SWS in English
The Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee (Alternative Eleven City Races Weissensee) has organised Alternative Eleven City Races since the 1970's in different countries.
The Alternative 11-City Race has been a Dutch tradition since 1974. The original version in Friesland, the most Northern province of the Netherlands, goes back many centuries. It is an ice skating race over 200 kilometres, through 11 towns linked by canals, rivers, lakes and a part of the former Zuiderzee.
Skating ice found abroad
As the Dutch waters don't freeze over so easily, the Dutch started looking for alternatives in other Countries. In 1974 a race over 200 kilometres was held in Lillehammer, Norway. In 1976 the race was held in Lahti Finland. The race stayed in Finland for a couple of years and was held on different lakes. In 1983, '84, and '85 the Marathon over 200 kilometres was held in the United States of America (USA) and Canada (Vermont and Ottawa). In 1985 and '86 it was held in Poland, in 2000 the race moved to Akan in Japan and in 2007 there was a special race on the Hovsgol Lake in Mongolia.
Weissensee
Since 1989 the 'Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee' (Alternative Eleven City Races Weissensee) organizes the race on a beautiful, 12 kilometres long mountain lake in Austria in the wonderful village Weissensee. The start and finish line are at the foot of the ski-slopes. There are three versions of the Alternative 11-City Race: the race for professionals, the fast amateur tour, and the recreational tour. The event is always held in the last week of January or in the beginning of February. Around 6,500 Dutch people and a few hundred people from other nations meet each year at Weissensee.
Enter the races
You can enter the races by sending an e-mail to email@weissensee.nl. Please include your name, date of birth and address and mention the race(s) and distance(s) you wish to enter. Take a look at the calendar to see the races of the upcoming event.
