Ice fever heats up already

The first Dutch skating fanatics took to the ice on the Ryptsjerkster polder in Friesland on Tuesday, after just two nights of frost.

The polder is known as one of the first places in the country where skating is possible once the temperature dips below freezing.
Nevertheless, the ice is still thin and creaking in many places, the Telegraaf reported.
Ice clubs in the north and east of the country are already queuing up to stage outdoor skating events if the temperatures remain low.
First marathon
The Frisian Nijelamer ice club plans to hold its first short-track races on Thursday afternoon. In Twente, the village of Haakbergen hopes on Thursday to become to be the first to hold a marathon on natural ice this season.
The KNSB said it hopes the first outdoor ice rinks will be open to the public on Friday.
Weatherforecasters expect the frost to continue into the weekend, although there many be some snow on Wednesday.
Last year some 13,000 people were treated for skating-related injuries during the cold snap in early January.
For winter scene photos and video of the first skaters, click here