Take safety seriously!
If you are going out on frozen water, you must take safety seriously! There is no such thing as safe ice, only safe skaters, and it is not recommended to start skating on your own if you do not have prior knowledge of ice and safety. The Ski Association's skating group organizes courses. Otherwise, take someone who knows the area with you on your trip.
NB! Remember that all ice information is “perishable” and conditions can change quickly. You are always responsible for checking the ice yourself. Ice awareness and safety are important for safe travel on the water in winter. There is much greater variation in ice conditions than in skiing conditions. If you want to master changing conditions, it is important to have good equipment and good routines for monitoring the ice. You also need to know what to do to prevent an accident from happening.
Here is some advice for those who want to try tour skating:
Taken from the Norwegian Outdoor Life Facebook page.
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There is no such thing as safe ice, only safe skaters. You must always take responsibility for checking the ice yourself.
Always carry safety equipment with you. Use ice picks to check the ice, ice picks around your neck, a rescue throw line, and a backpack with a waist belt and crotch strap.
Do not go out on the ice alone. Always skate with someone else, preferably spread out a little if there are many of you.
If you fall through the ice, try to stay calm. It is easy to panic if you fall into the cold water.
When skating with children: Keep the children within one area. There should preferably be an adult present who can check the condition of the ice with an axe.
Use the ice picks often and observe with your senses. Look and listen for changes in the ice.
Read more about ice safety here
Recommended equipment
The Ski Association's skating group recommends the following equipment if you are going on a skating trip:
Ice picks (crampons) with a whistle, worn around the neck. Used to pull yourself up if you fall into the water.
Rescue line (throw line) placed so that you can easily reach it even with your backpack on.
Special poles with ice spikes for skating. Used to check the ice, but can also be used to travel more safely past cracks or over areas with uneven surfaces.
Backpack with hip belt and strap under the crotch or around the thighs. The backpack will then act as a life jacket if you fall in.
Complete change of clothes and towel in a waterproof bag, and plastic bags to put over your socks in wet boots.
(Source: Skiforeningens Turskøytegruppe)
