A few cold nights ensure great skating ice on inland lakes
By
the end of November the ice on shallow inland lakes in Åland is strong
enough to carry the most eager long distance skaters on the premiere
tour of the season. But this year the start is delayed due to the
unusually warm weather.
- Naturally we hope for really good skating also this winter. We
just need a few nights with temperatures below zero and some of the
lakes will be skatable, says one of the enthusiasts of skating in
Åland, Mikael Wennström. He started skating about 15 years ago and has
also been a tour leader for many years.
From inland lakes to the rim of the sea
In Åland
the conditions for long distance skating are good in a normal winter
and the skating progresses according to a pattern during the season.
First there is skating on shallow inland lakes on the main island,
for example Bjärströms träsk that is near the road in Finström. When
the ice has settled on the inland lakes, it's time to skate on the
innermost sea bays, for example Vandöfjärden, that also is near the
main road in Finström and easily accessible.
When the ice has thickened the skaters try out other sea bays that
are wider and deeper, among them Svartsmarafjärden and Ivarskärsfjärden.
-
Then we gradually move farther out as the ice settles. In February and
March there is usually wonderful ice in the northeast of Åland, for
example on Simskälafjärden, says Mikael Wennström.
Normally the conditions of the sea ice in the northern parts of Åland are better than in the south.
A cultural tour
Mikael gives a tip for a nice
cultural tour on skates. Start off from the castle in Kastelholm in
Sund and skate on Lumparn to Bomarsund's fortress ruins, about two to
three hours. If you want you can continue north towards Tengsödavik in
Saltvik.
Great skating ice can not be ordered. Nature makes all the decisions and a good ice today can be bad tomorrow.
- That's why you have to take the chance and skate when it's possible, says Mikael Wennström.
Åland as a skating world has its advantages. There are areas in the
archipelago that are scarcely populated and lacking channels in the ice
made by boats. But civilization and roads where a taxi can pick you up
are rarely very far away. That way you can vary your round tour from
one place to another.