Synthetic Ice

[mickey007a 0]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with use of synthetic ice that is on the market for hockey. In NY, the price and availability of ice is not good. We are looking to purchase some synthetic/plastic ice for off-ice skills training for goalies, some skating and shooting practice. Does anybody have advice on design considerations, which type of plastic is best quality and bang for your buck?

Thanks for the input!

[kovalchuk71 212]

From Personal experience, its EXTREMELY expensive.....

[Accord 0]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with use of synthetic ice that is on the market for hockey.  In NY, the price and availability of ice is not good.  We are looking to purchase some synthetic/plastic ice for off-ice skills training for goalies, some skating and shooting practice.  Does anybody have advice on design considerations, which type of plastic is best quality and bang for your buck? 

  Thanks for the input!

I've skated on synthetic ice before, it's really weird at first but man you really get a good workout. I believe the coefficient of drag is something like ~40% less than ice so you've really got to work hard and it's great for training. Watching someone skate on synthetic ice is like watching someone skate in slow motion, it's actually pretty cool.

All synthetic ice is pretty much the same and the only major differences are the thickness and the thicker the surface the longer it will last the more durable it will be, but then again, thicker = more expensive so it's all about how much money you're willing to spend.

The pricing varies on how thick of a piece you want by the foot. For example a piece of 1/4" thick per square foot is $4.69 while a 5/8" thick piece of synthetic ice per square foot is $11.49. Then they've got commercial grade stuff that is 1" thick and whatnot which is like 25 bucks per square foot. Even one of those mini practice rinks will cost a TON of money.

Here's the link, check it out they've got videos and whatnot too: http://www.kwikrink.com/

I'd love to have a backyard rink made out of synthetic ice.

[Jbone 0]

Are you talking about the plastic ice? If so I have a have a treadmill at my school that has it. Its really only a diffrence if your going slow on it. It dulls your skates a bit to.

[tokes 0]

After a while does this stuff get chewed up and need to be replaced or what?

Just read, they expect 5-10 years of use out of it before it needs to be replaced. That's not bad, but I can't help but wonder if groves would get cut into certain areas and then it would feel all wierd skating past there.

[Jbone 0]

You cant do a side stop on that cant you?

Never mind just watched the video.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Wasn't there some sort of rink you could buy? It was home depot I think. Last year it was in a local paper. They said in the article it allows you to have ice hockey from september to march. It was the coolest thing I ever saw. It was about the same price as an in-ground pool. And it came with lines painted and it wasn't just like a platform you lay across the grass either, you had to assemble it and walk up 3 or 4 stairs to get on it. I would be the happiest guy alive if I got it. Man, anyone know what I'm talking about? Fill me in.

[Accord 0]

You cant do a side stop on that cant you?

Yes you can. Everything you can do on ice, you can do on the synthetic plastic ice.

[Modo9 0]

Some Islander - - I think Bossy - - opened a synthetice rink here on Long Island and it bombed. It was terrible. I think they called the surface Rice.

Anyways, Mickey I know ice in New York is expensive - - every-fucking-thing here is expensive - - but plastic ice is expensive anywhere and not worth it. Instead of paying all the money on synthetic ice, fork over the dough for time on the real thing. Or, book some ice time later at night - - it's much cheaper. Also have your goalie(s) practice excercising lateral movement-type exercises on slide boards.

[tokes 0]

Just out of curiosity, how much is it per hour there?

[nyntwun 2]

Bryan Trottier was the Isle that had the rink. Definitely lost a lot of money on that deal. Ice time on LI goes for about $300 an hour. Give or take, depending on the relationship you have with the GM and, of course, the time of day or night.

[mickey007a 0]

thanks for the input.

we are just looking to cover a small area enough for some goalie training and shooting. to make a whole rink would be extremely expensive, indeed.

the cost to build even a small ice rink around here is prohibitively expensive, not just for the construction, but the maintenance of it with the high cost of insurance and electricity.

I heard that some of the manufacturers use solid plastic through and through which adds to its life, while others just sandwich the synthetic around plywood.

To save on cost, I'd be willing to purchase some used synthetic ice, even, just to test the waters.

[Accord 0]

thanks for the input.

  we are just looking to cover a small area enough for some goalie training and shooting.  to make a whole rink would be extremely expensive, indeed. 

  the cost to build even a small ice rink around here is prohibitively expensive, not just for the construction, but the maintenance of it with the high cost of insurance and electricity.

  I heard that some of the manufacturers use solid plastic through and through which adds to its life, while others just sandwich the synthetic around plywood.

  To save on cost, I'd be willing to purchase some used synthetic ice, even, just to test the waters.

