Masses of snow, a longer lockdown: the ice team gives up on the Weissensee and sends a message

There will be no more skating on the Weissensee this season at all. The amount of snow is simply too immense. The longer lockdown counts as well. The team has a message for the Dutch.

“After carefully examining the ice surfaces and weighing all the risks, we have come to a joint decision not to work the ice any further this season”, reports Bernhard Jank says.

The ice team member makes clear that no other decision was possible. “The masses of snow were simply too great and did not let the ice beneath grow enough. And from a tourism point of view the lockdown is being extended to the end of February.”

An early end

• At first everything went according to the predictions, with the first ice forming around St Kathrein.
• After that the snow turned out to be the biggest opponent.
• There were There were dreamlike images, but treacherous spots at the same time.

Ice master Norbert Jank even went through the ice, car and all. In between, the west part was only briefly opened.

“A remarkable ice season – unknown to all of us and hopefully never to be repeated – therefore comes to an early end”, Bernhard goes on at natureislauf.at. “We hope to see you all back on the Weissensee ice next winter.”

‘A second home’: a message to the Dutch

Together with the tourist office, Visit Weissensee the ice team delivers a special message to their ‘Dutch friends’.

“Who could have thought it would be a winter without you?”, says tourism host Almut Knaller. “Nobody.”

“Many of you have found a second home on the Weissensee”, Knaller says. “And this winter in particular is ready for all kinds of winter pleasure. We would love to share that with you, but the situation does not allow it at the moment. That hurts. We miss you.”

Another representative closes the message. “Dear skating friends, (…) good health and see you next year, bye.”

A skating holiday on the Weissensee

Every year some six thousand Dutch people experience a ‘skating holiday’ on the Weissensee.

A large share come for the ‘experience not to be missed’ of the Alternative Dutch 11-City Tour. That tour, which in principle anyone can take part in, was cancelled.

Besides skating you can ski, walk in the mountains and mountain bike there, among other things. The nature park is also known for its spa zone, a slow-down area with saunas and other forms of wellness.