763.420.4527
15
November

The Latest Trend in Hockey Training Centers

Posted by KwikRink

Hockey is enjoying a boom in recent years. The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) reports that in the 18 states and the District of Columbia that play under NFHS rules, hockey participation is up from 44,669 players in 2017, to 44,933 players last year.

A surge in girls’ hockey programs since 2013 has resulted in record-setting female participation in the sport.  With more players of all ages and demographics seeking ice time, rink design that’s versatile, efficient, and flexible is a necessity for new and existing hockey programs alike.

The business-savvy synthetic ice rink costs from KwikRink Synthetic Ice make your hockey programming and business goals easily attainable. Call us today to begin custom-designing your state-of-the-art synthetic rink.

Synthetic Ice: a flexible alternative

Natural ice may have been the preferred hockey playing surface for generations, but synthetic ice allows for the exponential expansion of playing and practicing opportunities with a superior business model.

If you’re in a region where the weather is warm most of the year, a natural ice rink could be cost-prohibitive and environmentally taxing.

Regardless of the climate outside, indoor natural ice center owners must expend significant funds on creating the rink surface, as well as flooding, and freezing systems. They also must maintain the ice after freezing. That means extra dollars for Zambonis and the staff to run them.

Synthetic ice offers a lower-cost and low maintenance alternative to spendy indoor natural ice arenas. Custom-cut ice tiles lock together like puzzle pieces and boast easy clean-up and glide maintenance with simple spray cleaners and a wipe-down with a soft cloth.

With KwikRink Synthetic Ice, you can leave your ice rink set up for hockey and other ice sports 100 percent of the time, or you can place and remove your rink with ease for other recreational or community programming in your arena space.

Further, with synthetic ice, hockey entrepreneurs can opt for a non-traditional arena location, like converted warehouse space, community centers, gymnasiums, or other large multi-purpose venues.

Synthetic ice and natural ice quality match

Synthetic ice technology has undergone a revolution in the last decade. With new materials that eliminate the need for extra blade lubrication, skaters can lace up and go, just like on a natural rink.

As long as you maintain a clean skating surface, skater glide for hockey and other ice sports (like broomball, figure skating, and pleasure skating) is nearly identical to natural ice.

Skaters can sprint, stop, turn, shoot, and check on KwikRink Synthetic Ice just as they do on natural ice.

The small differential in glide between synthetic ice and a natural skating surface also creates a training effect in hockey players. Skaters will push off, stop, and turn with a slightly stronger muscular power stroke on synthetic ice, which develops more strength and stamina.

If and when a player has practice or a game on a natural rink after training on synthetic ice, their performance and experience will improve.

It’s a similar phenomenon to Olympic athletes who train in high altitude and compete at low altitude–they’ve got an edge over their competition because of their high-altitude physical adaptations.

More skaters, more ice demand

Skating of all kinds is emerging as a growing recreational activity, according to Grand View Research. Families with increased disposable income are looking toward ice skating as a fun and different way to hang out together, enjoy team dynamics, and compete with others.

Even though seasonal outdoor rinks in colder climes are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, their use is limited to a few months of the year. Indoor arenas are weather-independent and remain open and potentially profitable year-round.

Synthetic rinks make excellent business sense, especially for owners and managers of multi-use facilities.

Lower overhead, higher ROI

When a program director can assemble a rink of any size in minutes with no freezing time, she can run a hockey team practice for an hour a few times per week. When a practice is over, the rink comes apart, stacks, and stores for the next programmatic demand.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice tiles come apart and stack easily in an equipment closet or the corner of your programmed space. Throw a cover over the stacked tiles to keep them dust-free and gliding well each week.

Our highest quality ice tiles last up to 10 years when properly cleaned, so once you’ve invested your start-up capital in the tiles, there’s little extra cost to keeping a superior skating service for years of team registrations.

It’s easy to conclude that the ROI on a quality synthetic ice rink outranks that of natural ice. If your hockey program overhead is lower, it may also offer you more flexibility on the program fees you’ll charge in your market.

This flexibility could make your program accessible to a wider cross-section of players who may not otherwise have tried the sport. Growing your hockey audience by making the sport more accessible to different players creates a reliable revenue stream in uncharted hockey territory.

Expand your synthetic ice rink revenue with additional services

When you’ve opened your KwikRink Synthetic Ice rink, you have expanded opportunities for revenue. With hockey and other ice sports forecasted to grow in participation, opening a hockey program or arena makes sound business sense.

Providing skate rental, private and group lessons, other skating activities like open skating, figure skating, and broomball leagues add to your profit while keeping customers engaged and confident in their developing skating skills.

Your creativity and the people on your team have the freedom to innovate new ice programming as the seasons roll by. Chances to cater to your hockey parents while their kids skate, parties and events, and other community engagement tools offer still more revenue streams to your growing hockey empire.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice: Your partner in custom rink design

Whether you’re building a regulation ice arena pad from the ground up, or re-purposing a multi-use space, KwikRink is your partner in creating the custom synthetic ice rink that meets your business needs. Call us today to begin planning the rink of your future.

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06
November

10 Best Gifts for Hockey Skaters

Posted by KwikRink

If you’re a hockey parent or relative, you know the equipment demands of the sport are endless. Between pads, gloves, sticks, skates, and more, hockey players go through equipment with each growth spurt if not every season.

The holidays can be an effective way to combine gifts your team member wants with items they truly need.

So from safety equipment to your own home ice skating rink–check out KwikRink Synthetic Ice for a sneak peek at that one–read on for the 10 Best Gifts for Hockey Skaters.

Drum roll please–the list

Check the following list twice for a hockey holiday for the record books. When in doubt about sizes, opt for a gift card in the value of your selected gifts.

  1. All the safety equipment. Holidays are the perfect time to refresh or resize your player’s equipment. Switching out pads, helmets, mouthguards, gloves, and any orthopedic joint braces or wraps will keep your player in tip-top shape for games and practices alike.
  2. Skates. If you know your skater well enough to discover their brand preferences and sizes, pick up a pair of skates to wrap for him or her to open. If your skater is further away and you’re not privy to her skating specifics, a gift card from Total Hockey or a local sporting goods store will do the trick.
  3. Skate sharpener. When you want a gift that fits every player all the time, choose a skate sharpener. Sharp skates give players an–ahem–edge over the competition. Help your hockey player skate their best with sharp skates, conveniently. We like the Sparx sharpener line. If you have multiple players at home, you’ll enjoy the convenience of a sharpener at your fingertips.
  4. Snipers Edge PassMaster. Once you have your home ice rink set up, your player may need a little help with drills. The Snipers Edge PassMaster acts like a second player to pass the puck back to you. This training tool works on any flat surface and performs well on KwikRink Synthetic Ice.
  5. Sticks, sticks, and more sticks. Sticks break, wear out, and generally get beat up all season. A few new sticks waiting in the wings is never a bad idea. Plus, when friends come over to enjoy your home ice rink, you’ll have enough equipment to go around. We like Pure Hockey’s selection at every price point.
  6. Hockey nets. It’s hard to play or practice hockey on your home ice rink without a net, so grab a couple to add to your reveal. Try Franklin Sports for an ample selection.
  7. A refreshment fridge. Having a small refrigerator rink-side allows your players to hydrate without any breaks in the action. We like Wine Cooler Direct for their selection and pricing.
  8. Anti-odor detergent. Any hockey parent knows how hard it is to stay on top of the notorious hockey stink. Stuff your players’ stockings with a hefty supply of anti-odor detergent. We like Rockin Green Activewear laundry detergent for super tough odors. Your family will thank you, and your players won’t scare away their practice mates and friends.
  9. A brand new bag. When it’s time for the whole team to gather for games and drills, your player will love a little swagger with a new hockey bag. Check out Pacific Rink for everything from a casual pond pack for a leisurely outdoor hockey afternoon, to their top-of-the-line pro hockey bags for your skater.
  10. A home ice skating rink. Did we drop enough hints about what this last gift idea would be? Every hockey player dreams of having his own ice, in a temperature-controlled paradise, with plenty of refreshments and a big screen TV steps away from the play or practice surface. Our best gift recommendation for the hockey player in your life is a custom synthetic skating surface from KwikRink Synthetic Ice.

