Winnipeggers bring out the skates for opening of Assiniboine Park duck pond this season

A slew of Winnipeggers laced up their skates — some with a sled in tow — as activities for the season opened at Assiniboine Park on the first day of winter.

Families, couples and friends spent quality time outdoors at the park located in central Winnipeg and could be seen building a snowman, speeding down a snow hill on a toboggan or improving their skills on the frozen duck pond that opened to skaters on Saturday. 

Local resident Daniel Funk bought a new pair of skates for the occasion. 

"It's my first time skating in a very, very long time and so far, so good. I've only fallen twice," he said. 

Funk said he's been waiting for the pond to freeze and jumped at the chance to be the first of many Manitobans who will skate there over the holidays. 

"It's a nice place to start on a Saturday," said Yaaneh Bilodeau, who was joined by his children at the park.  

He said the park is the closest for his family, who lives on a farm outside of the city, to go to and enjoy because there's winter activities and sports to suit everyone's interests.

"If we want to go sledding, we brought a few sleds. If we want to go skating, we go skating. It's fun all around," Bilodeau said. 

While his family plans to take advantage of the variety of activities available at the park, his son David Bilodeau said he is flooding a pond near their home, which he is also excited to skate on. 

The boy said the ice at the duck pond was "decent" but "still pretty bumpy." He was eager to put on his skates and winter gear for the second time so far this season. 

Assiniboine Park crews finished flooding the ice around 5 a.m. on Saturday, the park's communications coordinator Georgia Sigurdson said Sunday. 

She said park staff are encouraging folks to bundle up and get outside for some fresh air. 

"Our winters are far too long to be staying inside that whole time, so it's really great that we have this space with so many different activities where people are able to come down and enjoy one of our longest seasons of the year," Sigurdson said. 

People can cross-country ski on three loops near the pond, Pavilion and The Leaf that make up approximately four kilometres of groomed trails. They can also unwind inside a cedar barrel sauna that holds up to eight people, which is a new feature at the park this season, located at the Cargo Bar pop-up patio, Sigurdson said. 

The Winnipeg Trails Association will be offering equipment rentals for people of every age and shoe size for the second consecutive year at Assiniboine Park from Friday to Sunday, beginning Dec. 27. 

Rentals are based on donation and include equipment such as cross-country skis, kicksleds, toboggans, snowshoes and a limited supply of skates. Equipment is also available for people with mobility issues. 

While the non-profit organization was getting supplies organized near the duck pond on Saturday, executive director Anders Swanson said people were asking to rent some of the equipment already.

He enjoyed teaching two people how to skate for the first time. 

"Anybody who's seen me skate knows that I should have no business teaching others. I'm not Sidney Crosby by any stretch, but I can skate, and sharing that joy [with] somebody who has never done it is really invigorating, especially because often we're dealing with so many people," Swanson said. 

Skating lessons will start in January, he said. The park will also begin guided snowshoe tours in the new year, Sigurdson said.