Snow, ice and frigid temperatures are dancing through the heads of speed skaters, skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts these days.
Kathy Lewis, president of the Prince George Outdoor Ice Society, said they're just waiting for Mother Nature to bring in the winter season. She added she expects a similar winter to last year.
"Right now, we're just mostly getting the oval ready for flooding once the weather gets cold enough," said Lewis.
The main concern for Lewis is getting the dimensions right so the ice surface isn't too wide or too narrow. If the measurements aren't up to snuff, the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club cannot host sanctioned long-track events.
"We're working with the Blizzard this year to make sure that when we put the ice in we get it done in such a way the dimensions are exactly what they need to be in order to hold a long-track race," said Lewis. "It's a little bit different than what we did last year when we didn't pay as much attention."
Lewis said she believes the ice flooding process, which takes several days, began around Nov. 10 last year.
"It's a lot of work," she said. "We put down, I think ... close to 80 truckloads [of ice]. You can only put down three loads at a time and then you have to let it freeze up.
"If we put it in too fast, we don't get good ice and then the truck is driving on top of soft ice that was just laid down a little while ago and you get these ridges and bumps," added Lewis. "It takes three loads to go around the entire oval and cover the entire surface one time. Then we have to let that freeze up, usually overnight, and then we can put another three loads down."
It's important for the Ice Oval Society to work on the dimensions and get them right now, in anticipation of the 2015 Canada Winter Games which Prince George will host.
"We're starting to think a little bit about what might come with the 2015 games, but right now we don't have a lot of information to go from," said Lewis.
The oval, located to the west of the Kin Centre near University Hill, is usually open day and night for people to skate on. The only time the oval isn't open to the public is during special reserved times for the Blizzard and other long-track skaters.
"They have exclusive use during the practice sessions because it's not safe for the rest of the public," said Lewis.
It costs $2 per person and $5 per family for a session of skating.
"It's not a donation, so we ask that people pay it, but it is by the honour system," said Lewis, adding there's a collection box at the oval for people to pay into. "We're going to look at annual passes this year - I don't know if we're going to do it - but some people suggested that might work out well."
The decision about passes is on the agenda of the society's annual general meeting Wednesday, Oct. 26 in the Canfor room at CN Centre.
Lewis said the Ice Oval Society is looking for two more board members to help them out.
"It doesn't require a lot of work, but more hands make lighter work," she said.
Anyone interested can contact Kathy Lewis at 250-564-1552 or through email at