This is the first in our regular spot which we’ve imaginatively entitled ‘We Really Want To D-ooh This’. The plan is to profile things that we’ve found out about and that we really, really want to do. And let’s face it, when you’re talking about some of the greatest activities to do in the world, who needs a fancy title?
First up, trip skating (also called tour skating). Walking in the park today, puddles up to my knees, I saw optimistic health and safety notices stuck on trees around the lake stating ‘Skating is forbidden on the lake’. Very optimistic. In the UK I’m more likely to need an aqua-lung than a pair of skates. Skating needs ice and we just get rain.
Photo by shortfatkid
Appetite whetted, I wanted to find out where you actually can skate on lakes. I’m reliably informed that I need to head to Sweden and the Swedish archipelago. The Swedes have proper, elephant-supporting ice, fantastic scenery and I’m told a day or longer of trip skating will make you want to go back for more.
The video clip below shows two skaters taking off across what is actually the Baltic Sea. With atmospheric opening track, the footage is pretty mesmerising from the rhythm of the skating and the sheer vastness of the space around them. As the ice stretches as far as the eye can see, the skaters look like they’re not only having a great time, but that it’s relaxing too.
Trip skating looks like it needs sun, bright blue skies, plenty of time and an iPod loaded with your favourite tunes. For me, taking across off that ice I’d probably switch to Chicane’s Saltwater. What would anyone else choose?
