OTTAWA -- Hundreds of people flocked to the world's largest skating rink yesterday, braving bone chilling temperatures to break the ice on the 39th skating season on the freshly-flooded Rideau Canal Skateway.

National Capital Commission crews flooded the surface of the canal on Tuesday, preparing a 2-km stretch of the skateway from the Bank St. bridge north to the Pretoria bridge.

But the most popular destinations during yesterday's numbing -20 degree C weather -- which dipped as low as -30 with the wind chill -- were the chalets serving up hot chocolate, coffee, and Ottawa's own local delicacy, Beavertails.

Locals and tourists alike spent New Year's Day along one of the city's most popular winter destinations.

Scott Goldsworthy, from Melbourne, Australia, took his first bite of a Killaloe Sunrise while warming up mid-skate at an entrance to the canal near Lansdowne Park.

"Sweet. Very sweet and very nice," said Goldsworthy.

"I'm surprised by the amount of people, actually. It's quite a lot of people. It's good fun."

He had one piece of advice for those thinking of hitting the rink during the cold snap, which is expected to last through the weekend.

'LOTS OF LAYERS'

"Layers. Lots of layers. Full snow attire," he said.

The extreme cold and newly flooded surface made for prime skating conditions yesterday.

"The ice has been good, and we're all bundled up, so it's been nice," said Alex Lata.

"The skating was pretty good. It was cold, but fun," said Michelle MacMillan, in town for the holidays from Charlottetown.

With the world junior hockey tournament hosted next door and families coming home for the holidays, "we could not have wished for more for New Year's Day," said NCC CEO Marie Lemay.

Crews will continue to open sections of the 7.8-km skateway as soon as ice conditions are safe and weather permits.