how I practiced. Now it’s half done – just to go down. To be honest, it’s a bit scary, but you close your eyes and do it. How can you miss such an event?

Besides, among those who started there were representatives of various professions: lawyers, miners, firemen, bankers and others. A total of 168 people took part in the downhill race: 7 skiers, 47 skiers, 13 snowboarders and 101 snowboarders. The winners were awarded in four categories: alpine skiing, women and men, and snowboarding, women and men. The fastest skier was Maria Kovrizhkina from Sheregesh, and the fastest skier (and all participants in general) was local athlete Pavel Matveev. Anastasia Voronina from Yekaterinburg had the best time among snowboarders, and Andrey Anisimov from Tashtagol had the best time among snowboarders.

In Sheregesh not only the participants but also the spectators got a charge of emotions. Such a mass and driving two-stage race looks bright and spectacular from the outside. Those who did not manage to try themselves in the new format this season should not worry. Red Bull Homerun will become an annual event and will return next year.