Tour skating is recreational long distance ice skating on natural ice. It is particularly popular in the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. It is becoming more popular in areas of North America such as New England, Southcentral Alaska, and Nova Scotia. While Nordic skating usually involves tours over open ice on marshes, lakes, rivers, or sea, in the Netherlands skaters follow marked routes on frozen canals and connected lakes. Consequently, there are differences in equipment and skating styles between these two regions. Alaskans often include winter camping on longer journeys of a hundred miles or more. Nordic skating is a popular activity in Sweden but is also becoming more popular in Finland and Norway, where it is called , and . In Canada and the United States this style is often called Nordic skating. Other names used are trip skating and wild skating. Dutch skating is called and is regarded by some as a sport in its own right. Nordic skating Nordic skating originated during the 1900s in Sweden. It usually involves choosing your own tours over the open ice, sometimes in groups normally with safety equipment. Nordic skates differ significantly from the Dutch tour skates. Nordic equipment Nordic tour skates are fitted with a blade approximately 50 cm long and are attached with bindings to specialized boots similar to walking boots or cross country skiing boots, often with a free heel. Since tour skating often involves walking between lakes or around sections not suitable for skating, the fact that the blades can be easily removed from the boots is convenient. In addition the following safety equipment is often recommended: ice prods or ice claws - a pair of metal spikes with handles like sharpened screwdrivers for hauling yourself out of holes in the ice ice pike or hansa pole - a pole with a metal spike like a particularly sturdy ski pole used to test ice thickness throwing line - a rope to be pulled out of the water by backpack with waistband and groin strap containing a change of clothes in dry bags. This also acts as a buoyancy aid. Knee and elbow pads and a helmet are also commonly used. Skating season In late autumn/early winter the small lakes freeze first, sometimes as early as October. Next the somewhat larger lakes freeze and become skateable. Light snow does not necessarily prevent skating and in some places tracks