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Almost time to break the ice

River trail at The Forks should be ready next week

By: Britt Harvey

Posted: 12/30/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Garret Gunning (front) and Michael Jordan pump river water onto the ice to smooth out the surface Tuesday at The Forks. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

Dust off your skates, Winnipeggers.

The Forks river trail is well on its way to being open.

Paul Jordan, chief operating officer of The Forks, said the section from The Forks to Hugo Street could be completed as early as next week.

"This is pretty typical," Jordan said. "We've got a good jump on it this year and the pumps appear to be working."

The Forks had purchased two water pumps normally used on winter roads to help smooth out a jagged patch of frazil ice between the Midtown Bridge and the rail bridge at The Forks.

The ice had formed as a result of increased river flow and extreme cold temperatures.

Though Winnipeg already boasts the world record for longest naturally formed skating trail, Jordan said we can expect even bigger and better from the trail this year.

"Last year, we went longer; this year we are going wider," he said.

"Due to lower snowfall, we were able to clear off a larger portion of the river and stretch the rink from bank to bank, making it the biggest skating rink we've ever built."

In addition to the usual activities and events planned for the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail, Winnipeggers can expect many new diversions this year.

"We have a brand-new event that is happening this year called The Warming Shed: Art and Architecture on ice," MacKay said.

"World-renowned architects and artists will team up to design and build five warming sheds that will be put out on the river."

One of the architects will be Antoine Predock, the designer of Winnipeg's Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The artists and architects will be building the sheds outside in the plaza so the public can watch them take shape. Jordan has seen the designs and believes people will be dazzled by the creativity and artistry.

"They're going to have to be pretty robust as we're dragging them down to the ice," he said. "But you would not imagine what they've come up with. It's amazing."

Ottawa's Rideau Canal Skateway is Winnipeg's chief rival. Members of both cities have often debated who has the better skating rink.

It's an unnecessary diversion, according to some.

"The Rideau Canal holds the record for the world largest skating rink," said Clare MacKay, spokeswoman for The Forks.

"But we hold the record for the world's largest trail. They are completely different categories."

The Rideau skateway has also faced problems this year, with warmer temperatures and freezing rain stalling the work needed to get the rink up and running.

"It takes 14 consecutive days of cold weather, (-15 C), to get a safe ice surface for skaters," said Jasmine Leduc, media relations officer for the National Capital Commission.

Although the NCC has started to plan events for Ottawa's winter season, it might be a while before Ottawans will be lacing up their skates.

britt.harvey@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 30, 2009 B1

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