Why not make your own rink for skating on? Those who have built one say they provide hours of fun. Many NHL stars got their first taste of hockey on a backyard rink.
Size of Your Backyard Rink
The toughest part of making a rink can be deciding how big to make it. Consider the size of your yard as well as what you'll use the rink for. Also, figure out how much time you want to spend maintaining your rink – the bigger the rink, the more time you will have to invest in its upkeep over the winter months.
Build Your Backyard Rink
Another decision you need to make is whether or not you want to put a liner underneath your ice. Some people swear by them as they make maintenance easier; having an insulator between the ground and the layers of ice helps keeps the ice intact, especially when melting occurs. It keeps the water from escaping the rink area and when spring arrives, it makes disassembly easier.
Some people don't use a liner, they just start building the layers of ice directly on the ground. It is more work to maintain but the low cost (all you pay for is your water usage) is very appealing.
Whether or not you are going to use a liner, choose a flat area for your rink and clear any debris such as rocks, sticks, and remnants of summer. Using a shovel and your boots, pack the snow in the area down as tight as possible. Add more snow if necessary. Use the garden hose to apply a light layer of water over the entire area and then use your sprinkler to establish the base layer, making sure to keep the sprinkler free of ice build-up. Frequently move the sprinkler to get an even layer of ice. Use your hose for this step if you do not have a sprinkler. Do this for several days until the ice is at least 3 cm thick. The thicker your ice is, the better it will be for skating on.
If you are not using rink boards, before you start your rink and whenever it snows, shovel the white stuff to the edge of your frozen water and use it to build banks around your rink. Mist the snow so it'll harden and keep your ice where you want it to be.
Backyard Rink Maintenance
Just like a hot tub or swimming pool, you'll need to spend time maintaining your skating rink. Apply a thin layer of water on a regular basis and more so when the ice starts getting hacked from use. Work from one side of the rink to the other to prevent ripples in your ice. Ideally, the best time to flood your rink is in the evening when the sun isn't shining on the ice and when there is little wind. Keep the rink clear of snow and use your hose to fill any cracks.
Always wait until the ice is completely solid before strapping up your laces.
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Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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