Synthetic Ice: The best way to stuff a hockey player’s stocking

It’s a big-league dream, right? Only the pros could make this vision a reality. If you’ve got a garage, a basement rec room, a flat parking pad, or even a level yard outside, your home ice skating rink is just a few clicks away for the holidays.

Even though we admit you’d need a pretty large stocking, installing synthetic ice from KwikRink is just as easy as dropping candy treats into the socks hanging from the mantle.

Our custom-cut ice tiles fit together effortlessly like puzzle pieces, and stack and store in your closet, garage, or on the floor efficiently.

You and your elves can send your little Gretzky’s off to slumber, while you set up the rink. No tools required, just place the custom-measured-and-cut ice tiles on the floor and tap the seams until secure.

When the skaters come down in the morning, be sure to have your camera ready and their skates nearby to capture the oohs and aahs of your big reveal.

Whether you order a few square feet of practice space or a garage-full of ice tiles, you’ll be on the “nice” list for years to come with a gift of KwikRink Synthetic Ice.

Think a home ice rink is out of reach? Think again.

No matter where you live, work, or play, KwikRink has a Synthetic Ice System to fit your space and hockey needs. We custom-fit your rink to the space you have available, from a few small tiles in your home to a warehouse floor.

Our ice tiles are low maintenance, easily set up, and they break down and store effortlessly for nimble space conversion. All you need to keep the tiles slick is a spritz of spray cleaner and a wipe-down with a soft cloth. Make a hockey rink just about anywhere with KwikRink Synthetic Ice.

Contact us today for a free estimate and create a hockey holiday to remember.

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31
October

How a Portable Ice Rink Can Help Your Event

Posted by KwikRink

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

That is really what you want to do, isn’t it? You want to change the world. Maybe just a little piece of it. That’s why you are inspired to create this grand event.

Something that will draw people to your cause, make them aware of it, help them understand it, and maybe raise funds for it — all to change the world.

Adding a portable ice rink to your next event may be just what it takes to make it genuinely grand and world-changing. Contact KwikRink today for all your synthetic ice rink rental needs including:

  • Custom-sized synthetic ice rink panels tailored to your needs
  • Decorative fencing
  • Rental skates
  • Skate sharpeners
  • On-site supervision and installation

To get started creating a truly successful event, do the following:

Define your purpose

Determine if the objective of your event is to raise funds or awareness around a cause. Or is it to promote a product or service? Perhaps you want to create a sense of community or a safe space for people of all kinds to gather.

Ask yourself — what is your why? What values are you trying to promote? The purpose of this event will be an extension of those values.

A skating event is a fun, creative, healthy way to unify people around your purpose.

Now that you have your purpose define your goal

General goodwill and giving back to the community are not sufficient goals. Getting specific around your event objectives will create more success on the day of your event. Raising funds or connecting with a particular demographic are more specific goals.

Next, be sure your goals are measurable. Define the exact dollar amount you want to raise. Set a number as to how many people you must educate on your topic.

Then, make your goals achievable. If you hope to draw people from all over town or even the state, you’ll need to go beyond selling discount cards to local businesses.

If your organization has a significant financial need, a local bake sale isn’t going to cut it. When you set your goal, make sure you can see your way to achieving it.

Relevant goals are also critical to a successful event. Getting everyone to wear purple may be a goal if that color will raise awareness for a cause.

But, if your primary goal is fundraising, wearing purple isn’t relevant. Charging an extra admission fee for not wearing purple might cover both bases, though, for example.

Lastly, goals need to be timely. Determine a timeframe within which to achieve your goal. Could this event run for weeks or months? Determine how you will keep it fresh and relevant if it goes on for an extended period.

When you plan a portable ice event, you can craft your timeframe and delivery to ensure all your planning is organized well before the synthetic ice tiles arrive at your venue.

Now define your audience

How successful will your event be if your goal is to raise awareness around the working conditions of nurses, and you plan your event inside a hospital? That audience is already well aware of their working conditions.

Define who you are trying to reach and where you can reach them. Research where and how they spend their time. Determine the types of activities they enjoy. You will need all these answers if you’re going to attract them to your event.

Remember, it’s a breeze for many people to skate on our synthetic ice. We even provide the rental skates and instruction for your audience. Plus, you can ensure comfort indoors on any flat surface. No need for parkas and scarves.

And your budget

Now for the dreaded question – what is your budget? You will need some idea as to the size and duration of the event you can plan. If you are thinking your funds are inadequate to pull off something exceptional, try partnering with businesses in your area.

Other business or related causes may want to team up with you. Ask if they would be willing to contribute funds or products or time. They may be willing to take on some of the marketing efforts (keep reading) with some co-advertising. You don’t have to do this all alone.

If fundraising is one of your goals, make sure your budget is well below that goal; otherwise, you will have had a great event, but not achieved its purpose.

With KwikRink’s budget-friendly customization, we’ll craft a rink that enables you to maximize your profit on ticket sales or donations.

Plan your marketing and sales

The best-intentioned event will be of no use if no one knows it is happening. You have defined your audience; now, you need to determine how you will get the information about this event to them. Use all your resources, printed materials, networking, mail, phone calls, and of course, social media.

Create a process for handling any sales or reservations at your event – admission, product sales, etc. Investigate online booking software, ticket sales, reservation systems.

These systems can make great partners by marketing your event for you. Make sure you have the technology available and the personnel trained so you can make your event run as seamlessly as possible for your attendees.

Don’t forget to say thank you

Thank everyone who contributed to the event – planners, donors, volunteers, vendors, etc. Ensure your guests will come back by showing them how much they matter.

Last, but not least – make it stand out

Make your event stand out with a rented portable ice rink from KwikRink. Need a little more inspiration? Check out these images of portable ice rink possibilities.

Consider hosting on-ice talent competitions or mini hockey tournaments. Are you into building community? Offer family hours with kid-friendly music and games.

In contrast, offer adult-only skate times as well and bring in food trucks or catered options serving adult beverages and gourmet foods.

Unlike traditional ice rinks, weather or space requirements do not limit the use of a synthetic ice rink. Anyone can skate, and it is an activity that promotes fitness and connection.

