Death-defying weekend at Lake Balaton

The frozen Lake Balaton will become the scene of a potentially dangerous new event this weekend, as lovers of extreme sports get ready to "slide across" the lake using various types of equipment, the organiser said on its website.

Gabor Kardos, head of the organising Badacsonytomaj Szorfklub SE, said his club wanted to create tradition with the two-day event, dubbed BalatonCsuszas (Balaton Slide). The organisers planned the event to resemble the already famous swim-across-the-lake event held each summer.

But local Water Police spokesman Laszlo Horvath warned that participants would be putting their lives at risk. He said no one could tell until the very last minute what the conditions of the ice would be like at deeper parts of the lake, where there are often thin patches covered with snow.

Kardos told MTI participants would use "ice surf, ice-skates and any possible vehicle that can be used on ice."

He said the event was announced a week ago and there is already substantial interest. He added that there would be prizes for the funniest and the most extreme ways to cross.

The event will be held between Badacsony and Fonyod (5.5 km) and Badacsony and Szigliget (9.1 km) and participants plan to cross there and back.

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