World record attempt: longest human skating chain!
Winnipeg set to blow world’s mind
William O’Donnell, staff
Feb. 18 can be a big day for brand new experiences in Winnipeg. Not only does it mark the debut of Louis Riel Day, our fair city’s first provincial holiday in February, but also the chance to become part of a world record by joining others at the Forks to attempt the world’s longest skating human chain.
The event is being organized by Dean Koshelanyk, president of Tyndall Park Community Centre. Talk to him and you will quickly see that he is very passionate about this event and his hometown.
The current record is held by Mexico City, which had 225 skaters link up on oversized arena. That means only 226 skaters have to hold hands and skate along our mammoth Forks river rink to break the record. Though the irony of a place such as Mexico City holding a world record that involves ice-skating might be terribly delightful to some, there is a certain sense of ownership over ice activities in our Canadian blood, and Dean certainly feels this. “Winnipeggers and all Manitobans need to be proud of what they have and who we are . . . getting out and enjoying the wonderful resources that we have that no one else has will help to get other people to realize that being a Manitoban is not something to be ashamed of.”
Entering into Guinness’ acclaimed records is the sort of thing that many people dedicate their lives to. Here is a chance for any who have thought or dreamed of this but could not find the proper way. Granted, there is little in the way of individual acclaim, but the pride of the group is what’s up for grabs here. Winnipeggers (or whomever, really) can unite and show their local pride by placing our city’s name in the record books with this, let’s face it, fun accomplishment.
Doubtlessly there are many out there who have already made plans so that they can take full advantage of our city’s new holiday. If you don’t happen to find much personal significance or meaning in Riel’s namesake, then perhaps this event is what you need to ensure that Feb. 18 is more than just a long weekend to you.
Koshelanyk’s hope for this event becomes more romanticized when considering its conjunction with Riel Day. “The added significance of doing this on our first-ever Riel Day will help to put it even more into people’s minds. . . . If we break the record or even if we don’t . . . 10, 20, 30 years from now when someone is asking their father or grandmother ‘Where were you on the first-ever Riel Day?’ many of us will have the very fond memory of being at the Forks, attempting to break a world record.”
The Forks has the size to contain more than the required amount of skaters, but the burden lies on the people’s shoulders to show up. Some keeners have expressed their feeling (mostly via the Internet) that it is their duty to not just break this record, but to blow it away. For any interested, the attempt to break the Guinness world record for longest skating human chain takes place around 1 p.m. at the Forks. For details, search keywords such as “Winnipeg,” “Skating,” and “Chain” on Facebook.com to find the event’s webpage. The numbers already look good on said webpage, which suggests that Winnipeg wants this to happen. If they aren’t doing it for themselves, or their city, maybe they’re doing it for Riel. I think this is what he had in mind all along anyway.
