Member Profile on BY TONY MACDONALD, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN (RETIRED)
Kyle Croxall came on the job in 2015 and works at Station 344 on A shift. When he is not working as a firefighter, Kyle enjoys an interesting pastime. Imagine putting on your hockey skates and standing at the top of a very long, steep, ice-covered hill. When you look down from the top, it is not only steep, you also see jumps, obstacles, and hairpin turns. This sport was known as the “Red Bull Crashed Ice” competitions, and is now called “Ice Cross”.
Kyle was at Algonquin College taking their Pre-Service Firefighting program in 2008, when he heard about some try-outs for this event. It appealed to him so he signed up. When he finished second at the try-outs, he went to his first race in Quebec City. Kyle remembers, “Standing at the top of this insanely steep, 500-meter course in Quebec City for the first time, was one of the scariest moments I have ever experienced. Taking the first stride to begin the descent was a mental battle of its own. With speeds of up to eighty kilometres per hour on hockey skates, one wrong move can take you out of the race and end an athlete’s night.” Hundreds of competitors start the process, and each get two runs to qualify. The 64 guys with the fastest times qualify for the race. These top 64 competitors get two practice runs to get comfortable with the course, and then the race begins. Four competitors are sent down the course at a time, and the first two to cross the finish line move on to the next round. The other two are out of the race. Back then, the sport was new, training was minimal, and it was more of a fun event once or twice a year. Kyle’s brother Scott, and his parents, drove to Quebec City to see the race. Kyle made it through a few rounds before crashing. “I remember how mad I was at myself for crashing and being eliminated from my first ever event. I instantly wanted another shot at it.” He got that shot the next year, held again in Quebec City. Not only did Kyle come to race, but his brother Scott wanted to try it as well! Their parents made the trip again to watch their boys race. Scott’s first race was similar to what Kyle had experienced the year before. Kyle finished on the podium in third place! “This is where it really began. A few weeks later, I was sent to represent Canada in my first overseas race in Prague, in the Czech Republic.”
In 2010, Kyle and Scott managed to stand on the podium together in Quebec City, for the first of many times, where Kyle received his first Gold medal and Scott took home 3rd place. Their proud parents were watching at the finish line. “My parents were very excited for us in these races. My mom was definitely nervous, although once they saw a few races, and realized that we were doing well, they started having parties at their house, for friends and family, whenever we had a race overseas or somewhere that they were not able to attend to watch.” Every year since 2010, Kyle has been ranked in the top three in Canada, and top ten in the world! In 2012, he became the World Champion during a season with the most races in history. “This was one of my proudest moments, and best accomplishments in my sporting career.” 20
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