And they're off! Saturday Jan. 4th, 5:30 am. The Elevencities tour has started, the first skaters have taken off from the Zwette (Leeuwarden harbour). The first of the competative riders are expected to reach the finish in Leeuwarden around noon.

Elevencities mail 10, Friday Jan. 3rd, 10:00 pm. Elevencities tour organisation and police try to disencourage anyone coming to the event by car. Visitors are asked to use public transportation if at all possible. They have made it difficult to get to Bartlehiem to limit the number of spectators at this location. During the last tour several people's yards were destroyed by spectators. Also the 'center of the world', the bridge in Bartlehiem, has been narrowed to limit the number of people allowed on. It's not that strong a bridge...

In Leeuwarden it is possible to purchase an 'Elevencities badge', with which you can use public transportation in Leeuwarden. The badge costs Hfl 12.50 and as far as we know at this time can only be bought at the NS train station.

Leeuwarden There is a huge tent erected on the 'Zaailand' and the pubs & bars are very crowded. It takes as much energy to get a drink as it does to have to 'klune' a long way :) There are booths everywhere were merchants offer their wares.

Estimates of the number of visitors vary wildly. After a cautious start at 100,000 , now estimates of up to 300,000 have been heard...

The Weather forecast for the start tomorrow morning is frost at a temperature of -7 to -9 degrees C (16 to 19 degrees F). Due to the wind coming from the North-East the windchill factor is a chilly -25 C (-13 F). The Elevencities Association board is concerned with the windchill factor.
Coming from Leeuwarden down to Stavoren the riders will have a backwind, the way back up to the North will be far more rough..
During the day it will be about -2 to -4 C (25 to 28 F). It will be partly cloudy with the sun breaking through from time to time. In the evening temperatures will drop to -7 C (19 F).

A good part of the tour will take place in the dark for the competative skaters. Local farmers will illuminate part of the way with their tractors.

The Elevencities tour will be televised tomorrow on TV 2 starting at 5 am and ending at 5:30 pm. Immediately following the live report will be a review.

We are planning to put several pictures of the tour up on these pages, if ice and technology cooperate.

Elevencities mail 9 (Friday Jan. 3rd) +/- 1:00 pm. Elevencities site receives "The Flying Dutchman Award" from Taiwan.

Crossroads of iceways closed.
Bartlehiem, where the Elevencities skaters pass twice, has been closed for all motorized traffic. A nearby field serves as temporary parking lot. This has been done because the small village between Leeuwarden and Dokkum was jammed at the last 'tour of all tours' in 1986. The famous Elevencities-bridge has been narrowed so fewer people can stand on it. During the last Elevencities tours the small bridge seemed on the verge of collapse under the weight of the crowd. A group of music-playing police officers will liven everything up.

"Klunen"
The skaters entered in the competition start saturday morning in the FEC. Before getting to the real start at the Zwettehaven they have to walk 1800 meters. During the tour they will have a total of about 300 meters where they will have to walk on their skates; "klunen". The tour riders will have a total of about 400 meters where they will have to "klunen". It is still uncertain if the busses in Sneek will be needed.

Computers down
The Elevencities Association ran into some trouble with their computer systems on Friday morning. The large groups of skaters who wanted to sign up at the FEC had to wait for some time. Workers of the Association checked the bar codes on the skater's registration cards by computer. The registration fee (Hfl. 100.-) is paid through an automatic transferral.

Light the way
Approximately 15 farmers will illuminate the first part of the Elevencities tour saturday morning. De Swette, between Raerderhoek and the Langlansbrege, will be illuminated using light of tractors. The first skaters in the race will reach this spot around 5:45 am. Around 250 locals will also light the way for the riders. They will light torches on the bridge across the Swette, between Dearsum and Wiuwert.

Friday Jan. 3rd, 9:45 am

Due to the enormeous popularity of the website we are getting an additional link to the US. This site will soon be online at http://www.knoware.nl/elfstedentocht.
As we speak, many people are working on setting up the 'elfsteden' website. Because of some trouble with an AVD mailserver we are somewhat behind schedule. Extra manpower is being mobilized. During the tour we will have new pictures at irregular intervals. We are also working on setting up a Webcam at the Oldehove in Leeuwarden for live pictures. Since last nite we brought two mailing lists online; the 'old' Elfsteden news list and and open list where everyone can send news, announcements and questions. We are also working on a special 'live' Elfsteden Guest book. The Friesch Dagblad (a Frysk paper) will publish a special edition for the Elevencities tour.

As we are switching to another mailserver, it is possible some subscribers to our mailing list will receive two copies of their Elfsteden mailing list, or none at all. Problems with the mailing list can be sent to niek@knoware.nl The next Elfstedenmail will be send today around noon.

