The Netherlands: Skating is in our DNA: Ice fever hits the Netherlands as big freeze continues

With freezing temperatures expected for at least the next week, ice fever is gripping the Netherlands and has the regional safety boards coming up with a set of rules for safe skating in the coronavirus era. Nothing, not even a global pandemic, can come between the Dutch and their skates.

‘You can’t work against it, skating is in our DNA,’ said Jurre Trouw, of the national skating union KNSB. ‘But we have to do it in a responsible way.’ So here’s what you need to know about this year’s skating season.

Read more at: Skating is in our DNA: Ice fever hits the Netherlands as big freeze continues - DutchNews.nl

Sochi Olympics - the Netherlands: Dutch have it all to dominate the Olympic oval - by Raf Casert

Skating is in the Dutch blood

There is nothing more mythical in Dutch sports than an age-old 11-city race skating across lakes and canals in bone-numbing cold from dawn to dusk. No wonder the Netherlands is the greatest speedskating nation in the world.

And with Sven Kramer and Ireen Wust leading the way on the big Olympic oval in Sochi, they are bent on proving it again.

Time and again over the last half century, the Dutch have been top or near the top of the Olympic speedskating standings - a nation of 16.8 million defying giants like the United States, Russia or Germany. In Sochi too, the Dutch have a realistic chance of a half dozen gold medals on the big oval.

They won more long-track speedskating medals than any other nation in Vancouver, and federation sporting director Arie Koops said the only way forward is to become even more dominating.

"The goal is to improve on Vancouver. And considering our current level of form, that is a realistic goal," he told The Associated Press.

Read more: Dutch have it all to dominate the Olympic oval- by Raf Casert

The Netherlands: Dutch gripped by ice fever as military helps prepare route for historic skating race

Dutch army is deployed on the alternative route of the Eleven Cities Tour (Elfstedentocht) to prepare the alternative route over the Hegemer lake in Woudsend on Wednesday. The Eleven Cities Tour, at almost 200 km, is the world's largest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held in the province of Friesland, Netherlands only when the ice along the entire course is 15 cm thick.

Ice fever is sweeping the Netherlands where thousands of ice skaters are waiting to hear whether a historic race through 11 Dutch cities will be held this month, the first time since 1997.

For more: PhotoBlog - Dutch gripped by ice fever as military helps prepare route for historic skating race

Netherlands: Dutch clean ice to raise chances of skating race - Mike Corder

Volunteers poured onto frozen rivers and lakes in the northern Netherlands on Tuesday to shovel away snow that is one of the major hurdles in the way of a grueling speedskating race being held for the first time in 15 years.

Helpers arrived from as far afield as Amsterdam, more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, to clear the ice after organizers of the Elfstedentocht, or 11 Cities Tour, warned that snow that fell Friday was hampering ice growth.

Their enthusiasm reflected the Elfstedentocht fever that has gripped the Netherlands amid speculation that the cold snap that has brought misery to much of Europe could deliver ecstasy to the Netherlands in the form of the race being skated for the first time since 1997.

The ice must be at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) thick over the entire 125-mile (200-kilometer) track that winds along canals, rivers and lakes in the northern province of Friesland before the 16,000 competitor event can go ahead.

For more: Dutch clean ice to raise chances of skating race - KTAR.com

Olympics: Netherlands' Nicolien Sauerbreij splashes to women's parallel giant slalom victory

The No. 1 survivor on the snowboarding course Friday turned out to be Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands, who won the women's parallel giant slalom. She survived a minuscule first-run deficit to beat Ekaterina Ilyukhina of Russia.Nightmarish conditions, to be sure. There are two runs in each of the final rounds, and racers go head to head and switch sides for the second heat. Funny, but the person best equipped to handle deteriorating conditions Friday had been dealing with nightmares about Olympic podium failure. "It is so hard in this weather to concentrate on yourself," Sauerbreij said. "This week, I would sometimes dream of a bronze medal. And I had to say, 'No, no -- gold.' "

The lone U.S. entrant, Michelle Gorgone, made it into the afternoon session before losing to Ilyukhina. Gorgone, who was 22nd at the Olympics four years ago, finished 14th. "It's pretty gnarly in there," she said. "I felt I had a good time, and then I'd make a mistake. And then I'd have a good time again, and then I'd make another mistake."

For more: Netherlands' Nicolien Sauerbreij splashes to women's parallel giant slalom victory - Los Angeles Times

Skating Olympics: Tuitert from the Netherlands beats Shani Davis of US in the 1500m

Mark Tuitert edged American hot favourite Shani Davis in the men's 1,500m speed skating here on Saturday, claiming the Netherlands' second gold at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Tuitert also became the first Dutch speed skater to win the event since Ard Schenk in 1972 and he is the third Dutchman in history to be crowned Olympic champion in this event. "I worked so hard for this over the last eight years. And then it comes out in such a moment and with so much respect," Tuitert said.

For more: Tuitert grabs Netherlands' second gold

Netherlands: Kramer takes the Gold for Holland in 3000 meters

Dutchman Sven Kramer took the gold, in an Olympic Record time of 6m 14.60s, which most experts would have correctly predicted.

But that's where every prediction would have stranded, since silver was taken by the unlikeliest of challengers, Seung-Hoon Lee of South Korea and bronze by Ivan Skobrev of Russia.

For more: Kramer Takes Gold, Lee Dreams In Speed Skating | Bleacher Report

EU-Digest: Marathon Dutch skating championship on Flevoland Province Oostvaarders Lakes

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Marathon Dutch skating championship on Flevoland Province Oostvaarders Lakes

Twenty two year old Marathon skater Sjoerd Huisman won the Dutch Championship on Natural Ice today, January 8. Huisman beat Arjan Stroetinga in a neck-and-neck finish in the 100-kilometre-long circuit at the Oostvaarders Lakes in the Flevoland Province. The women's 60 kilometre race was won by Carla Zielman; Danielle Bekkering came in second. It's been 12 years since the last Dutch Skating Championship marathon was held on natural ice. Some 150 skaters participated in the two races.

For a pictorial report of the race click on this link