WATCH ABOVE: The Montreal Fête des Neiges inaugurated its new refrigerated skating path at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Rachel Lau reports.
MONTREAL – It’s a mix of professional athletes and amateurs: winter enthusiasts who all share a passion for the cold outdoors.
“This is awesome for us,” said Olympic medalist Mathieu Turcotte.
“The ice is going to be here all the time, no matter what the weather is, because it’s refrigerated. It’s good ice.”
Turcotte was on hand as the Montreal Fête des Neiges inaugurated its new refrigerated skating path at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
“The trick to having it for all four weekends is to have this new ice rink refrigerated. It is and it’s perfect,” said Yan England, a spokesperson for the Fête des Neiges.
“No matter if it’s minus 40 or plus five, you’re still going to get the rink.”
There were a lot of skating stars on hand for the official launch, including members of the Canadian World Junior Speed Skating team, and two decorated Winter Olympians.
“I discovered this for the first time and it’s awesome,” said Turcotte.
“Way bigger than I expected.”
For Francois-Louis Tremblay, five-time Olympic medalist, the Fête des Neiges is a fond reminder of his childhood.
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“When I was a kid, this is one of the first times I skated with my parents,” he said.
“I was on a lake and I was just enjoying being outside.”
In addition to the rink, the festival boasts more than 25 activities, including a ferris wheel, two zip-lines and a huge playground for kids.
“You go outside, you have fun and it’s for everyone, so the kids have things to do, the teenagers, the young adults, the grandparents, the parents,” said England.
“Everyone has something to do here.”
The park’s organizers have opened an extended invitation to the public to “Come play outdoors.”
It’s a slogan meant to encourage Montrealers to spend more time outside in the fresh – albeit frigid – air.
“This is winter and we’re in Quebec, right?” said England.
“No matter what we think, no matter what we want to do, there’s going to be a winter and it’s sometimes cold and sometimes we’re going to get snow, so we might as well take advantage of that. It’s a beautiful season.”
The Fête Des Neiges continues until Feb. 9.
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