So, when should you get started? There is no better time than the present. Contact KwikRink now by calling (888) 275-2345 and asking how they can assist with the rental of a portable ice rink for your event.

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19
October

5 Lessons Your Child Can Learn from Ice Skating

Posted by KwikRink

When it comes to trying something new and exciting, ice skating is a sport that ranks pretty high on the list. If your child is looking to try something a little different, this is a great chance to have a lot of fun while also reaping the benefits of a great workout!

Want to make this an even more exceptional experience? Consider installing a synthetic home ice rink. It is way more doable than you think. Contact KwikRink and find out how.

Whether you head for lessons at the local arena or choose to create a home rink, this is a sport with plenty of benefits for the whole family!

Is Ice Skating A Good Workout?

In addition to being one of the most fun forms of exercise, ice skating has the extra benefit of providing a whole-body workout. It is easy on growing joints due to the low impact nature of the sport, and so can be a gentle and suitable alternative to running or jogging on growing bodies.

And those are not the only benefits.

Balance and coordination can also be hugely improved. These skills are targeted because ice skating is an activity that uses a lot of so-called ‘stabilizer muscles,’ which everyday life rarely uses fully.

These are primarily located around the knees, hips, and ankles. Muscle tone is also improved, and the challenge of keeping your balance helps to build a strong core and overall body strength.

Need more persuasion?

Ice skating can also be a great way to keep in shape as your child grows; skating at 14km per hour can burn up to 300 calories with minimal effort!

What If I Can’t Get To A Rink?

Despite the growing popularity of ice skating, families living in remote or rural areas may struggle to get out to a rink for lessons. The good news is that you don’t have to!

Building a home ice rink may seem like a daunting challenge. Though overwhelming, this does not have to be the case.

Contact the folks at KwikRink Synthetic Ice and see how easily you can be skating, year-round, on your very own rink! Before long, your child will be building and honing their skills and abilities in the comfort of their backyard, or even their basement.

A home rink can be perfect for newbies who are just starting and who may be nervous or self-conscious in a public space. They are also an ideal solution if you are already a keen skater, looking to get a head start on next season. Or to perfect a technique, just in time for a test date or big performance!

What Can Your Child Learn?

Why should you go to this trouble just so your child can skate? As we have mentioned, getting on the ice is a great way to build strength and agility, and is a great physical and mental workout for your child. There are a host of benefits to the sport, and participants can learn some precious lessons, such as:

If you fall, get back up: Ice skating is a tricky activity performed on a very slippery surface. At some point, a fall is inevitable, especially when you are just starting. Though sometimes a little painful, this can also be an excellent chance for your child to learn some serious resilience.

To improve and become the ice dancer they have dreamed of, every skater has to fall, get back up, and try again. This lesson applies to life as well as on the ice.

Try, try and try again: When you see fluid, graceful ice skaters performing at the Olympics or in a show, it is easy to think that their moves look effortless. In truth, there are hundreds of hours of practice which have gone into perfecting their techniques and routines, and this can be an excellent lesson for your child.

The only way to get better is to practice, and there is always something to learn.

Exercise can be fun! We know how important regular exercise is for growing bodies, and as a way to boost mental health. However, organized sports can be a turn off for many children at a young age.

Ice skating is a perfect way to show them that there are fun alternatives. They are introduced to new ways to move their bodies, which do not require team sports or a traditional workout.

Establishing a love of exercise at a young age is valuable, and something your child will carry through their lives.

Confidence is key: The unique challenges offered by ice skating means that progress can be slow. This slow progress can lead to a powerful moment when your child can reflect on how far they have come.

Spending several hours mastering the basics may seem tedious at the time, but the rewards will follow. In the long term, it will allow them to stand tall and confident when it comes to trying the more complex moves.

It will also show them that a little hard work and self-belief will help them to achieve more than they thought possible!

Balance is essential: A big part of succeeding in ice skating is the ability to master your balance and coordination. These areas are crucial to unlocking more complex moves, and training and practice will give your child a better awareness of their sense of balance.

They must use all the parts of their body to succeed – if they neglect one area, the whole trick falls apart.

Acknowledging and understanding this also allows for an opportunity to extend this concept more fully into their life. Just as balance is essential for performing a tricky spin in skating, it is needed in everyday life to help your child stay well-rounded and adjusted.

Learning to master their balance and body on the ice can provide the tools they need to succeed in a range of other areas.

Why Wait?

Getting started with ice skating may seem daunting; there are lessons, schedules, transportation, and safety equipment to consider.

A backyard rink can alleviate a few of these considerations and provide as many benefits as a commercial space, all while having the bonus of being available 24/7 for your child!

With so many fantastic benefits to the sport, why not take the plunge today, and set your child up for a whole host of positive outcomes. What are you waiting for?

Contact KwikRink to get started, and get your child on their way to being the best they can be today!

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09
October

Hockey Is On the Way Up

Posted by KwikRink

Whether you live in snow country or tropical climes, hockey is everywhere these days. NHL fandom is robust as always, and safety gear innovations keep kids and adults playing injury-free for longer. Hockey parents are still the norm from Minnesota to Texas.

Despite our changing climate affecting outdoor ice seasons, hockey is here to stay. To that end, the hockey industry always promotes ways to stay ahead of the curve in terms of ice costs and program revenue.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice is the leader in maintenance-free, state-of-the-art synthetic hockey ice rink design. Contact us today and get a free custom rink quote for any space or application.

Women players, women winners

According to The Ice Garden, women’s hockey participation has grown by a whopping 17.6% since 2010. Nearly 80,000 women are registered players with USA Hockey. And, that number has steadily increased since the US women’s gold medal win at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

Women continue to add depth and breadth to the sport and have proven they can play every bit as tough as the guys and come out on top.

At Kwikrink, we’re excited to be part of serving the growing demand for ice time from female players. We continue to champion hockey programming for all.

Our synthetic hockey ice systems make program launch and participation more accessible and more profitable for community organizations and coaches alike. Here’s how.

Benefits of Synthetic ice over natural ice

Versatility: Kwikrink Synthetic Ice can be set up anywhere in just about any dimension. All you need is a flat surface. Our ice works well in the following locations:

    • Church social gathering rooms
    • Event centers
    • School gyms and cafeterias
    • College field houses
    • Community center multipurpose rooms and gyms
    • Convention centers
    • Outdoor skate parks or basketball courts

Non-weather dependent. Synthetic Ice glides, whether it’s -40 degrees or 85 degrees. Your rink space never has to be climate controlled with Kwikrink synthetic ice. Though a little air conditioning might be helpful if you’re running a full-on team practice in hot weather!

Further, there’s no need for a built-in, floor-based water freezing system with KwikRink materials. You’ll simply lock the ice tiles into place, strap on your skates, and glide for as long as you want.

Lower cost. Since our synthetic ice needs no additional equipment to keep it functional, your hockey program overhead costs just dropped significantly.

When you factor in the initial capital of freezing equipment, Zamboni and driver, as well as the maintenance and added energy costs to maintain natural ice, synthetic ice is a no-brainer to improve your hockey program profit margins and registration accessibility dramatically.

