About Backyard Ice Skating Rinks

Ice skating is a quintessential winter activity. It's great exercise for people of all ages and is a wonderful way for families to spend time together. While there are hundreds of indoor and outdoor facilities open to the public for skating, there is nothing quite like having your very own backyard ice rink to use whenever you'd like. The setup and maintenance requirements are low, and it is winter's equivalent to having a pool in the yard.

History

People have been gliding across ice on skates for thousands of years. The oldest pair of ice skates ever found dates back to 3000 B.C. and was discovered in Switzerland. The skates were made of carved animal bones tied to shoes using leather straps. It wasn't until the fourteenth century that skates with iron blades were made. During this time, skaters used poles to push themselves along the ice. By the nineteenth century, skates were developed with two edges that allowed skaters to glide without a pole to aid them. In 1876, the first indoor ice rink was built using mechanical refrigeration and was located in London.

Types

There are several main varieties of backyard ice rink. The first type are naturally occurring. These are found in very cold areas, where ponds or other bodies of water freeze in the winter, and people can safely skate on them. The second includes artificial rinks, both naturally and mechanically frozen. Rinks can be set up using kits, similar to above-ground pools. The rink is then flooded and allowed to freeze as the temperatures cool. In addition, artificial rinks are available with small condensing and cooling units that help keep the ice frozen, even in warmer climates.

Size

Backyard ice skating rinks come in many different sizes. The most common is roughly 15 by 25 feet and comes in a kit available at your local home improvement store. Rink manufacturers often offer custom-designed rinks, which can be as small or as large as the homeowner desires. Finally, there are small, child-sized rinks available at local toy stores. They are roughly the size of a wading pool and are very affordable. These rinks offer the perfect setting for young children to get comfortable with the ice.

Considerations

One of the most common questions people have when considering a backyard rink is how it should be maintained. At most rinks, the ice is smoothed every hour by the use of a large machine called a Zamboni. Of course, a machine that large will not fit in your backyard, so many rink manufacturers sell a tool called a rink rake. The rake connects to a garden hose and is dragged along the ice to scrape away old snow and lay out fresh water to top off the ice. Larger backyard rinks might use miniature Zambonis, similar to those used on cruise ships.

Misconceptions

Many people hesitate to install a backyard rink at their home because they are worried that their region is not cold enough to keep the ice frozen. With the availability of cooling units, condensers and refrigerant piping, backyard rinks that are properly designed can be installed in most climate zones. There are currently public outdoor rinks in Southern California, Florida and all throughout the South, all of which are staying frozen in temperatures that range in the mid to upper 70s.