Editing Elfstedentocht (section)

== History ==
[[File:Deelnemers aan de eerste elfstedentocht 1909.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Competitors of the first (1909) ''Elfstedentocht'']]
There has been mention of skaters visiting all eleven cities of Friesland on one day since 1760. The ''Elfstedentocht'' was already part of Frisian tradition when, in 1890, [[Pim Mulier]] conceived the idea of an organised tour, which was first held in 1909 when 22 men competed.<ref name=":0" /> After this race, the [[:nl:Koninklijke Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden|''Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden'']]<sup>(nl)</sup> (Association of the Eleven Frisian Towns) <ref>{{cite web
  | title = Official Website [in Dutch - some pages are also available in English]
  | url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl 
  | access-date = 2009-08-18}}</ref> was established to organise the tours.

In the 1912 edition [[Jikke Gaastra]] was the first woman ever who finished the ''Elfstedentocht'', but could not complete the full tour because the ice was not good enough after [[Sneek]]. In the 1917 edition [[Janna van der Weg]] was the first woman who finished the tour.
[[File:De 10e Elfstedentocht.ogv|thumb|225px|Video of the ''Elfstedentocht'' of 1954 (commentary in [[Dutch (language)|Dutch]])]]
The winters of 1939/40, 1940/41 and 1941/42 were particularly severe,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/climate/1900_1949.htm#1940_1949
|title = 1900 - 1949
|work = Historical weather events
|first = MG
|last = Rowley
|date = 19 January 2012
|access-date = 6 February 2012
|archive-date = 8 May 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140508223425/http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/climate/1900_1949.htm#1940_1949
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> with the race being run in each of them. The 1940 race, run three months prior to the [[German invasion of the Netherlands]], saw over 3,000 competitors start at 05:00 on 30 January, with the first five finishing at 16:34. The event dominated the front pages of Dutch newspapers.<ref name=Times310140>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=3,000 Skaters in 124-mile race |date=31 January 1940 |page=7 |issue=48527 |column=B }}</ref>

The ''Elfstedentocht'' of 1963 became known as "The hell of '63" when only 69 of the 10,000 participants were able to finish the race, due to the extremely low temperatures of -18&nbsp;°C (0°F), powder snow and a harsh eastern wind. Conditions were so horrendous that the 1963 winner, [[Reinier Paping]], became a national hero, and the tour itself legendary.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/artikelen/39075940/
|title = Alles van de Elfstedentocht 1963
|language = nl
|trans-title=All about the Elfstedentocht 1963
|publisher = Sportgeschiedenis.nl
|access-date = 2010-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url =  http://annpostma.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/elfstedentocht-1963-of-in-het-fries-alvestedetocht/
|title = Elfstedentocht 1963 of in het Fries: Alvestêdetocht 
|language = nl
|trans-title=Elfstedentocht 1963, or in West Frisian: Alvestêdetocht
|author = Ann MacDunn
|work = Fotoalbums van Ann MacDunn
|date = January 2009
|access-date = 2010-12-26}}</ref> Paping could not make out the finishing line as he was snow blind by the end of the race, and many of the contestants had frostbite, broken limbs, and damaged eyes.<ref name=":0" />

The next ''Elfstedentocht'' after 1963 was held in 1985; times had changed. Before, one of the best methods to stay warm during the tour was to wear newspapers underneath the clothes. In the 20 years between the tours of 1963 and 1985, clothing, training methods and skates became much more advanced, changing the nature of skating.<ref name=":0" />

The tour of 1985 was terminated prematurely because of thawing; as early as 22:00 in the evening skaters were taken off the ice. In 1986 the current Dutch [[King of the Netherlands|King]] (at the time still [[Crown Prince]]) [[Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange|Willem-Alexander]] completed the ''Elfstedentocht'' under the name ''W.A. van Buren'', ''Van Buren'' being a traditional pseudonym of the Royal House. In 1997 [[Piet Kleine]], who had previously won a gold medal at the [[1976 Winter Olympics|Olympics]] for speed skating was disqualified because he missed getting a stamp at Hindeloopen despite video evidence that he had been there.<ref name=":0" />

