For 2 weeks or so it looked as if the ice would be strong enough to carry the Elfstedentocht, the legendary 200 k ice skating tour. The last one was held in 1997. Wiebe Wieling, the chairman of the Elfstedentocht organization, became an instant celebrity. While the media went beserk, he didn't loose his typical Frisian cool demeanor. But his cheeks show his passion.
1-1-2012