Intro:

More than 35-thousand fans lined the track in Niagara Falls on Saturday as the defending champion, Kyle Croxall, made an incredible comeback to win the 2013 Ice Cross Downhill World Championship opener.

Script:

More than 35-thousand fans lined the track in Niagara Falls on Saturday as the defending champion, Kyle Croxall, made an incredible comeback to win the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship opener.

Against the odds after crashing into Switzerland's Kilian Braun in the early stages of the race, the Canadian firefighter continued the sort of form that saw him win the 2012 title.

After the collision, Croxall looked to have no chance as America's Cameron Naasz sped away towards the finishing line on the 500 metre track.

Croxall showed his lightening fast turn of foot and used his five years of experience to have caught Naasz by the second to last turn.

The 24-year-old passed Naasz on a step-up corner and skated his way to victory.

Naasz finished in second place, his best result in his Ice Cross career

Braun finished in third, while Canada's Adam Horst came last in the final.

The next stop on the tour is Saint Paul in Minnesota on the 26th of January 2013.