Thursday January 2

'IT SIL HEVE'
The 15th Eleven-cities tour will be held this Saturday, Jan. 4th. The board of the "Friesche Elfsteden" association has decided the tour is on. They choose to hold it this Saturday since it would otherwise not be possible to have it before the end of next week. The first few days of next week there are somewhat higher temperatures in the forecast. A possible trouble spot is the town Sneek. Here there are four or five blow-holes in the ice. The transport company VEONN has been approached to have special busses on call to transport the tour riders around the city. The busses will be parked at the 'stadsrondweg'. The skaters competing in the race and the first of the leisure riders will be able to remain on the ice on their way through town. The other trouble spot, Harlingen, will likely give less trouble. Here the skaters will follow the main route due to rough ice on the alternate route.

Members only
Only members of the Elevencities association will be allowed to enter the tour. Those who have applied for membership will only be permitted to enter if they have been notified. Others will not be allowed to take part in the tour. The police will ask people not taking part in the actual tour to stay off the ice. This is a necessity to insure the quality of the ice for those participating.

Special trains
The NS will run extra trains to the area. On Saturday there will be a special 'elfsteden' ticket, valid for three days. It will be for a return trip to and from any train station in the Netherlands to the start- and finish- location of the tour, Leeuwarden. It is also valid all day Saturday in the VEONN-busses. The price is twice a single trip from the train station travelled from, plus Hfl 12.50.

Woensdag Jan. 2nd, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railcompany)

Checking up on the website of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen has not (yet) yielded any results as to special trains running to and from Leeuwarden. Possibly by the time you read this there will be more news. Please remember that a good part of the Frys roads will be jammed when the tour is held.

Mailing list troubles
It seems the AVD mailserver can not handle the large number of addresses subscribed. We have to sent the mail in groups, resulting in email addresses showing up as cc-address in every mail. Obviously this means more traffic. We do not yet know how soon this problem will be solved. At this moment, we choose 'fast flow of information' over 'perfect technology'. At least it is working. Most likely the problem will be solved once the tour is over ;-)

Elfstedenmail no. 6 Newyearsday 1997 17.30 uur

It sil héwe!!
The board has been together at 17.00 today. The Elfsteden committee has announced that the 15 th Elevencity tour is a fact. The exact day is however not known. Probably saturday or monday. There is a fairly solid layer of ice, it still freezes 13 degrees, but the ice at some places isn't thick enough. (Sneek, Harlingen, Bartlehiem)

Member of the board died
On oldyears eve, sir Andries Westerbaan died. He was for more than 20 years member of the board. Because of his knowledge he was the expert in technical cases. He was also member of the game-leading. He will be cremated friday.

Elfstedenmail no. 4. (tuesday 31 december 1996)
No Elfstedentocht yet

Early this year

Wednesday, January 31-1996
It still has to freeze to close the existing holes in the ice. From the original 140 holes, still 25 remain, but the new ice is too weak to carry the skaters. The remaining holes are protected from heavy winds by raising wind screens around them.
Former Elfstedentocht winner Evert van Benthem has made a tour around the track. It appeared to be a tough course: The ice was in bad condition. In northern Friesland the ice is reasonably well, but especially in the Southwest, there still are many holes in the ice.
According to weatherman Piet Paulusma, coming tuesday will be crucial. It will continue freezing for a little while, but after tuesday the weather conditions may turn. If this will be the case, the wind will turn westerly, possibly causing snow and icy rain. We still need four or five days of severe frost. There appears to be a committee in Amsterdam, 'collecting' ice to close the remaining holes (so-called ice transplantation)
Among business people, the 'Elfsteden Fever' still rages on: T-shirts, shawls and hats are printed, cafes make arrangements to be able to open for 48 hours and a lot of extra personnel is wanted. Even the 'Harmonie' will stay open if the 'Elfstedentocht' will be held. An 'Elfstedentocht' compact disc has already been marketed.

Tuesday, January 30
Well, yesterday's 'ice transplantation' has been a success! Overnight, the ice has grown three centimetres. Still not enough to hold 16,000 skaters, but it's a start... At night it freezes down to seven degrees and the wind is calmer now

Monday, January 29
Due to the firm wind, a lot of holes still remain. People started to perform 'ice transplantations'. According to ice master Venema, there will be no 'Elfstedentocht' this week...

Thursday, January 25
The 'Elfstedenvereniging' had a meeting again. For some time it freezes down to seven degrees celsius. The wind makes it look like minus 15 degrees. Due to the heavy winds, the condition of the ice is bad. There are still a lot of open places and in some areas ther ice is covered with sand

Friday, January 19
Since January 8, there has almost been a constant thaw. Sometimes temperatures have risen to almost 10 degrees celsius. There is still some ice, here and there. Sailing prohibitions have been ended.