Low maintenance. Our infused surfaces promise years of low-maintenance, superior glide, and a clean surface guarantees the best performance.

Your cleaning schedule will depend on ice usage frequency, storage location and condition, and environmental factors. In other words, if your synthetic rink is outside, you’ll likely clean it more often for optimal performance.

Cleaning KwikRink Synthetic Ice is a breeze. Spray the surface with a multipurpose cleaning solution, let sit for a few minutes to break up any dirt buildup, and then wipe clean with a cloth. No Zamboni required, although you might want to use a small commercial floor scrubber on larger rinks.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice boasts 95% of natural ice glide. KwikRink Synthetic Hockey Ice boasts a comparable rate of glide to natural ice. You can work on all the sprints, stops, turns, and shots-on-goal that you would on a natural surface, with a nearly imperceptible difference in feel.

Strength and stamina gains. Because there is a slight glide differential from synthetic to natural ice, your team will develop more strength and stamina on the synthetic surface.

Similar to Olympic athletes training at high altitudes, our systems may help your team perform better when they play on natural ice from time to time.

Synthetic Ice: A profitable choice for “dead” space

If you run a large facility like a church, community center, warehouse, senior center, or athletic facility, you’ve likely got “dead” space from time to time. A synthetic hockey rink may add a revenue stream to unused floor space.

Our ice tiles are fully adaptable to your space availability and dimensions. Plus, our tiles feature a “snap-together” design.

Set up and tear-down are quick and manageable. Our tiles will store in any closet or even stacked on the perimeter of your space for easy program conversion.

You can easily convert from basketball practice to a hockey game or clinic in one evening or afternoon with synthetic hockey ice from KwikRink.

Profitability

Synthetic hockey ice provides a speedy avenue to revenue, especially if you live in a hockey-friendly community, or if you’re pioneering a hockey program in a new region.

With the easy set-up and versatility of KwikRink synthetic ice, all you need is a coach and a few players to build a team and some hockey momentum. Since equipment logistics are a no-brainer, you can utilize your business acumen by spreading the word and marketing a new youth or adult sports opportunity.

Our tiles travel and snap together effortlessly in small locations. That makes them great for community demos, school visits, mall expos, or neighborhood gatherings to build buzz and allow potential hockey players to try out the ice.

With a qualified coach and a simple online registration system, you can effortlessly collect fees and waivers, then move on to promoting teamwork, health, fitness, and hockey fun in no time.

Fundraisers, special events, and corporate entertainment with synthetic hockey ice lend further revenue stream opportunities to your organization. All you need is a flat space and a pair of skates to make the event a success.

Contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice for hockey in a snap

Our team stands ready to help you build the custom synthetic ice hockey rink that fits perfectly for your programming and space needs. Give us a call today, and we’ll help you measure and craft the ice your community will enjoy for many seasons to come.

Great hockey can happen anywhere, anytime with KwikRink Synthetic Ice systems.

 

 

 

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30
September

How To Ice Skate on a Synthetic Ice Rink

Posted by KwikRink
home synthetic ice rink

Plastics were first used as a substitute for ice for skating in the 1960s. Synthetic ice rinks were made from materials such as polyoxymethylene plastic, developed by DuPont in the 1950s. In 1982, the first full-sized artificial rinks were produced with High-Density Plastics. They were completed using interlocking panels.

So, artificial ice has been around for a while. And, there were, of course, challenges skating on synthetic ice when it first came into existence.

Technological advances and higher quality products have resolved many of these challenges. Some, in reality, can make you a better skater for overcoming them.

With that said, if you are in the market for a high-tech, high-quality, synthetic ice rink, contact our staff at KwikRink. We can answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, let’s review how to ice skate on current, high-quality synthetic ice.

Use your regular skates

Whether they are figure skates or hockey skates, you will not need any unusual type of skate for use on artificial ice. Skates no longer dull as quickly with the latest synthetic ice technology.

Enhanced molecular structure and glide technology are essential to reducing friction which dulls ice skate blades. KwikRink’s latest formula finds that ideal combination of glide while still providing for just the right grip, creating the perfect conditions for skating.

This enhanced molecular structure and glide technology helps to cut down on friction and the need to resharpen skates as often as is needed with older, traditional quality synthetic panels.

Wear your regular clothes

Current self-lubricating panels require no topical sprays and do not ooze slip agent. No topical sprays or slip agents means no oily mess to stain clothes, costumes or uniforms.

Old assembly methods also meant flooring could move and slide over time. This movement would create gaps and uneven surfaces. New dovetail interlocking designs mean panels stay in place both horizontally and vertically. An even surface means nothing to catch or trip on, except, maybe your toe pick.

So go ahead and practice your butterfly saves or the closing move to your paso doble, no need to take special precautions with your clothing.

Skip the hats, scarves, wool socks, mittens, and parka

Synthetic ice does not require cold temperatures. So you could be skating anywhere from a traditional arena setting to a small in-home rink, to an expansive outdoor rink in the middle of summer.

You won’t need to wait until it is cold enough outside for the ice to freeze. No more being forced to practice when it is so severe or snowy that you won’t survive more than 20 minutes before needing a break in the warming house.

Leave the broom in the closet

No, we haven’t switched to the topic of curling — that was one of last month’s articles. Skating on inferior quality synthetic panels generates a considerable amount of abrasions and shavings requiring frequent sweeping of the surface.

With the latest technology, the panels are now self-lubricating, and the surface remains more intact, which means the broom doesn’t have to come out of the closet as often.

Leave the cleaners in the cabinet

Besides the broom, you can leave the cleaning products in the closet too. Higher quality products are designed to withstand the elements. No lubricants or topical sprays means the surfaces do not attract dirt and grime as quickly as older materials. Both have the effect of the rink staying cleaner, longer, as well.

An occasional mopping (or use of a floor scrubber on larger, outdoor rinks) will still be required, but KwikRink’s synthetic panels are designed to take the punishment of any hockey or figure skating regimen. Indoors or out, these rinks are designed to last up to a decade or more.

Practice all your regular moves

So, you can wear your regular skates, and you can wear your regular clothes, and yes, you can practice all your regular moves. From long glides to hockey stops, and spins to jumps off your toe pick, you can practice all the skills on synthetic ice.

It used to be that backward skating and transitioning were slowed down and unnatural on synthetic ice, but that is no longer the case. KwikRink’s 5th generation formula provides for 95% of real ice speed and a glide of up to 50 ft on one stroke.

Be prepared to become a stronger skater

Although KwikRink’s 5th generation formula provides for 95% of real ice speed, that does still mean that you will need to work a little harder to recover that last 5%. That, however, is a good thing.

The slight extra exertion required is like training with weights on, something almost every sports discipline uses. Training with weights builds extra muscle mass. Then, removing the weight will make repeating the same movement seem almost effortless.

Figure skaters may need to make the muscles work just a little harder to get up off the synthetic ice into that jump. That little extra work will then make them feel light as a bird when they return to real ice.

Hockey skaters may have to push just a little harder on a synthetic rink. But it will make them feel like they are wearing rockets when they start doing speed drills on the real ice rink.

Give it a try

If you haven’t skated on a synthetic rink recently, or ever, give it a try. Skate, drill, block, check, shoot, glide, spin, and jump just like on real ice.

