While the first skaters carefully took to the cracking natural ice in Sleen, the track in Zuidwolde remained empty last Christmas. The frost was just not severe enough. Yet there was no shortage of skating fun there either, even though it was indoors on plastic.
The natural ice in Sleen has been accessible since six o’clock last night. Chairman Martin Snoeijing of IJsvereniging Voorsprong is keeping a watchful eye. We deliberately waited,” he says.
“There was about five centimeters on the side, 7.5 in the middle. You actually want eight. You want to offer people something.” Fourteen volunteers kept the track running. Last night about a hundred skaters showed up; This morning it went well again.
Weaker areas are cordoned off with pylons. As the morning progresses, they move further and further. The ice cracks with every step, but Snoeijing remains sober. “That’s fine. This year we put less water on it. That worked out well, so we were able to let everyone onto the track.” Around noon it is over: the thaw is continuing too fast. If we get some frost tonight, we might be able to open another half morning tomorrow.”
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