Big thanks to Wake People River Spot! They have such a great and unique place for Wind Surfing, right in Moscow! If you are in Moscow by any chance, go on!
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What would you say to Donald Trump if you would meet him? To Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin? What would you say to Dmitriy Murlichkyn?
If I will meet him? I would say, give me some money I dunno, he's got plenty.
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Okay, Cameron, I have many questions for you.
I look at you?
Yeap, it's okay, we are already filming.
Cool!
Your sunglasses are pretty cool!
Thanks! (smiles)
Okay Cameron, can you tell us a little bit about your personal life, where you've been born to? Where did you live?
Ah, where did I live? Well, okay. My name is Cameron Naasz, I am from Minnesota, United States. I live in Eagan, Minnesota. I went to school in Minnesota, Lakeville when I was growing up. Then I went to Saint Cloud State University in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. I am a Red Bull Crashed Ice Athlete…
Okay, wait for a second, a boat is floating nearby…
(smiles)Uhm… Do we move to? Ahh…
Tell us about your parents if it's alright to ask? It's exciting for us to know what personality you have to be, to raise a 3-time World Champion?
(laughing) Ah, my parents are very cool, eh, my Dad was in finances for years, my Mom is an accountant, but both are very fun people. My Mom used to be a gymnast as a child. My Dad also was keen on motorsports as a kid, he also played hockey. Well, yeah, my parents raised me in a way that, they allowed me to do whatever I wanted, and made sure that I had whatever I needed to be good at any sport that I loved.
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(laughing) Za zdorovie! (to your health)
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Cool! What jobs you used to work on?
Oh, wow, jo-o-obs… I had a lot of jobs. Ehm. I've worked as a server, bar-back, bartender, I've worked at Car Dealerships. I've worked in retail. I've worked (smiles) for the city I live in. I've kinda done a lot of different jobs. 'Cause I've always been going to school and competing in sports, so to do what I want, I needed to have free time, so I needed to have flexible jobs, to have a chance to do what I want.
What plans you have for now?
My plans for right now? I just keep enjoying the summer, at the current moment I have fun in Russia with friends, and I will do this (smiles). But after this, of course, it's going to be to start training again soon. I am finishing working on my house that I purchased last year, and yeah, preparing for the next season.
(Cameraman - Modin Mikhail is giving some tips about the filming process)
Alright. 3 Most Basic and Important Life Rules for Cameron Naasz?
Have fun. Work Hard. Party hard (laughing), I don't know what's the third one would be.
Ha-ha. Great! What plans you have for a) Near-future b) Future.
Ehm, near future - I just want to keep enjoying life right now, and I finish work on my home with my girlfriend and definitely become a 4-times World Champion in Red Bull Crashed Ice, ehm. For the distant future - I am not sure yet, find a good job that I enjoy, hopefully in Sport, and yeah, continue enjoying life and have too much of a corporate job.
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YOU NEED TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS
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Are there any things you are afraid of? Phobias? Arachnophobia? Dmitriy Murlychkin Phobia?
(Laughing). I guess there are not many things I am afraid of. I don't really like heights that much, but I've been skydiving several times. Every time I do it, it scares the hell out of me, I think that's part of a challenge in life, you need to conquer your fears. So yeah, after doing that, I can say: "I am not afraid of heights, maybe." (smiles)
Wait for a second, the boat is coming again.
(Cameraman - Mikhail Modin: It's alright, we need some action in a show, keep filming!)
Okay. Are you willing to change your place of living? Tell us about sweet Minnesota. What's the magic for you in it?
I am not looking for any change of place of living right now. I just bought a home last September with my girlfriend, and yeah, we are working on that as I said previously, and I enjoy it! I think I will make this home for a long time and just stay put!
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WE ARE HERE JUST TO RACE
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Do you have any close relationships in the Ice Cross Downhill?
Yeap, I have a lot of good friends in the Ice Cross Downhill. That's one of the coolest parts of our Sport. The amount of friends you can make. Very good friends, all of the Canadians, the Croxalls, all the other boys. And there are lots of Americans, the good friends that I train with. There is a big list of athletes I train with. And I am a friend of lots of them.
It's not your first time in Moscow. How it was for you for the first time?
My first time here was a little sketchy. I was here during the Ukraine Crisis. We were not allowed to wear any of the American related clothes. Keep our heads down and enjoy Moscow by not looking like "American" (laughing) and have fun, so, it was winter also, and "we are here just to race." When I am on a trip for racing, it's more business and not so much pleasure, so, this time it's much more fun around! (smiles)
(smiles) Sport is Work, Hobby, or Personal Growth / Chance for expressing yourself for you?
I think Sport is all of those, it's work, cause I need to earn money. It's a hobby, it's a thing I love to do, day in day out. Definitely helps you to grow as a person. All of the life experience you go through during Red Bull Crashed Ice, such as a) traveling the world b) meeting new people c) facing new challenges. Something that makes you a better person!
Cameron Naasz on vacation. How it looks? Do you like to travel?
I do like to travel. Me on vacation: somewhere warm with a lot of beer (both laughing).
You are the only 3-times World Champion in Ice Cross Down Hill. Competitions are held in many different countries all over the world. A lot of people watch the competition live and via TV / Youtube. Why your Instagram is not huge?
(smiles) My Instagram has 10k followers, it's not a mess for sure. But I am bad at it. I should be more active. It's just something fun for me. Yeap, I don't put many efforts into my Instagram. Follow me on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/cameronnaasz/), I need some more Followers! (both laughing)
Are you getting noticed on the streets? Do they ask for a Photo / Autograph?