When you’ve convinced yourself that it is a satisfactory alternative to real ice, check out KwikRink’s website. We’ve got tons of ideas on how to use synthetic ice rinks for commercial, residential, and rental applications.

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18
September

No Zamboni Needed for Artificial Ice

Posted by KwikRink
Hockey Headquarters

Have you ever thought about installing an ice rink? If so, you have stumbled upon a great way to increase revenue. The ice rink industry has seen an annual percentage growth of 2.6%.

In 2019 alone, the annual revenue for the ice rink industry was 883 million dollars.

Unfortunately, traditional ice rinks are expensive to install, run, and maintain. If you are looking for an affordable alternative, look no further than KwikRink patented synthetic ice rinks.

KwikRink has been in the synthetic ice business for over 20 years. We are a family-owned and operated business. We are passonate about providing you with the most realistic experience you can get next to real ice.

Our artificial ice rinks can be a beneficial addition to your business. If you’re looking to add an extra revenue stream, consider an artificial ice rink from our synthetic ice.

Let’s go over some of the differences between real and synthetic ice.

Installation

For the installation of conventional ice, you need thousands of kilowatts of energy, thousands of gallons of water, and liters of gas. On top of that, the maintenance process of conventional ice rinks releases high levels of CO2.

To install a conventional rink, you need heavy machinery. One unfortunate side effect of all those machines and workers is the high noise pollution they inevitably bring. On top of that, installation takes about a week.

Conversely, the installation of our synthetic ice requires no heavy machinery, water, or gas. Plus, we can install your artificial ice rink in one day!

Maintenance

Artificial ice rinks are much easier to maintain than conventional ice rinks. You don’t even need a Zamboni because synthetic ice is fully lubricated and requires no topical sprays whatsoever.

For an indoor artificial ice rink, you will need to perform very little maintenance. If your arena is an outdoor one, you might need a little bit more effort to keep it in top shape.

You will need to clean your rink periodically. Good old soap and water, with a good mop, should do the trick. For a larger rink, a small floor scrubber can take the place of that Zamboni.

Simple maintenance and yet still expecting a life-span of up to a decade or more — that’s a win-win.

Growing Market

Ice skating rinks are a growing market. Let’s go over some of the most likely businesses that could benefit from the addition of an artificial ice rink.

  • Public Skating

Turn your unused space into a revenue stream. Install a KwikRink synthetic ice rink and charge admission. Any chance to draw in an untapped market is worthwhile.

  • Shopping Malls

Malls are already a destination. Families are drawn to places that have activities for everyone. Attract even more customers with an artificial ice rink.

  • Sports Facilities or Gyms

The average person craves variety in their fitness plan. No one likes to be limited to a treadmill or maybe an elliptical. Provide the types of fitness diversity your customers want with a synthetic ice rink. Offer hockey or skating themed group fitness classes.

  • Training Centers

Conventional ice rinks are expensive to install and maintain. Most training centers might not be able to afford one. Go with the next best thing and install a synthetic rink.

  • University Sports

Competition can be fierce in college sports. Give your team that much needed edge by installing a synthetic ice rink for practice and training drills.

    • Intramural

The budget for intramural sports for most students is often virtually non-existent. Synthetic rinks are a more cost-effective option. A KwikRink artificial ice rink will allow those intramural teams to play and practice their sports without breaking the bank.

    • Student Centers

Student centers are great gathering places for your student body. Students can hang out and network while working up a sweat. It is a good idea to give some variety to the activities you provide them. They will be grateful.

  • Youth Centers

If college students crave variety and excitement, that goes doubly for teenagers, it can be difficult finding ways to keep them engaged and entertained. Install a KwikRink synthetic ice rink and watch the smiles light up their faces.

  • Skating Clubs

With KwikRink’s patented technology providing you with over 90% of the glide of real ice, our synthetic rinks are a great way to add some extra practice space. Turn any wasted or unused space into more rink. It’s a win-win!

  • Hockey Clubs

Hockey clubs can also benefit from a KwikRink synthetic ice rink. Our rinks are great for strength training as it takes just a little bit more effort to glide and turn. Your players will notice the boost in power and strength from working out on synthetic ice.

  • Summer Camp

Without synthetic ice, an ice rink at a summer camp would be almost impossible. Our synthetic ice can be installed and kept at any temperature. Summer camps would be an ideal candidate for artificial ice.

  • Sporting Good Stores

Are you trying to find a way to boost your revenue? Increase sales on winter sporting equipment by installing a synthetic rink that allows your customers to try before they buy.

  • Fitness Clubs

Fitness clubs are often smaller than traditional gyms. Space constraints have made the previously unheard of idea of installing an ice rink a real option. Consider diversifying your offerings by offering a like-real ice skating experience.

  • Theatrical Programs

Theater programs are always looking for creative ways to offer the best viewing experience. Our synthetic ice rinks can be easily assembled and broken down. With KwikRink, your next winter show will be truly spectacular.

  • Community Centers

Turn your town into a winter wonderland any time of year. Offer ice skating or community hockey as just one more way to bring your community together.

  • Hotels

We think a hotel is an ideal place for one of our synthetic ice rinks. Consider turning your roof into a skate park. Make it an amenity for your guest and charge admission to the general public. Your rink will pay for itself in no time.

At KwikRink, we want to help you make your business the best it can be. Install one of our synthetic ice rinks today and watch your profits soar. Contact us for a free estimate.

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11
September

How Big is Yours — Your Backyard Ice Rink That Is

Posted by KwikRink
residential synthetic ice holiday sale

Are you tired of waiting for an available rink to get out there and practice your skills each week? Perhaps you are a coach waiting for your team to have enough time and space to get in more one-on-one training. A backyard ice rink can prove to be a fantastic investment and a whole lot of fun.

You’re not alone in your need for ice – right in the backyard. Let KwikRink provide you with a customized quote for your backyard rink today.

Is Your Back Yard Big Enough?

If you’re looking out your window and wondering if that seemingly small patch of grass is really enough to install an ice rink, don’t sweat it. In many situations, it’s possible to get a custom ice rink set up even in a small area. If it gives you enough space to practice goals or goalie skills, it’s worth it.

One stipulation of a backyard rink is to have enough flat space. You may not need to get out there with a level to make sure it’s perfectly flat, but synthetic ice requires a small, flat surface for assembly. Laying it directly onto the grass isn’t an option. The good news is KwikRink can help you with that!

What Can You Do on a Small Backyard Ice Rink?

Take a look out into your backyard. Imagine having a beautiful ice rink set up and ready to go. What could you do on it?

Run Practice Drills: Whether you are out there at 4 am on your own each morning, or you have a group of friends over, it’s easy to run drills on a backyard ice rink. No worries about anyone watching you, which is a fantastic benefit for those who are up against the competition in a traditional ice rink. You also can practice as much as you want.

Hit 100 Goals: If shooting goals is the biggest challenge for you, you can practice them now on your own time, over and over again. You can help your son or daughter with goal shooting in various environments with defenders at every corner. For those that need a bit of help with technique, this is an easy way to perfect your goal shooting.

