In Snow on the Tulips, my book that is coming out in August, one of the secondary characters mentions the Elfstedentocht. It’s a fun Frisian tradition that goes back to at least 1760.

Friesland, as most of the Netherlands, is criss-crossed by canals. In the winter, these canals freeze, making it the ideal place for a speed skating race. If you remember from watching speed skating in the winter Olympics, speed skating is a Dutch obsession. The Elfstedentocht covers some 200 km and links together 11 cities, including Leeuwarden and Franeker, cities which are mentioned in Snow on the Tulips.

There are 300 or so club members that participate in the race. Another 16,000 or so people will skate at least part of the course for fun. But there are strict rules. The ice needs to measure at least 15 cm in all locations for the race to take place. There hasn’t been enough ice since 1997.

There had been great hope that the race would happen in 2012. The ice in the north was thick enough, but not in the south. This year, though there was plenty of cold, they had too much snow. To my southern friends, that wouldn’t appear to be a problem, but snow acts as an insulating blanket. Too much snow keeps the ice from becoming too thick. One website I was on today put the odds of the Elfstedentocht occurring in 2013 at 1%.

To prove that the Dutch are serious about their skating, you can place bets on whether or not the Elfstedentocht will take place. Looks like if you bet for it to be a go this year, you lost out. Better luck in 2014.