Crashed Ice takes place four times a year in world-class cities such as Helsinki, Belfast and Edmonton. Skaters compete in heats of four on temporary 1,500ft long ice tracks featuring steep turns and high vertical drops erected in these urban environments. The track in St. Paul was set up in front of a cathedral - a backdrop made all the more impressive by high-quality lighting.
Guthrie, whose expertise lies in concert lighting design for acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow and Nine Inch Nails, usually operates lighting cues during a performance. While Crashed Ice was an unusual project for Guthrie, the ease-of-use of the Martin fixtures provided a sense of familiarity in a new territory.
"Our main workhorse for lighting the area was the MAC Quantum Wash, which I had only previously seen in a demo," said Guthrie. "We had 108 of them, and they worked flawlessly, especially considering this was one of the first times we'd used them outside in winter."
Guthrie cites the MAC Quantum Wash's colour rendering, beam punch, and low weight as major factors in his decision to deploy Martin's new fixture. Primarily used for audience lighting, the MAC Quantum Washes were mounted on towers along the track to set the tone of the event. Conversely, the MAC Viper Wash DX units were instrumental in filling in dark sections of the tracks, making the high-speed races more photogenic.
"The Vipers added a splash of tungsten to reach into tight corners," he said. "We also stationed 52 MAC 2000 WASH XBs at the base of the cathedral to emphasize the cathedral's dramatic façade and deployed Atomic 3000 strobes at the beginning and end of the tracks to draw the audience's attention."
Guthrie's crew had only 10 days to mount more than 800 fixtures across the huge event area. While it's a tremendous undertaking, Crashed Ice is a boon to St. Paul's tourist economy.
"After hosting for four years, the city really loves the crowd that Crashed Ice appeals to," said Guthrie. "Martin Professional was just as instrumental in making sure that the event was a spectacle for the audience as well as a success for the city."
(Jim Evans)