=== ''Elfstedentocht'' 2012 – the race that did not happen ===
The ten-day cold spell in late January and early February 2012, the 33rd such occurrence since 1901 when temperatures as low as -22.9&nbsp;°C (-9.2°F) were recorded in [[Lelystad]],<ref name=Postscript>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/cms/content/104789/koudegolf_winter_2012
|title = Nader Verklaard: Koudegolf winter 2012
|language = nl
|trans-title = Explained in more detail: Cold spell, Winter 2012
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|date = 29 February 2012
|access-date = 18 January 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421123021/http://www.knmi.nl/cms/content/104789/koudegolf_winter_2012
|archive-date = 21 April 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> heightened the expectation of a 2012 Elfstedentocht &ndash; the expected day of the event, had it taken place, was Saturday 11 February.<ref name=NieuwsUit>{{cite web
|title = Elfstedentocht 2012 zaterdag 11 februari gaat niet door
|trans-title=Elfstedentocht 2012 will not be on Saturday 11 February
|language = nl
|publisher = NieuwsUit
|date = 8 February 2012
}}</ref>

On 2 February 2012, it was reported that 95% of various [[Lock (water transport)|locks]] that controlled the water flow in the canals had been adjusted to maximise the ice thickness.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Elfstedentocht 2012 - Laatste nieuws Elfstedentocht 2012
|url = http://nieuwsuit.com/2011/elfstedentocht-2012-laatste-nieuws-elfstedentocht-2012/
|language = nl
|date = 2 February 2012
|publisher = Nieuws uit
|access-date = 2 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224041549/http://nieuwsuit.com/2011/elfstedentocht-2012-laatste-nieuws-elfstedentocht-2012/
|archive-date = 24 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> On the same day, the [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|Dutch meteorological institute]] forecast that temperatures would not rise above freezing until Wednesday 8 February at the earliest and that the thickness of the ice would be 15&nbsp;cm (6") from Tuesday 7 February until Saturday 11 February.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 2 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> On 3 February, the Dutch meteorological institute forecast a probable ice-thickness of 20&nbsp;cm (8") on Saturday 11 February and on 5 February they forecast an ice thickness approaching 25&nbsp;cm (10").<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 3 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

On 6 February it was announced that the committee had met the previous evening for the first time in fifteen years. Although there were areas where the ice was not thick enough for the race to be held, the forecast for continuing freezing weather meant that they were optimistic that the race would be held. A press conference was held at 09:30 [[UTC+1|CET]] and the committee was due to meet again on 8 February.<ref name=NOS337712>{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/337712-nog-geen-datum-voor-elfstedentocht.html 
|title=Nog geen datum voor Elfstedentocht
|date=6 February 2012
|trans-title=No date for Elfstedentocht 
|publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting 
|language=nl 
|access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref> At the press conference, it was stated that in north Friesland the ice conditions were suitable to hold the race. In south west Friesland, the conditions were not so good, [[Stavoren]] being a particular problem where the ice was only 2&nbsp;cm (1") thick in places.<ref name=NOS337771>{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/337771-we-gaan-voor-de-hoofdprijs.html |title=We gaan voor de hoofdprijs |date=6 February 2012 |trans-title=We go for the prize |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |language=nl |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>