I know the KwikRink people do not use any wood whatsoever.

Purchasing used synthetic ice is a great idea, not sure where you'd be able to find some that is used and the owners are willing to sell, though.

[the_game 452]

I've had experience using this plastic surface. Back in the day I skated(way back in the day), Bryan Trottiers' Skating academy in port washington, Long Island. It was known as 'Glice' back then. I really don't remember much as I was only 9 or 10 at the time.

More recently I worked at a place called Puckmasters which utilizes the newer version of this surface. Its quite difficult to skate on at first, but once you get the hang of it, its not that bad. It is quite a work out though, you cannot, repeat cannot, coast at all. As soon as you stop moving your feet you stop almost dead. Skating on this surface and going back to ice takes a few minutes to get used to, but it teaches you to stay down with bent knees and always moving your feet, both good things.

The puck moves pretty well on the surface too. I think the surface is great for working on your shot or working with goalies. Granted goalies may not have the slide as they would on ice, we found if you coat the goal crease in wd-40 it increases the goalies ability to slide and also makes the puck slide more like ice.

Overall if you can purchase this for cheap and find someplace to put it, I would do it in a second.

[greatone99 0]

I have a 20 x 30 rink in my basement and it works great. It is a product called superice. Tt is like skating on ice after it has been skated on for about 1 period. The only thing I really don't like about it is that it really dulls the skates fast.

[Accord 0]

I have a 20 x 30 rink in my basement and it works great.  It is a product called superice.  Tt is like skating on ice after it has been skated on for about 1 period. The only thing I really don't like about it is that it really dulls the skates fast.

That is so awesome. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to convert your basement into a rink and do you have any pictures?

[greatone99 0]

That is so awesome. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to convert your basement into a rink and do you have any pictures?

I bought it on ebay a couple of years ago for 800.00. It was used once for a demo by a local school. Guy wanted to sell it someone locally, because it is very heavy (each 4 x 5 panel over 100lbs).

[mickey007a 0]

I have a 20 x 30 rink in my basement and it works great.  It is a product called superice.  Tt is like skating on ice after it has been skated on for about 1 period. The only thing I really don't like about it is that it really dulls the skates fast.

Wow. That's beautiful! I'm jealous.

What kind of maintenance/upkeep do you need to do for it? Does it warp? Do you notice the seams when skating or stopping?

If anyone knows of any for sale, used at a good price, I'd be willing to make an offer. We're looking to move on the project before January.

Thanks for the details.

[Accord 0]

That is so awesome. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to convert your basement into a rink and do you have any pictures?

I bought it on ebay a couple of years ago for 800.00. It was used once for a demo by a local school. Guy wanted to sell it someone locally, because it is very heavy (each 4 x 5 panel over 100lbs).

That is so cool. Do you have any pictures?

[Hockeyman9621 0]

That is so awesome. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to convert your basement into a rink and do you have any pictures?

I bought it on ebay a couple of years ago for 800.00. It was used once for a demo by a local school. Guy wanted to sell it someone locally, because it is very heavy (each 4 x 5 panel over 100lbs).

That is so cool. Do you have any pictures?

Seeing pics would make my day.

[MDE3 0]

The company that makes Quik ice is one I use as a supplier of the same stuff, but for industrial wear materials...it's called UHMW plastic....Ultra High Molecular Weight polyurethane.

Sometimes I can get off color or seconds reasonably. I will call and post if I can. I offered this before for thinner stuff as practice boards, but the shipping via UPS was ridiculous for a single sheet of 3mm or 4 mm. They have different sizes obviously up to 25 mm.

Normally for use as synthetic ice, the material should be sprayed with a liquid silicone spray before use..this will help the glide immensely.

[mickey007a 0]

Keep me posted. Thanks.

[Accord 0]

The company that makes Quik ice is one I use as a supplier of the same stuff, but for industrial wear materials...it's called UHMW plastic....Ultra High Molecular Weight polyurethane.

Sometimes I can get off color or seconds reasonably. I will call and post if I can. I offered this before for thinner stuff as practice boards, but the shipping via UPS was ridiculous for a single sheet of 3mm or 4 mm. They have different sizes obviously up to 25 mm.

Normally for use as synthetic ice, the material should be sprayed with a liquid silicone spray before use..this will help the glide immensely.

FedEx ground shipping is a lot cheaper than UPS ground these days, easily ~200% less than UPS.

[LetsGoWings13 0]

my dad might put roller hockey tiles in our basement. Is it possible to get them in just all white tho?

[Eazy_b97 1]

my dad might put roller hockey tiles in our basement. Is it possible to get them in just all white tho?

I believe Ice court can be purchased in white, but I've never seen white sport court.