After a two-year hiatus, a popular speedskating marathon is returning to Sylvan Lake next month.
A recreated small Dutch village will be erected along the frozen lake to sell treats to participants and viewers at this year’s Sylvan Lake Ice Marathon, to be held on Family Day, Monday, Feb. 15.
But unlike the heyday of speedskating on Sylvan Lake from 2003 to 2006, when up to 500 Dutch skaters were annually welcomed by the community, few visitors from The Netherlands are expected at next month’s event.
The worldwide economic downturn has meant fewer business sponsors are willing to help Dutch skaters make the expensive trip to Alberta, said Mike Messing, chair of the newly formed non-profit Foothills Speedskating Marathon Association.
Anyway, he added, “we wanted to start small,” rebuilding the popular skating event from the ground up.
Messing still hopes to attract 200 people from around Alberta and B.C. to this winter’s marathon, which will feature adult and youth 50-km and 25-km races, as well as a 2.5-km to 25-km tour.
And the Town of Sylvan Lake is already helping create the ice track on the lake, which can be used for training until the Family Day event is held, said Messing.
It was town officials who first approached Messing, previously a skeedskating competitor, to see if the event could be revived after key volunteer organizers quit two years ago, complaining of burnout and inadequate support from the town.
This time, Messing said the town is providing “great co-operation” — perhaps because Sylvan Lake businesses rated the skating event as one of the most lucrative, in terms of creating a positive financial impact.
“It’s a complete change.”
The Foothills Speedskating Marathon Association hopes to expand next year’s event to include some European participants, as well as a longer 100-km race.
Due to warmer winters in The Netherlands, canals weren’t freezing over the last decade causing skaters to seek out events such as the one in Sylvan Lake.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com