On 6 February a prohibition order on navigation on many of the canals in Friesland was extended in order to facilitate the growth of the ice.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.halloleeuwarden.nl/nieuws/LeeuwarderNieuws/2012/2/6/Vaarbod_in_Friesland_is_uitgebreid
|title = Vaarbod in Friesland is uitgebreid
|language = nl
|trans-title = Navigation prohibition in Friesland is extended
|newspaper = Hallo Leeuwarden
|date = 6 February 2011
|access-date = 2012-02-06
|archive-date = 2012-02-08
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208071531/http://www.halloleeuwarden.nl/nieuws/LeeuwarderNieuws/2012/2/6/Vaarbod_in_Friesland_is_uitgebreid
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> The following day the Dutch meteorological institute forecast that the cold spell would break on Sunday 12 February or Monday 13 February with the temperature rising above [[freezing point]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 7 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

Late afternoon on the 8 February Wiebe Wieling, chairman of the organising committee, said that the race was off &ndash; the committee had to be realistic &ndash; safety issues had made the race impossible.<ref name=NieuwsUit/><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/
|title = Ellfstedentocht komt nu nog niet
|language = nl
|trans-title=The ''Elfstedentocht'' will not be taking place
|work = Elfstedentocht Home Page
|access-date = 4 December 2012}}</ref> A ten-day cold spell was insufficient for the event; the 1997 event had taken place at the end of a 12-day cold spell.<ref name=Postscript/>

=== Winners ===
The time taken for the winner to complete the course is given in hours and minutes.<ref name="History">{{cite web
  | title = History
  | publisher = Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden [Association of the Eleven Fries Cities]
  | url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/nl/
  | language = nl
  | access-date = 2010-09-26
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110111003152/http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/nl/
  | archive-date = 2011-01-11
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> Although temperatures were sometimes above freezing on the day of the tour, all tours were preceded by many days of below-freezing temperatures.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/climatology/daily_data/selection.cgi
|title = Daily weather data for the Netherlands - Download
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 6 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120126091831/http://www.knmi.nl/climatology/daily_data/selection.cgi
|archive-date = 26 January 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
[[File:Lekkum - Bullemolen met vlaggen.jpg|thumb|upright|''De Bullemolen'', along the canal "Ouddeel", near the finishing point of the ''Elfstedentocht'']]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Temperature<ref group="Note">Mean temperatures at [[de Kooy]], one of three Dutch meteorological stations for which records go back to 1910.</ref>
!Winner
!Time
!Distance
!Average<br>speed
!Years<br>since<br>previous<br>tour
|-
|2 January 1909
| align="center" |n/a 
| Minne Hoekstra
|13:50
|189&nbsp;km
|13.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |—
|-
|7 February 1912
| align="center" | +3.8&nbsp;°C
|[[Coen de Koning]] 
|11:40
|189&nbsp;km
|16.2&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |3
|-
|27 January 1917
| align="center" | -1.8&nbsp;°C
|[[Coen de Koning]] 
|9:53
|189&nbsp;km
|19.1&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5
|-
|12 February 1929
| align="center" | -10.1&nbsp;°C
|Karst Leemburg
|11:09
|191&nbsp;km
|17.1&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |12
|-
|16 December 1933
| align="center" | -2.0&nbsp;°C
|Abe de Vries and<br> 
Sipke Castelein
|9:05
|195&nbsp;km
|19.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5<!-- This is correct. Look at the date, not just the year. -->
|-
|30 January 1940
| align="center" | -6.1&nbsp;°C
|Piet Keijzer,<br>[[Auke Adema]],<br>Cor Jongert,<br>Durk van der Duim<br> and Sjouke Westra
|11:34<ref name=Times310140/>
|198.5&nbsp;km
|17.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |6<!-- This is correct. Look at the date, not just the year. -->
|-
|7 February 1941
| align="center" |0.0&nbsp;°C
|[[Auke Adema]] 
|9:19 
|198.5&nbsp;km
|21.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|22 January 1942
| align="center" | -11.7&nbsp;°C
|Sietze de Groot
|8:44 
|198&nbsp;km
|22.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|8 February 1947
| align="center" | -8.5&nbsp;°C
|{{ill|Jan W. van der Hoorn|nl}}<!-- do not confuse with Jan J. van der Hoorn -->
|10:51
|191&nbsp;km
|17.6&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5
|-
|3 February 1954
| align="center" | -5.4&nbsp;°C
|[[Jeen van den Berg]]
|7:35
|198.5&nbsp;km
|26.2&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |7
|-
|14 February 1956
| align="center" | -4.9&nbsp;°C
|''no winner declared''<ref group="Note">After shared wins in 1933 and 1940, when the front-runners decided not to compete but join hands to cross the line together, this practice was forbidden by the organisation. {{ill|Jan J. van der Hoorn|nl}}, [[Aad de Koning]], {{ill|Jeen Nauta|nl}}, {{ill|Maus Wijnhout|nl}} and {{ill|Anton Verhoeven|nl}} however ignored this rule when they crossed the finish line in unison. They were not disqualified, but no winner was declared.</ref>
|—
|190.5&nbsp;km 
|—
| align="center" |2
|-
|18 January 1963
| align="center" | -7.7&nbsp;°C
|[[Reinier Paping]]
|10:59
|196.5&nbsp;km
|17.9&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |7
|-
|21 February 1985
| align="center" | +0.3&nbsp;°C
|[[Evert van Benthem]] 
|6:47
|196.8&nbsp;km
|29.0&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |22
|-
|26 February 1986
| align="center" | -6.9&nbsp;°C
|[[Evert van Benthem]] 
|6:55
|199.3&nbsp;km
|28.8&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|4 January 1997
| align="center" | -3.6&nbsp;°C
|[[Henk Angenent]] 
|6:49
|199.6&nbsp;km
|29.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |11
|-
|Present
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
| align="center" |{{Age nts|1997|1|4}}
|}
Women were first allowed to take part in the tour proper in 1985; before then they had to skate with the amateurs and no award was given. The women to cross the finish line first were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schaatsmuseum.nl/elfstedentocht/winnaars/|title=Winnaars van de Elfstedentocht}}</ref>

