River skating trail at The Forks still not open, despite cold snap

Outdoor enthusiasts eager for a chance to skate on river ice at The Forks will have to wait a little longer and hope for colder weather. 

The river trail won't likely be opening before New Year's Eve this year, a spokesperson with The Forks.

"We haven't been able to get our equipment on there, so until we're able to get our equipment out and are able to maintain the trail itself, we're not able to open the trail," said Chelsea Thomson, marketing manager at The Forks. 

She said the river trail can either extend along the Red or the Assiniboine rivers, depending on which freezes thick enough for skaters first.

"The Assiniboine River was looking really good this year, the water levels were favourable and the speed was just right. So we just need a week of some really cold temperatures and we'll be able to get out there and start building."

But there are still areas of open, flowing river water at The Forks, and that raises safety concerns.

"Our machines have to be able to get on right at The Forks in order to maintain the trail, so that's sort of the key area to freeze. And then when other sections freeze that are nearby that, we can grow the trail further," said Thomson.

While dozens are still coming out to enjoy the three other rinks now open at The Forks, the river trail is definitely the big draw every winter.

"I'm sad, I'm disappointed it's closed, but it's nice, it's cold, we get to skate outside, we'll have fun anyway," said Dave Carr-Pries, who grew up in Winnipeg and comes out every year to skate on the river.

"Often it's not quite ready to go between skating on New Year's," he added. "We love skating on the river, you got more space, more time and you can keep going. Here we're just kind of going back and forth over the bridge." 

Nicole Vandale and Natalie Vandale came out with a friend with a clear plan Monday morning: "To skate on the river," said Nicole Vandale.  

"I was hoping it would be [ready], because I feel like we've got enough cold days in a row now that it should be at least somewhat frozen, but yes, we're surprised that it's not."

The canopy skating rink by the tower atrium outside The Forks market, a kilometre of trails on land connected through ice or skate mats to the canopy and a larger rink near the stage has recently opened.

"It's very common that it opens mid- to late-January, and so we're still optimistic that we can shoot for that goal as well," said Thomson. 

She added that skating conditions are posted on The Forks website and are updated daily. Skate rentals are available at The Forks market.

"People really embrace winter; I would definitely say that. Our winter numbers are rivaling our summer numbers these years," said Thomson.