Outdoor Ice Rink

[duke]

This may be interesting for some, erected three years ago. Multi use, ice skating, hockey and ball hockey during the warm sesson. Located in our local village of Field.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I would absolutely LOVE to live somewhere where this is a thing! I casually looked at how to build a 'home' rink and how much it would cost.

The answer was...eyewatering....

 

[duke]

Growing up as a kid most schools had an outdoor rink, we spent hours a day on it. Down on our lake I would create a smooth ice surface by first shoveling an area then drilling a hole and used a gas powered pump to flood the area. Tremendous amount if work but used often.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I went to an open scrim last night, that was humbling! I've only been skating for just over a year and have made excellent progress, but compared to a whole team of Slovakian lads who look like they were born on skates...

Thankfully they were all great lads and really helped me through the game and gave me some great tips.

 

[Cabinetman]

That’s clever the way it’s multi use for different seasons, presumably there’s a water supply and drain for the ice?
Hadn’t realised that a frozen lake wouldn’t be smooth enough, suppose it’s the wind as it’s setting?

 

[duke]

Always nice that the more advanced players will help out. Ha, I started playing hockey at four years of age.
Once my Junior A hockey years were over 15 of us would rent an indoor ice surface in Uxbridge Ontario, 11pm ice time. That was a lot of fun.

 

[duke]

That’s clever the way it’s multi use for different seasons, presumably there’s a water supply and drain for the ice?
Hadn’t realised that a frozen lake wouldn’t be smooth enough, suppose it’s the wind as it’s setting?

Some years if we get good warm weather the snow on the lake would melt an freeze creating a skateable survace everywhere. Usaualy around Easter.

 

[Gill]

Our school playgrounds should be designed with that much versatility instead of being asphalt slabs. Then perhaps our kids would learn to play with more freedom. I understand traditional school playgrounds in Rotterdam are being replaced with more organic features so kids can play in trees and get bumps and scratches. Much better than just kicking a ball around or skipping, if you ask me.

 

[AndyP]

I asked my BIL a few years back why there were lampposts in the middle of a farmers field. Was it so the cows could graze at night perhaps? This was in the Dutch countryside where fields would flood and freeze over during the winter. Not sure with the the trend in global warming if this still happens.

 

[duke]

Our school playgrounds should be designed with that much versatility instead of being asphalt slabs. Then perhaps our kids would learn to play with more freedom. I understand traditional school playgrounds in Rotterdam are being replaced with more organic features so kids can play in trees and get bumps and scratches. Much better than just kicking a ball around or skipping, if you ask me.

The schools here would never let kids climb trees as the insurance company won't cover the liability.

 

[Cabinetman]

We had a big 7’? High climbing frame with Monkey bars ++ over asphalt in the school playground, don’t think it would have occurred to any of the parents to try and claim. Different environment different time I suppose.

 

[duke]

That’s clever the way it’s multi use for different seasons, presumably there’s a water supply and drain for the ice?
Hadn’t realised that a frozen lake wouldn’t be smooth enough, suppose it’s the wind as it’s setting?

Yes a water source and I think it drains away somehow, I need to take a closer look. Someone told me that the local fire department has on occasion used their water tanker to help with floiding the ice.