Skaters, out of some 1100 athletes, compete in the 124 miles race in Techendorf in Austria's southern Carinthia province, on Jan. 27. Techendorf hosts the Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee (Alternative Eleven City Races Weissensee), a traditional Dutch series of speed skating events for both professionals and amateurs with some 6.000 participants from January 23 to February 4.

The beard of a skater, one out of some 1100 athletes, is covered with ice and snow during the 124 miles speed skating race in Techendorf in Austria's southern Carinthia province, early morning January 27, 2012. Techendorf hosts the Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee (Alternative Eleven City Races Weissensee), a traditional Dutch series of speed skating events for both professionals and amateurs with some 6.000 participants from January 23 to February 4.