At the UT, members of D.S.V. de Skeuvel consider ice skating a serious sport as well as lots of fun. Skeuvel chairman Marieke Plegt joined the club last year, renewing a passion for skating she'd developed during her childhood in Vriezenveen. She has also participated in gymnastics and horse-riding clubs at the UT, but describes Skeuvel as a unique organization characterized by camaraderie and good-natured amusement. `Skeuvel is a very friendly club. There are different kinds of people with all kinds of studies. There are lots of women involved. New people are welcome. It doesn't matter if you've never skated. Some people come to try out skating and spend the first day clutching desperately to the railing of the ice rink.'
The common goal is to become a better skater. There is a yearly 25 euro membership fee, and members must also have SUAC. A pair of skates is also necessary.
The Dutch so enjoy skating outside that it was not until 1934 that an artificial skating track was built. In 1961, the world's third 400-meter skating track was built in Amsterdam, followed by the world's fourth in 1962 in Deventer. But, it is the Netherlands' third 400-meter skating track that is the most renowned today: Thialf in Heerenveen, where Dutch as well as international speed skating competitions take place.
Skeuvel hosts its annual skating competition at Thialf. This year the event will take place on March 13-14. University and club teams compete for medals on the fastest rink in the Netherlands. Plegt explains that different classes of competition allow nearly everyone to participate.
To prepare for competitions, Skeuvel trains weekly at the 200-meter track in the Euregiohal in Enschede. Trainers Piet van Oosterom and Rob Löring lead the practice at 4-5 pm for two levels of beginners, and from 5-6 pm Eelco Rondhuis and Jan Miedema coach two levels of advanced groups.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, some team members train in Deventer at the 400-meter race track. This is for the most serious skaters and there are extra costs involved. Wouldn't it be easier if there were a 400-meter track in Enschede? Indeed, local groups have been campaigning without success for such a skating rink over the past 40 years. Maybe someday.
Skeuvel is such a cohesive bunch of skating enthusiasts that they pal around together all year long. They enter a team in the Batavierenrace in April. They meet at Friends in Enschede once a month; Plegt says that she can count on at least 25 club members showing up. And, last summer, for the first time, they took part in the Le Mans 24 (teams of 10 people race on in-line skates for 24 hours) in France, winning `Best Student Team.'
In addition to regularly scheduled training sessions, the club seeks natural ice skating opportunities. A guest book on the user-friendly Skeuvel website, recently designed by Steven ten Brinke, (http://www.skeuvel.nl/) allows 24-hour communication regarding the latest local skating conditions. Club members exchange information and arrange transportation in an open, congenial manner. During the recent cold spells, Skeuvel participants could often be found at Lonnekermeer.
As Skeuvel skaters glide across the frozen lake, surely they fantasize of one day participating in the Elfstedentocht (`Eleven Cities Tour'), a 200-kilometer ice skating race in Friesland. The first Elfstedentocht took place in 1909. Since then only fifteen years have afforded properly icy conditions for canals connecting the eleven cities to freeze. The last race was held in 1997. Weather permitting, all eyes in the Netherlands turn toward Leeuwarden where the ice skating marathon begins and ends.
While waiting anxiously to see whether the Elfstedentocht will take place this year, cast an eye on the Dutch Olympic speed skating team in Torino, Italy. Since 1952, Dutch speed skaters have brought home 63 Olympic medals. Pay special attention this year to Marianne Timmer and Ireen Wüst on the women's team and Jan Bos, Bob de Jong, Carl Verheijen and Erben Wennemars on the men's team, all slated to win a medal.
Try ice skating!
If this article whetted your curiosity regarding the Dutch national pastime of ice skating, why not give the sport a try? Skeuvel and the UT Nieuws invite you to join them for a unique opportunity. Contact Kristin Zimmerman at [email protected] for more information.
Skating on the frozen `Lonnekermeer' (Foto Maurits Diephuis)
