The equipment

Long distance skating

• The same basic precautions apply as in any hiking out in the open. In covering long distances on the sea ice one needs a map, a compass, and the know-how about using them. There even is a real possibility of a sudden, thick fog or a heavy snowfall which will drastically drop the visibility and confuse the inexperienced. Even in a good weather getting somewhat lost on the long, open distances in the sea archipelago may lurk nearer than you may think.
   
  
• On the sea ice the wind conditions and directions can be a big factor. One has to plan one's route sensibly and always be prepared to know how get back even if the wind suddenly turns unfavorably and picks up. On an open sea ice pushing against the wind can be really hard work. Skating in winds beyond 10m/s requires both stamina and experience.
   
  
• A galy wind also has a considerable chill factor even at benign temperatures. The clothing must be wind-resistant enough to cover this eventuality. For example, one needs a good, rimmed hood in one's coat and insulated gloves in a gale. One of the many useful special trick additions to the clothing and equipment under such conditions is a skiing visor. If you take your clothing cues from ski hiking in the leeway of the woods, you will not get it quite right. The best cues are from skiing on the open, exposed hills of Lapland.
   
  
• Especially at the sea, the thickness of the ice can vary drastically. One needs to know where the dangerous currents lie and how to detect them. For example, in the Vaasa archipelago there are several dangerous spots in the straights and in front of some peninsulas.
   
  
• The quality of the surface of the sea ice can vary surprisingly much over the terrain under some conditions. This means that if one chooses another route back one never can be absolutely sure that the route back will be skatable all the way.
   
  
• There always are small and sometimes big cracks around on the surface of the natural ice. If one runs paralleled into a such a crack, one can trip. If there is some loose snow on the ice, the cracks can be covered by it. Therefore, I now always wear kneepads when skating (missing from the equipment picture).
   
  
• There sometimes are patches of either loose or frozen snow on the ice. In particular, if one skates with the wind, the speed can be considerable. One has to be able to make quick decisions whether to try to skate through the patches or to swerve around them. A wrong estimate will cause an abrupt halt to the proceedings. The way to go trough the small rough patches is running the skates absolutely straight, one skate clearly in front of the other (I seem usually to have the left one in front then).
   
  
• But most importantly, long-distance skating is an extraordinary experience. A good weather, with good, gliding ice conditions, the wide-open sea distances, and being able to go almost anywhere, will give an exceptional sense of freedom. If you have never tried it, you are in for a real treat, once you get it right.