Wiebe Wieling, chairman of the Elfstedenvereniging, stands at the Elfstedentocht monument as preparations continue for the iconic ice skating event that hasn’t occurred in 28 years. Despite challenging weather conditions, the organization is meticulously preparing for any possibility of the event taking place this season, which marks Wieling’s last opportunity to oversee it. With an estimated 25,000 participants and two million visitors expected, safety and logistical preparations are paramount. Meteorologists are closely monitoring conditions to ensure the required ice thickness is achieved for the race to occur.