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Smooth skating up ahead

Forks plans to use water pumps to fine-tune river trail

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 12/18/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Paul Jordan, chief operating officer at The Forks Renewal Corp., points out a section of frazil ice that is causing problems on river trail.

The Forks is hoping that what's good for trucks on winter roads will be good for skaters.

Paul Jordan, chief operating officer of The Forks Renewal Corp., said they're hoping two water pumps normally used to help construct winter roads will solve its problem on the skating trail with a long jam of slushy frazil ice on the Assiniboine River.

The frazil ice stretches from the Donald Street bridge to the rail bridge beside The Forks.

Jordan said the pumps will be used on Friday to pour water on the frazil ice to let it freeze into solid flat ice.

"Every year this trail is different," he said.

"Last year we couldn't get out onto the Red and this year the Red south of The Forks is looking pretty good.

"We have to work with the river."

Last year, the skating trail went from The Forks to Assiniboine Park.

In 2005, Ottawa's skating trail, on the Rideau Canal, was named the Guinness World Record holder for the largest naturally frozen ice rink.

The canal can offer skaters a 7.8-kilometre path.

But in 2008, Winnipeg's 8.5-kilometre skating trail was named by Guinness as the world's longest skating trail.

This year, Jordan said skaters may only get as far as Hugo Street North, about three kilometres west of The Forks, even if the frazil ice is taken care of.

"We should still be able to get to the record -- even if we go just one foot farther," he said.

That's because Jordan said skaters may soon be able to skate as far as Guay Park and Churchill Drive alongside the Red River.

"The fact the Red has frozen up means we can go as far as we want on it," he said.

But, Jordan said one benefit from the way the ice froze and the low amount of snow is that the ice-skating rink on the Assiniboine River by The Forks is the largest it has ever been.

"It's a massive rink this year -- we've put it from bank to bank."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Definition:

FRAZIL ICE: Caused when above-average river flows are coupled with freezing temperatures. The ice that forms isn't flat and solid and able to hold people or machines, but is shaped in jagged needle-like pieces with slush in the water underneath.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 18, 2009 A8

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