Hat fit for a long-distance skating trip...
How does one describe the Elfstedentocht , the 'Tocht der tochten', besides our flag and anthem one of the biggest Frisian symbols and traditions? One can't. Just the fact that it's 200 km over frozen rivers, skated in one day, starting at 4 in the morning and finishing hours and hours later, having to get off when the ice is too weak, drinking hot chocolate, having icicles in your moustache, beard and eyelashes, feeling honoured to receive the much cherished cross at the end of it - doesn't begin to describe it... The last time it was held, was in 1997, and before that in 1984 and 1985. It's such an event that 'It giet oan!' only means one thing here: 'It's happening! The Elfstedentocht is being held!' Every year, all of us anxiously watch the weather forecast, will it freeze enough to build up a nice thick layer of ice? No, indescribable! And then to think that Tryater is going to put it on as a show, because it was held for the first tim...