Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a preferred location for the titans to skate for speed and endurance.
May 25 2023
This was a skate session for the stats
- Humidity 62%
- Temperature 9 ℃, Feeling like 7 ℃
- Wind Speed 18.6 km/h towards North East
- Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10:17 am, 86 km were done in the next 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.
- Overall the trail is well maintained with very with asphalt being mostly good,very good on some parts and okay on some parts.
Deterrents
Evidence suggests that 15 to 30 minutes could be saved and shaved on the total time used to complete the 86 km. Deterrents can be identified as:
- Slowing down to roll over railroad tracks
- Stopping to cross the road due to the ongoing traffic
- Stopping for water intake and wheel rotation (when/if needed)
- Forced stop due to a skater falling on the pillow
- High cuff skating boots, limit the push performance outcome vs mid or low cuff.
Parking
Free parking on location at Charles Ansell Park · 320 Lakeshore Rd, St. Catharines, ON
Public transit
- Departing from Toronto Union Station and Scarborough directly to St Catherines
- 8.5km skating route from St Catherines bus terminal to Charles Ansell Park
- 5km skating route from St. Catherines bus terminal to Cushman Road park
- FlixBus from/to Port Colborne, St Catherines, Niagara Falls and Toronto
- Intercity bus operator FlixBus expanded its footprint in Ontario, adding new stops in Port Colborne and Welland
Requirements
Anyone 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
The aforementioned will allow you to complete the trail with return in less than 5h
Recommended
- Select a day when the weather forecast does not predict strong winds.
- Due to heat and trail length, the full trail should be done early in the morning during spring and summer time.
- If you skate alone provide real live tracking to someone you trust. You can use something like this.
- Skate with a friend that is as good as you skating long distance.
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)
- Cash is king! 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 at the end)
- PPE: Yes really. Wrist guards, knee and elbow pads are highly recommended in case you decide to try Speedy's pillow
Full 360 video
currently being edited
Hazards
Along the way there are some hazards to be mindful.
Pebbles
- At railroad and road intersections there will be some pebbles and or gravel. 100 mm wheels and experienced skaters will feel the bump but will roll it.
- Wheels less than 100 mm are prone to lock and make the skater fall. Same applies to some random sticks that may be found along some bushy areas.
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
- Tar snakes which are caused by asphalt cracking, should be expected in other parts of the trail.
- Avoid rolling parallel on the snakes as that will cause your wheels to sink and you go for a nose dive.
- Tar snakes can be crossed safely.
Railroad tracks
- The Trillium Railway was discontinued in 2019
- Going south, there are 10 railroad tracks along the trail perfectly set for nose dives.
- The 4 first railroad tracks are made of wood. The next 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.
- The biggest problem about rolling the railroad tracks is the damage of the wood and asphalt in between the tracks, which creates big gaps (this may or may not be fixed in the future).
Locations
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
- Welland Canals Trail, Thorold ON (wood)
- Near the 406 (wood)
- Welland, ON (plastic)
- 34-60 Colborne St, Welland, ON (plastic)
- Welland, ON (asphalt)
- Be very careful with this one after the downhill which runs diagonally on Omer Avenue. Also known as Speedy's pillow. (asphalt)
- Niagara 5, Port Colborne, ON (asphalt)
- Elm Street, Port Colborne, On (plastic)
Water fountains
- There is this one at the end of the trail on a park at 160 Sugarloaf St, Port Colborne, ON
Restaurants
If you don't care about stats and decide to stop along the way:
- George's Greek Village 535 Queenston St, St. Catharines, ON
- Flagship Fries 1244 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines, ON
- Taris on the Water 25 W Main St, Welland, ON
- Sophia’s Sweets & Café 27 Main St W, Port Colborne, ON
After Sophia’s, there are plenty of other places.
Considerations
- Skate south and take public transportation to return north
- Skate south. Spend the night in Port Colborne and skate north the next day.