The Elfstedentocht, or Eleven-cities Tour is a speed skating competition and leisure skating tour held irregularly in the province of Friesland (Frisia), Netherlands.
The tour, almost 200 km in length, is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven Frisian cities. The tour is not held each year, mostly due to the fact that the Dutch winters do not permit skating on natural ice every year. Adding to that, the tour currently features about 15,000 amateur skaters taking part, putting high requirements on the quality of the ice. There is a stated regulatory requirement for the race to take place that the ice must be (and remain at) a minimum thickness of 15 centimetres along the entirety of the course.
Since 1909, the tour has been held 15 times. The often cold weather and harsh conditions have helped to make the race a major event in the Netherlands, where many will travel to Friesland to see the tour or watch the competition skaters on television.
For the start of the skate season, the island AEGON in Second Life, has created a big block of ice, with a natural skating rink and café where people can meet.
As it was from 1997 that the last "Elftsedentocht" was held, people can start dreaming about their virtual "Eleven-cities tour" in Second Life.;))
This island will mostly be visited by the Dutch, with their ice skate tradition, but nevertheless, it could be a great opportunity for all of us to have a wonderful experience on virtual ice.
4 comments:
/me opens her winter's closet and looks at it, scratching her ears... mmm... I know I had my skates somewhere in here...
I did not know it could be that cold, where you live.;))
why do you think I was unable to find my skaters ? It's been ages since I wore them last time ! hehehehe
Yes, I know, the last "Eleven cities tour" was in 1997, that looks indeed like ages ago...;)))
Post a Comment