| Ice
Parks and Trails -
if you are making a skating park and plan to have pathways
throughout your property, the liner and boards method is
not a consideration.
Construction
of the old fashion rink (see
that section) but in a trail format would be your
only option. Remember that there are no real tools to
the best of our knowledge for building these trails so
a certain amount of ingenuity will be required on your
part for these trails to come to fruition eg. An
all terrain vehicle/snow mobile with attachments to flatten
snow and sprinkle water in correct amounts in order to
build these extensive pathways. Below are your considerations
for such a project.
Here
they are:
- Shorter
grass along pathways.
- Packing
of snow on extensive pathways.
- Control
of water so melting does not occur as you build
your base along these extensive pathways.
- The flattening of
your snow laden with water so when freezing
occurs, you have a good base start.
- Consistent
temperatures that are conducive to building your
ice layers without melting.
- Control
of water along pathways that are extensive in
length as you build your base and as flooding your
ice/base occurs.
- Removal
of snow that falls during your ice making efforts.
- Removal
of snow after your ice has been laid.
We
highly recommend experimentation on a small section close
to your out buildings or the actual area where you propose
to have these pathways so as you may get it right before
commencing. Try to simulate the conditions of the path
on the rest of the property. In other words if you are
building your pathways on areas where long grass is prevalent
then experiment in an area similar to this. Give yourself
plenty of time. There is usually a snow or two in the
early part of your season. This is a perfect time to practice but
do not build for the season due to the possible melting
that may occur after the work you have put in.
The
Pond Rink - There isn't much to be said
here except that Mother Nature handles all the preparation.
Your job tends to be isolated to maintenance and
that could be a problem when it comes to flooding.
Absolutely the best way is by hose and on to a clean
surface, however this may not work for you because
ponds tend to be a distance from your back door and
the faucet.
If
this is your scenario then filling a very large barrel
or garbage can, and using a toboggan to move it to your
pond will work. Dump it over the cleaned surface (use
a steel shovel) and let it flood the area. Repeat as
necessary.
The
only other way requires a hole cut through the ice and
a sump pump type of situation where you pump water in
regular flooding amounts up to the surface from your
pond water and allow it to spread across your rink surface.
Keep
in mind that ponds often develop cracks and with constant
use and minimal flooding ,these cracks turn into ruts
and pose a hazard to the skaters. Please see the section
titled "Safety and Common Sense" no.5.
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