No I will not stop talking about ice and skating yet. Although, its almost 5C today so that lovely ice is actually melting. But I digress, more ice skating tales!

Today I wanted to tell you about the tradition of the 11 city ice skating tour. Also known as the Elf Steden Tocht, it is a speed skating tour/race that passes through 11 cities in the magical Northern province of Friesland. Besides the long distance and the many cities, the race is also unique because it can not take place every year. In fact, in only takes place when the ice is thick enough so only if the winter is cold enough in the Netherlands, which it hasn't been since 1997. The race itself has only taken place 11 times, and this year the organizers are celebrating the 100th year of their existance as a group. To celebrate that anniversary, a theater group is putting on a travelling theater piece that takes you back through the century. (check out the youtube video, also available on the video player here on trippist)

But when the ice is thick enough, they announce the race and the whole country goes bananas. People flock to Leeuwarden to see the skaters and generally speaking, party like its 1999. Imagine ice skating 199km (123miles) with several thousand people!?

Will they be able to hold the race this year? The weather outlook for this week in Friesland says it will stay just above zero all week. So for now, the 11 city tour will have to wait.