It is Michel’s big dream to skate a trip on the Austrian Weissensee, but unfortunately it won’t work this year. Together with his supervisor Michel Wezenberg, Michel from Amsterdam is in Austria and instead of skating, they went cross-country skiing. “To keep the spirits up.”
Michel Wezenberg is a personal assistant in disabled care and a skating trainer. These professions have now come together. At work there is a client, also called Michel, who really wants to skate the Alternative Elfstedentocht on the Weissensee. “He used to skate there with his mother, but she is now demented and can no longer do it,” he says about Michel, who lives in an Amsterdam institution for disabled care, because he has a mild intellectual disability and a form of autism.
This morning the news came in hard: the Alternative Elfstedentocht cannot take place this year because the ice is too bad. “It is a huge disappointment,” says Wezenberg. “When we arrived here on Wednesday, there were already rumors that it would not take place” He explains that his client has put quite a bit of money into the trip and preparation. “It is extra sour that it will not continue.”
Snow
The lake was frozen solid until last Sunday. “A thick layer of snow has fallen of about 50 centimeters. The ice has subsided due to its weight, so that water has come on it,” says Wezenberg. “No more machines can be used and the ice is very brittle.” Unfortunately, skating is no longer an option.
“We’ll go cross-country skiing then,” says Wezenberg. “To keep the positive in it.” And they weren’t alone. “We lined up this morning with Sven Kramer and Erben Wennemars.” During the conversation, both Michels are on the bus heading for cross-country skiing. Wezenberg asks Michel if he wants to try again next year. “Yes, sure!” it says.
Watch the video of the organization of the Alternative Elfstedentocht below. Maybe there will be another skating tour later. Text continues below the video.
The news still has to get through to Michel, explains his supervisor. “Maybe the blow will come later, it is his dream that falls to pieces. He is a really big skating fan and the door of his room is full of skating photos.”
They will fly back on Saturday morning and until then they will make the best of it. So next year another chance, and then supervisor Wezenberg will also come along. “I want to finish it together,” he concludes.