After years of mild temperatures, Toronto is finally once again experiencing a true Canadian winter, accented by back-to-back snow storms and the arrival of bitterly cold polar vortexes.
While some prefer to hibernate and wait it out until the spring, it seems like some are taking full advantage of the weather – including making up new sports on a frozen Lake Ontario!
Last week, an Instagram video by local Torontonians Pavel Barber and Jon Curow went viral, showing the duo playing tennis on a makeshift “court” by the Toronto Islands.
Captioning the post “Ice Tennis on GLASS”, the pair seemed to be volleying the ball effortlessly back and forth while on hockey skates on the natural ice rink.
The comments were filled with a mix of admiration and Canadian pride, one saying “THIS IS CANADA” and another “ONLY in Toronto.”
After sustaining very cold temperatures for weeks on end, parts of the lake occasionally freeze thick enough to be able to walk or skate on. However, you should always use extreme caution before venturing out on a frozen river or lake in Ontario.
Ice should be a minimum of 4 inches thick, and be sure to go with a partner and bring necessary safety equipment along with you.
Alternatively, opt for one of the city’s manmade ice skating rinks for some shinny hockey or a public skate this winter.