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Euronews
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
On thin ice: Why this legendary Dutch skating race may never happen again
ADVERTISEMENT From the Alaskan Iditarod to the Winter Olympics, climate change has put many winter sporting traditions at risk. While some have managed to adapt to rising temperatures and unpredictable snowfall, a time-honoured Dutch tradition may be gliding toward extinction. The Elfstedentocht – or 'Eleven Cities Tour' – is a legendary 200-kilometre ice-skating race and leisure tour that winds through naturally frozen canals in the northern Friesland region of the Netherlands. But 2025 will mark 28 years since the last event was held. According to new climate research, the odds of it happening again are shrinking fast. A once-every-four-years tradition may now only happen once a generation The Elfstedentocht requires perfect conditions to take place. It must be cold enough, for long enough, for the ice to become 15 centimetres thick along the entire course so that it can accommodate the pressure of the 15,000 amateur skaters who join the event. For that thick, stable ice to form, there must be at least 15 consecutive days of sub-4.2 °C weather – combined with dry conditions. In the 20th century, an Elfstedentocht could be expected every four to five years. According to a new study published in Climate Change, the Elfstedentocht might now take place just once every 32 years. Related Pumped up pollen: How climate change could be making your seasonal allergies worse Deadly floods, storms and heatwaves: Europe suffered the 'serious impacts' of climate change in 2024 Hans Visser and Arthur Petersen, two researchers who worked with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) on this study, warn that a warming planet wreaking havoc on weather patterns has made the ideal conditions increasingly elusive. A cultural icon on thin ice Since its official founding in 1909, the Elfstedentocht has only been held 15 times, with the most recent in 1997. In the decades since, there have been several 'close calls,' including a near-run in 2012, but the canals were never quite frozen enough. 'We still have the occasional outlier. Like in 2012, when it almost came to an Elfstedentocht,' Hylke de Vries of the KNMI told de Volkskrant. 'But then the winter in the weeks before hadn't been very cold, and the water was still relatively warm. Then it takes a few extra days for everything to freeze over. Snowfall can also lead to ice, but the ice doesn't get thicker quickly.' Other models using different forecasting techniques are slightly more optimistic about the Elfstedentocht. The KNMI estimates that optimal conditions might occur once every 14 years. Related Electric cars, leaky homes, and food: How does France plan to get emissions cuts back on track? Lego says new factory in Vietnam will make toys without without adding emissions to the atmosphere But researchers agree on one thing: without significant cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the Elfstedentocht may become a relic of the past. If emissions are drastically reduced, the chance of an Elfstedentocht will remain approximately the same as now in the decades to come. If emissions increase, there may not be another Elfstedentocht after the end of this century, according to the study. 'The chances of [proper conditions] decrease with global warming, no matter how you calculate that chance,' said de Vries. Winter sports everywhere are under threat The Netherlands is far from alone with the wintry disruptions it faces. Across Europe and beyond, winter sports have become increasingly vulnerable to climate change. ADVERTISEMENT A 2024 report by the World Meteorological Organization found that only 10 countries will have a climate-reliable outlook for snow sport events by 2040. Activists have also drawn attention to how ski resorts and sporting events are contributing to the problem, not just suffering from it. Last year, a group calculated that Audi's sponsorship of the Ski World Cup would contribute 103,000-144,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to highlight environmental contradictions. Meanwhile, alpine regions are investing heavily in artificial snow – a money-, energy- and water-intensive process – and other infrastructure improvements to maintain ski seasons. ADVERTISEMENT But for events like the Elfstedentocht, there's no artificial fix. It's natural ice or nothing.
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Iconic Dutch skating race on thin ice as fans forced to watch rerun
The Netherlands relived the glory of its iconic Elfstedentocht ice-skating race on Friday, even as climate change makes a real-life edition increasingly unlikely. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS marked the 40th anniversary of the 1985 race by re-airing the full 12-hour broadcast of the grueling 135-mile trek across frozen canals and lakes. The Elfstedentocht, or Eleven Cities Tour, captures the Dutch imagination like few other events. Thousands of skaters brave the pre-dawn cold, embarking on a demanding journey across the northern province of Friesland. While only a small fraction contend for victory, the majority simply strive to complete the course. The last race took place in 1997, and rising temperatures threaten the future of this cherished tradition. Ironically, as the nation revisited the icy spectacle of 1985, the temperature in Leeuwarden, the finishing city, reached a balmy 14C (57F). The prospect of the 1985 competition had the country in turmoil. Initially the race was set for Jan. 20 but was canceled after a thaw. After nearly a month of anticipation, and with only three days' notice, organizers announced the race was on for Feb. 21, with race chairperson Jan Sipkema announcing the famous words: 'It sil heve,' or 'It will happen' in the Frisian language. The 1985 edition was the first to be broadcast live on television. A dress rehearsal the day before failed spectacularly after equipment froze. Ultimately NOS, with 25 cameras including four motorcycles with sidecars borrowed from a Belgian broadcaster, pulled off the feat. Interest was so high that parliament suspended a debate about sick pay legislation so lawmakers could watch the competition. On Friday, Amsterdam 's Schiphol airport aired the race live in lounges, with other screens explaining the competition in English for international travelers and reminders not miss their flights. According to the organizers, 16,179 skaters entered the race and nearly 12,000 finished. Evert van Benthem won the men's race with a time of 6:47:44, which remains the Elfstedentocht record. That year was the first year that women were officially allowed to compete. Lennie van der Hoorn won with a time of 7:33:58. Friday's broadcast will air until 5:30 p.m., synced with the actual airing in 1985.
