Långfärdskridskoåkning

Anybody up for Nordic or Swedish skating? It's called Långfärdskridskoåkning in Swedish. I am told that you can take lessons which include requiring you to escape death from falling in. Actually, there's very little danger, you just get a real jolt of cold for a minute or so before you get out. You can see the sport in a YouTube video by clicking here. You notice from the photo below that some sort of stick is carried. It's for testing the ice. The sound of hitting the ice gives the skater enough warning before it becomes dangerously thin. However, if the skater does fall through the ice into the freezing water, he carries two sharp tools which are designed specifically for clawing your way back up onto the ice. Of course, this is a sport that's done on groups so there should be someone to help you, provide some warm cloths and otherwise prevent disaster.