Pee Wee Practice: With a bigger backyard ice rink, you can host your entire team’s practice. Get them out there after school each day. Because they don’t need a full-sized arena, you can teach so many skills on your time. While the big rink in the city may be able to only give you an hour or two a week for practice, in your backyard, you can practice as long as you want, as often as you want, when you want.

What If You Have a Big Backyard? Imagine the Possibilities

When you have enough space in your backyard for a full-size ice hockey rink, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few examples of what you could do with a bigger rink.

Get Ready for College Hockey: Perhaps you want to be the next person to make the ranks of Division 1 Hockey Records in the coming year. You’re good, but you need some help with technique. With a large, open backyard ice rink, there’s no stopping you from practicing and perfecting your skills.

Set Up a Bit of a Competition: Do you have another team that’s struggling to get in enough playing time before the season begins? Host a competition in your backyard hockey rink. You can do this to gain skill and practice in game-like conditions. Test out a few unique plays, or get your defenders on target before they hit the ice for their first real outing.

Perfect the Power Plays: Power plays are some of the most sought after of all types of hockey events. Power play goals make the game. It takes a lot of practice and hands-on learning though to get to this level. You also may want to practice more challenging scenarios, such as short-handed goals and assists.

Be the Envy of Your Neighborhood: Let’s face it – if you have a big backyard ice hockey rink, you are going to have a lot of fun with friends and neighbors. Host a competition between a few friends, or invite the entire neighborhood to test it out. That makes for an enjoyable bonding experience.

How to Make a Backyard Ice Rink Work

What’s outstanding about KwikRink is that you can create a residential ice hockey rink without a lot of difficulties. The company does it all for you. With 90% of real ice’s glide, KwikRink Synthetic Ice is a solid solution for a backyard rink. It’s designed to fit together just right to create the size and shape you need.

Custom backyard ice rinks are possible for most spaces. You may be able to install the ice rink for just a few months or keep it there throughout the year. You can even move it as you need to. The key here is that it gives you big hockey in your backyard! It’s also uncomplicated to maintain, so you do not have to worry about it breaking down after a few months of use.

If you’re not sure if you have enough space or enough flat space, let KwikRink help you figure it out. They offer adaptable solutions that fit most goals and space availability.

Could You Benefit from a Backyard Rink?

It all starts with an idea. Take a walk around your backyard, or your garage, driveway, patio, or any other open area you have. Get an idea of how much space you want to devote to this incredible experience. Once you have an idea of the types of skills you want to practice, and what features you would like designed, contact KwikRink. Learn about all of the options and find out just how flexible these rinks can be for residential areas. Contact us now to get a quote on a backyard ice rink.

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30
August

What Makes a Good Synthetic Ice Flooring?

Posted by KwikRink
SYNTHETIC ICE Rink

You’ve decided a synthetic rink may be the right fit for your ice flooring needs. But what are you looking for in a synthetic ice product, and how do you choose the best one?

Let’s avoid trying to skate on old plastic cutting boards. Instead, why not develop a rink everyone can utilize effectively for years to come?

Several factors make one synthetic ice product better than another, and here at KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we have them all covered. Visit our website to start configuring your rink.

Whether you are looking for a backyard practice space, a rental rink, or a full-service training center, we have the product your skaters will want to glide across.

Regardless of whether you are a residential or commercial customer, we are the company to contact today.

User Performance

The first factor to consider when choosing a synthetic ice flooring is how well your skaters will be able to perform on this surface. One drawback of skating on older artificial ice is lack of glide.

Our latest high-tech formula has a solution to this issue. KwikRink’s newest 5th generation formula panels have 95% of real ice’s glide and allow a glide of up to 50 feet on one stride.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice is designed to be hard enough that it can withstand the grueling training regimens of hockey and figure skaters alike, but not so hard that it would quickly dull skating blades.

It is soft enough that you can “feel” the ice, but not so soft that you are creating excess friction that slows your glide and makes you feel like you are skating on train tracks.

Further, our materials require no topical sprays. And the slip agent for these self-lubricating panels won’t ooze out from between the joints either.

No topical spray or oozing means no oily residue on the panels. No oily residue means no mess or ruined clothing. Who doesn’t love keeping their uniforms and costumes pristine while skating in any climate?

Customization and Assembly

When you’ve decided on a synthetic ice flooring product, what’s next?  Customization and ease of assembly are the next factors in functional and enjoyable synthetic ice flooring.

From a simple practice rink in the basement to something as elaborate as the Harris Winter Wonderland in Rockford, IL, we can design and customize the rink to fit your space.

Panels are typically 4 ft x 8 ft but can be cut to any size depending on your application. Your rink space may need cutouts around supporting columns or angled walls, or a detailed design through a park and around trees.

KwikRink has all the rink accessories you may need. They will work with you to design the best layout for your space.

KwikRink can also provide:

  •       dasher boards,
  •       plexiglass,
  •       goals and nets,
  •       shooting tarps, and
  •       colored lines and markings,
  •       as well as rental skates and sharpeners.

Assembling your custom rink is as simple as putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Our proprietary Lock-Rink dovetail system fits together in a snap, taking as little as 30 minutes to install your new ice flooring.

That Lock-Rink dovetail system also leads to an almost seamless surface. No bumps or catches for your skaters means promoting a superior product your skaters will want to use.

Durability

Your skaters will love skating on our, ahem, leading-edge synthetic ice. Rink assembly is a snap. Now, how long is it going to maintain those high performing qualities? Durability is one more factor to consider when choosing a synthetic ice product.

For a rink that lasts from 7-10 years, choose our 3/8” thick panels. Choose our 1/2” heavy-duty panels to survive your skaters wear and tear for more than a decade.

With either product choice, KwikRink Synthetic Ice is designed to hold up to the full rigors of competitive hockey and figure skaters.

In addition to our generous panel thickness, our flooring does not bleed slip agent, and the surface will always keep its glide. Many products that ooze slip agent or need spray lubricants will diminish in performance over time.

This type of aging of the surface leads to a poor skating experience. Your investment will last a long time and continue to provide peak performance when you select a KwikRink Synthetic ice rink.

We value our customers

Once you have a product with top of the line performance, can be entirely customized, fits together seamlessly in minutes, and will last over a decade, what more do you need?

A company that you can work with and trust like KwikRink is the, uh, “icing” on the cake. We continually update our research and development to provide you with the best product possible.

You can trust a company with 20+ years of experience in customizing synthetic ice flooring. We’ve handled a variety of challenging applications with ease, and we work hard to deliver the rink you need for the ice-time you want.

Our company has constructed ice rinks on five continents around the globe. We’ve worked with customers from NHL hockey stars to professional coaches, to the aspiring figure skater, to the young hockey student.  We understand functional skating performance for a variety of sport applications.

What makes a good synthetic ice flooring?

A superior synthetic ice flooring is defined by its glide, its cleanliness, its durability, its ease of assembly, and its ability to fit your space, purpose, and budget.

The people behind its design, installation, and customer support also define the best synthetic flooring. Contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice today and get started on your new rink.

