ST. PAUL (WCCO) — For the second year in a row, the Red Bull “Crashed Ice” World Championship will be held in St. Paul. It’ll be a welcomed sight for the city’s economy.

Last year, the event was huge for St. Paul.

The event brought 100,000 people into St. Paul and $20 million into the local economy. It also put St. Paul on a national stage – airing the event on network television.

Due to the NHL lockout this year, the Crashed Ice event is even more important. Some restaurants have reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses due to the lockout.

It’s still not enough to make up for profits from about two games a week when the Wild takes the ice, but it’s still something for business owners to celebrate.

The event will again be held near the St. Paul Cathedral, featured ice skaters racing down hills, over jumps and making sharp turns.

This coming January, the course will be even tougher.

Competitors start off with a daring drop with a ramp that’s 48 feet high – 12 feet higher than last year. The 400 meter track will wind through downtown St. Paul and a Red Bull will also add a teen competition.

Former Gopher hockey player Brian Schack, of Lino Lakes, will be competing this year.

“Us guys who do it, and ladies, I mean, we have that knack for hockey and speed and jumping,” said Schack. “It’s fun. I know, we’re crazy. You got be athletic, but you also gotta have that little edge of ‘I can do this.’”

Schack is one of 200 competitors for the January 2013 competition.