Naah. It's very rare when I get noticed on the streets. Maaaybe once every couple months, like, "are you that guy"? It's usually in the hockey world, something like, people that know me, but not people that see me on a TV and then sees me on the streets and then yells "O WOW!". It's usually that somebody knows somebody that knows me.
The craziest thing you've ever done. Besides the trip to Moscow with Crazy Russian Sport.
(both laughing) That's probably up on the list! Well, I don't know, I've been skydiving, I've been 50 miles/hour off an Ice Track. I've traveled the world for some wild places. I don't know if I can decide what's the craziest thing I've ever done in my life.
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I've been to a lot of places in the USA, but I just love Minnesota.
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Okay then, name us some crazy things you want to do in your life?
Aah. I don't know. I'd like to go snowboarding in Alaska! Doing solo skydiving would be cool. We've been talking about that. That's really scary for me, that's the only reason I'd like to do it. Bungee jumping is on my list, like from a BIIG bridge. I don't know. Get married at some point, that's a scary one for me definitely! (smiles)
How is that, living in America? Tell us about the American Dream in overall.
The American Dream is good for me. I get to live a pretty relaxed life. Not a lot of stress. I only work for half a year, so I get half a year to spend doing what I love. I am already able to make enough to enjoy my life so yeah, the American Dream is good for me.
Best place in America?
Best place for me is probably Minnesota, I love my home. I've been to a lot of places in the USA, but I just love Minnesota.
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I think you guys stand a chance!
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What are the associations with "Russians"?
The expectations? Ah, got you. Well, I know a couple of Russian Athletes, but I have never had a chance to hang out with any of them until now. This is really a first time I've got a chance to know some handful guys from Russia. It's fun, it's really cool, man! (smiles)
Who killed Kennedy(joke)?
Who killed Kennedy? (laughing) This guy from this restaurant (points). I don't know, maybe it was the CIA (laughing). Is that Igor's question? (laughing)
What would you say to Donald Trump if you would meet him? To Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin? What would you say to Dmitriy Murlichkyn?
If I will meet him? I would say, give me some money I dunno, he's got plenty.
To Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin?
I, I wouldn't say anything. He is kind of a scary guy to me. (both laughing)
What would you say to Dmitriy Murlychkin?
Aaah… Train harder! Speak more English!!! (both laughing)
Do you like Dmitriy Murlychkin?
Yeah, Of Course. A very nice guy, hard working person. Good guy, so. I like a lot about him.
Crazy Russian Sport, what are your thoughts about the project. Do we stand a chance?
I think you stand a chance! You guys obviously have some passion for what you do, and you are trying to do something big, so I hope that things will go very well, I am definitely going to follow you guys, it's going to be cool.
Okay, a little pause.
Let's continue.
Davai!(Let's go)
Davai!
Davai!
Davai!!
(both laughing)
Za zdorovie! (to your health)
(laughing) Za zdorovie!
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Would you invest 1mln. $ in Crazy Russian Sport? What if we say 100 percent annually?
(both laughing) I don't have 1mln. $ yet. Maybe, will see how you guys do...
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If this Sport will become an Olympic Sport, will you defend your title in 3 years? Or maybe you will do it again even the 6th time in a row? Are there any things which can stop this killing machine, Cameron Naasz?
(laughing) Ehm, I would hope so. If it becomes an Olympic Sport, I hope I am going to be in good condition, and I am strong enough to go in. I would want to win a gold medal, who wouldn't?!
We've heard that Ice Cross Down Hill is going to be an Olympic Sport soon. Are you ready to put some efforts to make it? As this Sport is looking extremely good and impressive, Crazy Russian Sports Team personal opinion, is that Ice Cross Down Hill has all the chances for it. What is the plan? Maybe petition?
I think we need just to keep going. Just keep doing what we are doing. And make sure that people enjoy our Sport, and I guess we will follow all the rules, the Federations. If it's going to happen... I am going to work EVEN harder! And I will try to win something in the Olympics if I can.
The most crowded race?
Oh, the race? I think it's a race in the St. Paul, like a hundred and fifty thousand people watching the race. There is a lot of people.
Crazy Russian Sports Team is willing to visit you back in Minnesota, will you invite us?
Yeah, sure! Feel free! (both laughing)
Would you invest 1mln. $ in Crazy Russian Sport? What if we say 100 percent annually?
(both laughing) I don't have 1mln. $ yet. Maybe, will see how you guys do...
Do you have anything you want to present yours and our's followers? Kind of a contest.
Ehmm. What do you mean? Ah, yeah. I have a great jersey, I can send one via mail.
Great! I have 2 more questions for you. How is the track for you?
The track. Ehm, it's very cool! It's fun. I've never been to a full size Crashed Ice Track with rollerblades equipped. So it was a new experience for me. I enjoyed that. It was a treat to come and try it.
Do you want to have such a track in Minnesota?
Definitely! I want to have such a track in Minnesota. Of Course!
Is it good to have such a track for training?
Yeap, it is. It's kinda scary and hard. That's perfect for a workout and training.
Do you want to say anything to our followers?
Ehmmm... Follow Crazy Russian Sport! Watch all the crazy stuff they do! Follow them! Watch them grow!
Okay, Cameron, that was the last question! Thanks!
Great, I am sweating over here, it's really hot!
Interviewer - Alexander Bogachev
Article/Interview Script/Video Script by - Mckng Bird