Name change.

It would be interesting to see if iceman events around the world are cancelled because of similar temps or are these organizers to overly cautious. I think it should have been left up to those who wanted to compete. Funny some pc police haven’t tried changing the name to iceperson event……

IceBeing

IceZombie

CoolPerson

Not an iceman, but there was a half marathon (21K run) here in Ottawa on January 26th, aptly named the “Hypothermic Half”.

I looked at the past weather data for that day and the low temp was -24.6, the high was -15.9 and the mean was -20.4. The wind was also gusting up to 41 KM/H.

If you take the mean temperature along with say a 20 KM/H wind, you come up with a wind chill value of -30. If you take the mean temperature along with a 40 KM/H wind, you end up with a windchill of -34. The maximum low with the maximum wind for that day equated to a windchill of -41.

Just looked at the weather in PG and it’s showing virtually no wind. Personally, I would would MUCH rather be out in -26 with no wind than -20 with a 20 KM/H wind and I’ve done both.

That said -26 would suck if you were a volunteer and not moving around. It’s those people I would be worried about more so than the athletes.

I should add, that at the end of the day it’s up to the event organizers to ensure the safety of everyone involved. It’s their call and they think it’s too risky, they are responsible for making the call.

Different people will have different risk tolerances.

Her is an event in the Yukon …. biking, cross country, camping …. sort of more like a real “iceman” event … :-)

Doubt they cancel it because of cold ….. maybe because of heat ….

There are several others on the side menu.

One must not forget that when one speed skates, one creates ones own “wind”…. I hated going downhill skiing on cold days. I used to get dragged onto the hills with a friend at one time. He would go in any weather.

http://www.montane.co.uk/ultra-events/montane-yukon-arctic-ultra

I’m sure AlexVega is still running around looking for the trophy.

Thanks to all the organizers who put in all the work every year, weeks (months)ahead of time. Pretty hard choice to make, at the last minute, to cancel because conditions are simply not suitable or safe.

From the comfort of one’s keyboard, -20 or even -30 or -40 doesn’t feel too bad. Quick trip to the car or down the block, wrapped in heavy clothes, is pretty bearable. Aren’t we tough!

It’s pretty different racing for a couple of hours, running your bodies energy resources down, dressed suitable for actually racing, adding our own wind chill because of your speed!

Even tough old timers were protected by WCB from being required to do physical labor outdoors if the temperature went below a certain temperature (-30 at one time). Sawmills shut down because the green chain workers couldn’t work at that temperature.

Thanks to the organizers for taking the tough decision. Hope next year will have more typical conditions, so it can happen again. Congratulations for having built the PG Iceman into such a big event over the years. Great opportunity for a huge number of people to get active in healthy exercise. I know lots of people who put in months getting/staying in shape for this event. Keep up the good work, thanks.

A repeat in our 2015 Winter Games? Horrors! Invite Al Gore (the guy who invented the Internet) to come and open those Games. Lotsa room for his private jet on our new swell airport runway. Get on it, eh?

^^^^^^^ahahaha

…Or maybe we could get Neil Young to share a ride with Al Gore (you know, in the interest of keeping things ‘green’) to come and lecture us.

the winter games has plans to truck in snow because by then we’ll be in those greener pastures the mayor keeps talking about, right?

Thanks for your comment chuck, ignore the ones from the peanut gallery.

Harbinger you don’t want Gore to show up, ever here of the Gore effect? Cold weather tends to follow him.

Do I understand it’s never been cancelled in 27 years? But peaple#1 says it should be short sleeve weather.

It’s just not that challenging, nor fun, attempting to engage people like this in intelligent debate :-(

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1536539_677470465638818_342866491_n.jpg

I hope you drive a hybrid people#1

Or a bike….lol

Good lord, people#1 …. remember, we are all about people wanting to comment on these kinds of “blogs” or comment sections …… and many more than that people simply wanting to gawk or lurk without commenting.

Sort of like moths circling around lights ….. ;-)

People#1 you aught to know since you have never refuted anything I have posted. The evidense for cooling is overwhelming

Some of you more perceptive readers might get this ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f3CFzahrRs

I am sorry, I just might have to stop commenting on this site, there is just no “sport” in it for me :-(

NMG. A marathon on the streets of Ottawa isn’t a fair comparison. I’ve volunteered at an iceman. I spent 4 hours in the shade n the forest with no source of heat other than my clothing. That was minus 12 and not much fun. Your event takes place on a city street with a Starbucks on every corner to retreat to for heat. True you can compete at these temperatures but standing around is a different story. If you want volunteers next year you don’t abuse them this year. Remember volunteers don’t get paid

I agree completely ski50, that’s why I said this:

“That said -26 would suck if you were a volunteer and not moving around. It’s those people I would be worried about more so than the athletes.”

I ran a race last year where we had wind chills around -25 and it was fine with the exception of the water stations having blocks of ice to drink, LOL :)

The first couple of minutes are rough, but once you get going you warm up pretty quick actually. Post race is probably the toughest part. Sweating, activity grinding to a halt and really cold temps is not fun at all. Nothing like a 45 minute shower to try and warm up, ha ha.

chuck + ski50 = voices of reason!

It is a sad day when People#1 names himself as the judge of who is the voice of reason.

People#1 “I am sorry, I just might have to stop commenting on this site, there is just no “sport” in it for me :-(“

Don’t tease us all now. That’s just not nice.

Hey,,,some of us have to go out and work in this crap,,,,at least they could pay homage to us and let them race.

Pssst I think some ppl drink way too much while commenting on this sight…..I mean really.

-26C cancelled really? That’s only -15F which was a warm day back when we used the Fahrenheit scale.

Oh well I guess folks are getting soft!