Sunday, January 7
Other skating tours:

Stavoren, Vijftienpoldertoertocht, 35 kilometres, start 14.00 hours. Tel.: +31 514-681386
Nijelamer, Vijfde Nijelamertocht. 40 kilometres, start: 11.00 hours.
Staring places: Nijelamer, Rottum, Delfstrahuizen. Tel.: +31 661-612542.
Leeuwarden, Vijfde Kleine Wielen Natuurtocht, 15, 30, and 45 kilometres.
Start: 10.00 en 14.00 hours.
Grou, De Zevendorpen-Idaarderadeeltocht, 35 or 40 kilometres. Start: 10.00 hours.
Starting places: Grou, Wergea, Roordahuizum. Tel.: +31 566-622124
Makkum, Wûnseradiel Zuidtocht, 35, 70, or 105 kilometres. Start: 11.00 hours.
Starting places: Makkum, Parrega, Tjerkwerd and Workum. Tel.: +31 515-231480

Saturday, January 6
Due to the expected change in the weather, the 'Elfsteden committee' can't say whether the 15th 'Elfstedentocht' will be held or not. There is a fairly solid layer of ice, but it will probably begin to thaw.
Readers of the 'Leeuwarder Courant' can predict whatever will happen. He who predicts the right date of the 15th 'Elfstedentocht' and the winning time will win a beautiful trophy, "It Houtsje".
Readers have to mail a post card before January 10 to the 'Leeuwarder Courant', PO box 887, 8901 BR, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
It should contain:

Predicted date; (e.g. January 20)
Predicted time of the winner; (not the actual time but e.g. 8 hours, 25 minutes, 44 seconds)
And of course your name, address, residence and a postage stamp.

The newspaper has already asked predictions from 5 persons:
Reinier Paping, winner of the 1963 'Elfstedentocht' thinks January 19, time: 6.12.15 hours.
Weatherman Hans de Jong estimates: January 22, 6.23.43 hours.
Former 'Elfstedentocht' skater Klaas van der Hem (80 years of age) expects: February 8, 6.45.04 hours.
Gauke Bootsma, of the 'First Frisian Skating Museum' thinks February 14, 8.10.04 hours.
Former chairman of the committee Jan Sipkema hasn't a clue about the date, but predicts that it will take the winner six and a half hours to reach the finish line.

Friday, January 5
It seems that the 'Elfstedentocht' won't be held, since it is expected to thaw. Today it will freeze for some 5 degrees, but beginning next Monday, temperatures above zero are predicted, with icy rain.

Thursday, January 4
Preparations for the 15th 'Elfstedentocht' are currently brought to an end. Ice master Venema stated this, due to thaw. During the night it still freezes, but during the day it thaws. Venema sees no necessity for calling together the regional heads.

Media preparations, however, will continue. Hotels are booked by the dozen. Dutch as well as foreign news and television agencies have booked 78 rooms. RTL (Radio and Television of Luxemburg) wanted 80 rooms. Belgians have made themselves comfortable in the 'Oranjehotel' in Leeuwarden. Veronica Television is present, and Frisian correspondents are contacted by television association SBS 6 for reports about the 'Elfsteden fever'.
Trading fever is high as well. The 'Friesland Hall' receives many phone calls by businessmen, selling hats, shawls, t-shirts, sweaters banners and flowers, for selling spots in the 'Friesland Hall'.
Huge profits are expected to be made, when the 'Elfstedentocht' will be held. Tradesmen are not allowed to print their goods with the logo of the 'Vereniging De Friesche Elfsteden'. He who will do so anyway, will have to deal with Titus Brandsma, member of the committee, and judge by profession. The logo is a registered trademark.

Tuesday, January 2

The committe of the 'Elfstedentocht' has held their first press conference last tuesday, January 2, 1996. Press chief Reina Witteveen, chairman of the board Henk Kroes and ice master Piet Venema were present.
The 'Elfsteden-fever' is currently rising, but it has to keep freezing for several days more, in order to be able to organise the 'Elfstedentocht'. In some areas, the ice is still too thin. It should be at least 12 cms. thick, whereas the thickness at the moment is approximately 8 cms. thick on average.
In most cities, the ice is still weak. Under bridges, the thickness is often not more than 4 cms. Difficult areas are at Woudsend, the entrance of the Luts, and obstacles at the Galamadams and the open spaces in the ice, caused by ducks.
The prospects are not the best, because it might start to thaw in a couple of days. That is the reason why the 20 so-called 'rayonhoofden' are not yet called together. To be able to organise the tour properly, the board needs three days.

Media.