We are interested in building a back yard winter ice skating rink, any tips?

Answer 1

Habitant's answer is great! Couple of things to add though, if you don't have boards or don't want to build any you are still going to need something to keep the water on the rink so use 2x6's or something similar that will give you a little bit of an edge. (You can also just build up snow) Also before you start flooding you want to have your area as flat as possible and a fairly thick base of hard packed snow. Packed down as hard as you can. Once that is done put up your boards and start flooding.

Some tips about flooding are only flood when it's below 0 and when building the rink it's best to flood between -5 &-10 with no sun or strong wind. Anything colder I have found you don't get a good base and anything warmer it just dosen't freeze. When flooding for maintance it doesn't so much matter but it does when building. Second if you can afford it flood (for maintenance) with hot / warm water and use a hose attachement that is going to give you a fine even mist! You'll have the nicest rink in town!

One more thing, once you rink is built you will want to clear the snow as soon as it has stopped snowing. don't leave snow to sit on it, it will ruin your ice!

We've been doning this for years and have gotten a bit carried away, we paint lines, we have sponsers on the boards benches and penalty boxes, and even a place for the "Fans" it's great! There is nothing like an outdoor rink so have fun with yours!

Answer 2

I've got 3 tips for you.
First, what kind of winter do you get? because if you do not get a lot of snow and below-zero temps, then my tip is 'Pray'.
Second, if you get cold winters, what you do is shovel your back yard (i'm not kidding) so you clear as big a 'rink area' as you can. When you are shovelling, plan carefully so that the snow you are shovelling creates snowbanks all around the perimeter -- these will be your boards or boundary. Then you have to water the rink a lot. You'll probably need to use warm water unless you are running the hose straight from the house. Keep the water going -- I remember my parents watering the rink late at night for a long time -- as the water spreads and the temperature drops -->> instant ice rink.
Third tip, companies now make ice rink kits, but I cannot offer much here as I have never used them -- maybe someone else can chime in here. Basically, you still clear the yard, open up the store-bought tarp and ice it.

Just keep the shovel handy to clear away the snow (you get to be the zamboni) and keep watering it periodically.

HAVE FUN

Answer 3

Be careful with the amount of water you lay down when you flood... you need to create thin layers of ice with each flood (this means a thin layer of water - dont just flood and flood until your lawn is a lake). If you try to lay down lots of water at once to make a thick layer of ice, air bubbles will remain in the ice after it freezes, which leaves weak areas where skates can puncture and ruts can appear. Thin layers of water allow air bubbles to excape from the water before it turns to ice, and therefore creating a stronger, smoother, more solid ice surface - this means less falls, less injurys, less skate-sharpenings. To flood, start when the temperature reaches -5 to -10 celcius (somewhere around 25-27 Farenheit), and lay down thin layers with each flood. It should take you about a week to build up a good solid inch of ice (maybe more). Also, flood each night if the weather allows you to do so, and scrape as much of the snow as possible from the ice before you flood (a snowblower is your best friend here. Have patience - good ice is an art that takes time to create.

Answer 4

There are some good awnsers above. I would add, it is generally a good idea to use a tarp, my dad never did but he prepared the surface in the summer pretty well. If you do use a tarp, plastic sheeting etc- Make sure it is white or clear! I got a good deal on a blue one once, but it absorbed sunlight due to its dark color and made the ice to slushy. You can buy kits from Perani's that are fairly easy to use, but if you live in a spot that gets LOTS of snow (like N Mich) the sno base gets pretty deep and its hard to use those kits. My dad would wait till we got a deep base of snow (6-12 inches), snoblow the rink area and then use a tamper to pack it down, then flood it for two or three nights.

Answer 5

Meilleur_...>>>>HOCKEYCRAZE99 IS TALKING ABOUT WAYNE GRETZKY'S DAD WALTER, IF YOU KNOW ABOUT GRETZKY'S THEN YOU WOULD KNOW THAT HIS FATHER WALTER BUILD HIM A LITTLE RINK IN HIS BACK YARD SO LITTLE WAYNE CAN PLAY AND HIS FATHER WALTER COULD LOOK AT HIM FROM THE HOUSE.

well i go buy this great big tarp and stretch it out on my backyard, then i have this boards that my dad build for me and the family 10 feet long and 3 feet high, and i think i have about 20 of them then a place them then when the time is right you put water down but last year it rained so much it didn't work but i had have this boards for like almost 25 years so that helps my dad actually build them 25 years ago. but have fun and good luck.

GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 6

Ask Walter Gretzky.

Answer 7

I have no idea, but that sounds like a ton of fun! I'd try Habitant's suggestion, and good luck!!

Answer 8

my suggestion: dont do it, i really mean it, first of all, it ll be extremely hard to manage, and it ll be small, skating or playing hockey in a place like ur back yard just doesnt do it. ( unless u have a backyard like me, but of course i m oprah winfrey) again it ll be hard to manage, and it ll be ten times better just to roll some snow and have snow fights!

Answer 9

Make sure you start early. Dont leave it to late. Have Fun.

Answer 10

1. We tried one a few years back and it is very hard. Weather is very unpredictible so....

Edit: Geez Habitant QQ much, I guess you know a little more about the Gretzgy's than I do.