How?

  How do you build outdoor rinks?

1. Pack snow all along the bottom of the rink boards, filling in any gaps between the boards and the ground. This helps keep the water from running out under the boards during flooding.
2. Flooding can begin once the packed snow hardens. Start by spraying a light mist over the ground, which will become the first layer of ice. Continue this process until there is a fine layer of ice.
3. Once the base layer has been established larger hose floods with more water can be applied, allow time to freeze completely between floods.
4. Each flood will bond with the previous layer, building strong, solid ice that is safe for skating.
5. The rinks are considered safe for skating once 2 inches of ice has been built. Hockey nets are placed and the lights are turned on once the rinks are ready for skaters.

  How do you maintain outdoor rinks?

1. Outdoor rinks are checked on a daily basis to ensure they remain safe for use. Staff watch for thin ice and large cracks which can pose serious safety risks if caught by a skate blade.
2. Snow is cleared from the ice as required. This is done with equipment such as snow blowers and skid steers, and of course good old fashioned shovels. Lumps and bumps in the ice are also scrapped off as part of this process.
3. Hose floods are typically completed twice per week, but will be altered depending on usage, weather and other priorities.