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16
August

Christmas in July? – Sure Thing with a Rented Ice Rink Kit

Posted by KwikRink

If you’ve just wrapped up your Christmas in July event, it’s time to start thinking about next year. What can you do to make next year’s event bigger and better? Why not start with ice rink kits? It’s a fun, exciting, and unique opportunity to bring the spirit of the holidays to the middle of the summer. It’s easier to do than you think.

Ice rink kits are a fantastic way to celebrate Christmas in July. Who knows, you may love it so much that you may even want to join the rent-to-buy program and keep that rink year-round. Learn more about the options we offer by calling KwikRink Synthetic Ice at (888) 275-2345 or request a quote online.

Host a Winter Festival Next Summer

One of the easiest ways to make your next event stand out is with a rented ice rink kit. Make this the start of your Christmas in July celebration. Set it up and then let the fun begin. Here are a few tips for making it more enjoyable:

  • Set up a few opportunities throughout the festival to have local hockey stars or players from the local team visit.
  • Host a training session for figure skating. Introduce young children to this skill in an upbeat environment.
  • Set up hot chocolate stands (ok, maybe frozen hot chocolate) and perhaps a few food trucks to welcome the community to the event for a few weekends at a time.
  • Use local support through sponsorships to host the winter festival. You can even host a summer movie on the ice.
  • With the rink in place, add some music for a romantic evening under the stars for the couples in your community.

You can use the proceeds from these types of events to support your organization. Or, use the profits, on the other hand, to fundraise for a local program or charity. Winter festivals are unique during the summer months. That is what makes them so enjoyable and exciting. They are sure to get attention!

The Ideal Time for a Unique Summer Sports Camp

Many sports programs host events during the summer months to draw attention to the sport for those who may not get a chance to play during the year. Summer sports programs are also an excellent way to work on off-season skills training.

Hosting summer sports camps is an opportunity to grow interest in the sport, especially in areas where your current roster of players for the upcoming season is low. You can rent rinks of various sizes to host training programs for all types of ice sports, including:

  • Ice hockey
  • Figure skating
  • Recreational ice skating
  • Speed skating
  • Curling, and much more!

Schools with sports programs like these may find this is an excellent opportunity to get kids onto the campus for some fun. Use an ice rink kit throughout the summer as a way to attract incoming students to a particular school or program. Get them into teams and having fun getting to know the coaches.

Create a Winter-Themed Day Camp 

According to the American Camp Association, kids attended 5,600 day camps in 2017. They are traditionally a meaningful way to celebrate the summer months. They are also fantastic because they keep kids learning all summer long.

Hosting a winter-themed day camp can be an excellent way for your organization to keep kids having fun throughout the summer. With ice rink kits, the process is straightforward. Imagine an afternoon and evening spent learning to ice skate or hosting a day camp social on the rink.

Get the Day Care Kids Involved in a New Activity

During the summer months, daycares tend to have a group of older children who would routinely be in school. With an ice rink present, they can have a lot of fun enjoying a new activity, one they probably have never tried before (at least in the summer months!)

With a portable ice skating option, you can open their eyes to a new opportunity. You may even motivate them to dive in and learn ice hockey once the season starts. This type of activity is also great exercise, even on a hot summer day.

Keep Your Rec or Fitness Center Members Engaged

Recreation Centers often face the challenge of keeping local kids busy and engaged on the weekends or during the summer months. What if you had an ice skating rink at the rec center? Ice rink kits can be assembled to accommodate a variety of space options.  Rental rinks can be created to outfit a gymnasium or set up a skills practice area in a smaller space.

With Fitness Centers that charge a membership fee and need to increase the number of people in attendance, offering unique activities like this is crucial to maintain and grow membership numbers. With an ice rink rental kit, it’s easy to do. Rent it for a month or longer to drive home the Christmas in July theme and offset those often flagging summer attendance numbers. Adults and kids will love the experience.

Capture Attention at Your Resort with an Ice Rink Kit

Drawing people back into your hotel or resort can be a challenge in some areas. Offering something new and exciting can be the ideal way for you to bring people in, as travelers are always looking for the hot new thing to do in the area.

Ice rink kits are a merry way to offer something different under the hot summer sun. Imagine having an easy to assemble, low maintenance ice rink available to your guests. It might be 90 plus degrees, but that won’t stop your guests from strapping on some skates and having an amazing time right at your venue.  That can help to drive up the sales of passes, beverages, and onsite amenities. And, it’s easy to create with ice rink kits like this.

Looking for a Few More Ideas? 

No matter what your ideas and uses for an ice rink kit are, it can be a lot of fun to incorporate this into your summertime events. Let our team at KwikRink Synthetic Ice help you with your portable ice rink rental. It’s a fun and simple way to celebrate the colder months in the middle of the summer. Request a quote right now, so you have plenty of time to let everyone know what great experiences you will have available next summer.

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13
August

Just how big does a skating rink need to be?

Posted by KwikRink

When most of us think of ice rinks, we imagine large arenas, filled with cheering crowds. We picture a vast expanse of ice upon which 12 hockey players battle for victory.

Or, we see a lone figure skater accelerating down the ice toward a series of impressive jumps and spins. Alternatively, we may picture a grand ice show with players and costumes and music.

We at KwikRink Synthetic Ice are here to expand your vision of what constitutes an ice rink. Contrary to popular belief, a functional ice rink is not limited to standard hockey rink dimensions.

We can have you skating year-round in a variety of rink shapes and sizes to fit just about any space.

Visit our website today and get started configuring the exact amount of ice you need for simple setup and skills and drills practice on any flat surface. You’re just a few clicks away from gliding, scoring, and triumph on your very own ice.

Synthetic Ice–not just for hockey stadiums any more

Natural ice may never go out of style and fans will still flock to large arenas to watch their favorite winter sports. However, you can now have ice at your disposal any time of year, even if you don’t have the full 200’ x 100′ hockey rink dimensions available.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice makes it possible to have a convenient span of ice that assembles, comes apart, and stores with ease. Our interlocking puzzle-piece design and variable-size ice tiles make synthetic ice fully adaptable to the space you have.

We create ice in both commercial and residential settings on any budget and for many purposes.

Are you practicing drills? A few square feet of ice are all you need.

For the competitive hockey player to the weekend hockey enthusiast, try setting up a small KwikRink Synthetic Ice rink in your basement, garage, or office.

You can work on many of your foundational skating and stick drills with a surprisingly small area. If you have a garage floor or basement you can clear out; a skating rink will fit right into those dimensions.

A small space like this is ideal for practice on:

  • Starts
  • Spins
  • Turns
  • Stickhandling
  • Shooting
  • Small area games
  • Passing
  • Puck drills

If you add a goal to one end of your small rink, you can use the space for partner drills, defense, shooting precision, and stamina. Players can take turns on defense, offense, or as goalies, or create scoring or puck games and drills to build skills while having fun.

In a figure skating application, a small amount of synthetic ice is ideal for practice with many figure skating skills. Because synthetic ice produces a bit more resistance than natural ice, many figure skaters find they develop more strength and stamina for footwork, turns, and jumps.

A small ice space promotes focus on perfecting the details of skating, like body placement, balance, edging, and toe picks.

Small and medium ice rinks offer a wide variety of programming potential

If you have a larger space than a garage but a smaller space than an arena, you can still create a multi-functional ice rink for a variety of uses.

