Welland Canal
Welland Canal tar snakes]]
The Welland Canal is a preferred location for the titans to skate for speed and endurance.
Currently
Thursday, May 25, 2023 86 km were done in 4 hours and 28 minutes. Average speed was 19.5 km/h with normal peak at 25 km/h and higher speeds passing the 40's.
Requirements
Any one planing to skate the full Welland Canal, which means 43 km each way, should have the following in mind:
- 100 mm wheels or bigger
- Able to keep and maintain an average above 20 km/h for 15 km or more in distance
- Skate 40 km once a while prior to attempt the full length of the trail on inline skates
Advisable
Due to heat and trail length, the full trail should be done early in the morning during spring and summer time.
Backpack with some items such as:
- Small first aid kit (just in case because it was already useful)
- Energy bars. Some sugar of sorts. (no one will be carrying anyone)
- $50 bucks in cash just in case you need to return on different wheels (uber, train, bus, etc)
- At least 1 liter of water or energy drink with electrolytes. (There is only one fountain along the way)
- PPE: Yes really. Wrist guards and knee pads are highly recommended
Full 360 video
currently being edited
Parking
Free parking on location at Charles Ansell Park · 320 Lakeshore Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2M 7Z3
Hazards
Along the way there are some hazards to be mindful.
Tar snakes
- Close to the 15 km mark, tar snakes start to show up until the 19 km mark
- Near the 21 km mark they return. This time being a lot more for the next 3 km
Railroad tracks
- Going south, there are 10 rail tracks along the trail.
- The 4 first ones are made of wood. The nest 2, plastic, the next 3 are asphalt and the last one plastic
- While half of the rail tracks can be rolled over with 100 mm wheels, provided that enough speed is given, none should attempted with smaller wheels.
Locations
- 2560 Welland Canals Parkway (wood)
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold (wood)
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold (wood)
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold (wood)
- Near Ormond street (plastic)
- Thorold (plastic)
- Welland (asphalt)
- Be very careful with this one after the downhill which runs diagonally. Also known as Speedy's pillow. (asphalt)]
- Niagara 5, Port Colborn (asphalt)