* 1940 &ndash; [[Sjoerdtsje Faber]]
* 1941 &ndash; [[Wopkje Kooistra]]
* 1942 &ndash; [[Antje Schaap]]
* 1985 &ndash; [[Lenie van der Hoorn]]
* 1986 &ndash; [[Tineke Dijkshoorn]]
* 1997 &ndash; [[Klasina Seinstra]] (7:49.11)
[[File:Elfstedentocht-Plaatsnamen.png|thumb|upright|The course of the 1997 ''Elfstedentocht'']]
The course can vary slightly from race to race, depending on the quality of the ice.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/9344/De-winter-van-2012/article/detail/3158340/2012/02/06/Het-ijs-ligt-er-fantastisch-bij-maar-grote-problemen-in-zuidoosten.dhtml
|title = Het ijs ligt er 'fantastisch' bij, maar 'grote problemen' in zuidoosten
|language = nl
|trans-title=The ice is 'fantastic', but there are problems in the south west.
|newspaper = Volkskrant
|date = 6 February 2012
|access-date = 2012-02-06
|first = Michiel
|last = van der Geest}}</ref> The cumulative distance at each checkpoint in 1997 was:

*0&nbsp;km: [[Leeuwarden]]
*22&nbsp;km: [[Sneek]] (municipality [[Súdwest-Fryslân]])
*26&nbsp;km: [[IJlst]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*40&nbsp;km: [[Sloten, Friesland|Sloten]] (mun. [[De Fryske Marren]])
*66&nbsp;km: [[Stavoren]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*77&nbsp;km: [[Hindeloopen]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*86&nbsp;km: [[Workum]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*99&nbsp;km: [[Bolsward]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*116&nbsp;km: [[Harlingen, Netherlands|Harlingen]]
*129&nbsp;km: [[Franeker]] (mun. [[Waadhoeke]])
*174&nbsp;km: [[Dokkum]] (mun. [[Noardeast-Fryslân]])
*199&nbsp;km: [[Leeuwarden]]