Had to put the dream of a skating rink on ice, but now there's hope.

As we arrive at Strauman Stadium on Monday at 5:30 PM, we are met by a cheerful bunch of volunteer participants, who, despite the bustle and fuss of everyday life, stand ready with their tools and their eagerness to get the skating rink up in record time. But as we stand like headless chickens, everyone is wondering: where is Erling, has he got cold feet?

Suddenly a mighty sound looms along Sydalstinden. The echo first spreads to Kroktinddalen, ricochets to Grønntinden, and comes back like a projectile across the bay. People look up into the air and ask themselves: is it a plane.... is it Superman?

No... it's an Ariens snowblower! Equipped with 8 fiery horsepower, 2 robust drive wheels, a performance setup (open exhaust), and an unknown number of cubic centimeters (displacement). Led by the self-appointed foreman and prime mover: Erling!

Moses may have parted the sea, but Erling parted the snow, and while the starved snowblower tries to satisfy its hunger at an unlimited snow buffet, the volunteer crew follows along with shovel and broom, and after a few efficient hours (contrary to the labor law's rules on breaks), the rink has once again risen, like a phoenix from the ashes, like Aphrodite rising from the sea, like the first land rising out of Nun's waters.

The skating-rink builder tells about his first rink, which lasted one day but sank like Atlantis due to unfavorable weather conditions, and about rink number two, which had to be put on ice because of an enormous snowfall the next day, in addition to ice problems with the water sprayer. But Erling didn't give up, and reaped good experience from previous evaluations and impact assessments, and this time he showed up with an improved patent for the water sprayer, which is homemade and would have touched even MacGyver's heart.

Erling is humble, and instead of accepting praise for his determination, he chooses rather to thank everyone who showed up on short notice, in biting cold, for a traditional volunteer effort, in good village spirit.

As of this writing, the water is trickling, and now we can only hope that the Greek god Boreas touches the ground with his cold breath in the late night hours, so that the skating ice is ready by tomorrow.