Spaces like gym floors, cafeterias, warehouses, multipurpose rooms, or even back yards or parking lots that are flat convert to synthetic ice in a snap. (Literally, the ice tiles snap together.)

If you’ve wanted to launch a hockey or figure skating program, but you don’t have access to natural ice, we can solve that problem easily at KwikRink Synthetic Ice.

Our ice tiles connect effortlessly to convert your gym or cafeteria floor into a budding hockey program or figure skating fundamentals class. These spaces are ideal programming areas in churches, schools, or community centers.

In a flash, you’ve got a use for unused space, as well as a community-building opportunity that may also serve as a revenue stream for your organization.

Make a large rink out of any ample space

Finally, if you DO have access to an area which can accommodate full hockey rink dimensions, but not natural ice, KwikRink Synthetic Ice has you covered.

Open warehouse space makes a fantastic spot to lay down our synthetic ice tiles. Depending on the thickness and type of assembly you choose, your ice can remain in place semi-permanently, or pack up and store with ease.

Our thicker, half-inch ice tiles offer a more durable rink that lasts for over a decade. These tiles are designed to withstand the rigorous training of competitive hockey and figure skaters.

If you can leave your ice tiles in place, try selecting larger tiles. Large tiles mean fewer seams and speedier cleaning. If you know you’ll need to swap out your rink for other activities; smaller tiles may be a better option for easier installation and storage.

Custom space, custom ice tiles from KwikRink Synthetic Ice

Now that you’ve expanded your vision of all the places in which an ice rink can fit, it’s time to customize your rink.

We love working with unconventional spaces to make them into functional ice havens any time of year. We can even convert an empty, single-level pool into an ice rink!

Whether your space is small, medium, or large, irregularly shaped, indoors or outside, we can create a rink for you. The only requirement is the ice surface is level. Parking lots, open fields, and driveway pads can all convert to short-term, seasonal or year-round synthetic ice.

At KwikRink Synthetic Ice, our professional staff will consult extensively with you to create and install your rink.

We’ll help you determine the ice-tile size and shape that will work best in your space. We will also define the tile thickness and assembly that will fit your budget and storage needs.

Call KwikRink Synthetic Ice today and get started configuring your space. Our professional staff is standing by. We are ready to outfit your home, school, church, parking lot, warehouse, and so much more with ice you’ll enjoy for years to come.

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23
July

A Beginner’s Guide to Curling

Posted by KwikRink

If you are going to start participating in the oh so fun sport of curling, make sure you don’t let the skip take over for the lead and throw a burning rock for a blank end before you all take part in some broomstacking.

If you didn’t understand any of that, don’t worry, KwikRink Synthetic Ice can help you with anything you need to know about setting up your own curling lanes or other custom ice rinks. You can also read on and learn a little bit more about curling right here.

That’s Just for Winter Sports Countries, Right?

Curling’s rising popularity among winter sports may make it seem like it’s something new. However, it is one of the oldest team sports around, with its origins reaching back to 16th century Scotland.

Curling was part of the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix. It didn’t become an official medal sport until 1998 at the Nagano Winter Games. Most of the years in between, it was present as a demonstration sport only at the Olympics.

Curling needed to have 30 member countries to become a full medal event in 1998. Twenty years later, it has 60 member countries, with more expected. Just like the Jamaican bobsled team, they are not all coming from frigid, snow-covered lands.

Sweden and Canada have dominated the sport at the Men’s World Championships in the recent past. Switzerland has reigned supreme in the Women’s World Championships taking the top spot five times in the last ten years.

What a Gold Medal can do for a Sport

Some of the growing popularity in curling in the US can be attributed to John Shuster and the US Men’s Curling team when they took the gold at the 2018 Olympics at PyeongChang.

Shuster had won a bronze medal in curling at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. The next two Olympics were not as successful, and 2018 was not starting well.

They had lost four out of their first six matches, and things looked bleak. Bleak until the amazing happened.

With the last throw, and by just millimeters, the US Men’s Team defeated the reigning, 3-time, Olympic gold-medal-winning, Canadian team. It kept the US Men’s Team in the competition, and they went on to win that gold medal in 2018.

Curling has always been one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics. However, its popularity is on the rise in the US, and around the globe.

Throw a Burning Rock for a Blank End – What???

Now to explain that opening sentence. The skip is the team captain and takes the last two turns for the team. The first two turns belong to the lead. Each turn consists of sliding, referred to as throwing, the 40-44 pound stone down the ice towards a target.

A burning rock is an infraction which occurs if a player touches the stone while it is moving down the ice. An end is like an inning in baseball and is complete when all four team members have thrown two rocks each.

If no points are scored, it is referred to as a blank end. And the broomstacking, we’ll get to that a bit later.

A few more curling definitions are as follows:

  • House – the target at the end of the curling lane
  • Button – the very center of the house
  • Second – team member throwing the 3rd and 4th stones
  • Third – team member throwing the 5th and 6th stones
  • Stone – 40-44 pound polished granite rock pushed down the ice
  • Tee — the lines that cross at the very center of the house

For more terminology, check out the Curling for Dummies Cheat Sheet.

We’re Almost to the Broomstacking

The object of curling is for your stones to be closest to the tee. After both sides throw eight stones each, only the team whose stone is closest to the center of the button can score.

The team with their stone closest to the tee scores one point for every stone that is closer to the center of the house than their opponent’s.

Score points only for those stones that stop in the house. The team with the most points after 8-12 ends wins.

Broomstacking, It’s All About the Broomstacking

Another aspect of curling that is causing its rise in popularity is the social aspect of the sport.  Curling clubs around the US are known for their welcoming community and casually outrageous attire.

After touring curling clubs around the US, John Shuster himself stated:  “it’s a sport built on friendship, camaraderie, and sportsmanship and all the best things in people.”  

So what is this broomstacking thing already? Since a match can consist of 8-12 ends and each end consists of throwing a total of 16 stones between the two teams, these matches can get a bit lengthy.

Initially, curlers would take a break in the middle of a match, stack their brooms on the ice and head inside for a shot of scotch. Most broomstacking has now been relegated to the end of the match, but it is still the accepted tradition. That tradition carries through to even the national and international levels of competition.

Socializing does not have to wait until there is time for drinks, though. There is still plenty of time between throws for discussing strategy or telling tales, which makes curling such an enjoyable sport.

If You Don’t Want a Blank End

Winter clime or desert heat, indoors or outdoors, with or without the scotch, curling is a growing sport. KwikRink Synthetic Ice can design a custom curling lane set up to meet your needs, and you can soon be chatting it up with the skip as to whether that was a burning rock, or not. Make sure you don’t end up with a blank end.

 

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15
July

Starting Your Own Mobile Ice Skating Rink Business Using Synthetic Ice Tiles

Posted by KwikRink

The popularity of various ice sports, such as hockey and figure skating, is increasing around the globe. Increasing popularity means a higher demand for practice ice space and therefore, potential mobile ice skating rink business opportunities such as:

  • Hockey training centers
  • Figure skating training centers
  • Entertainment/recreation venues

However, ice space traditionally requires just that — ice, in a single space.  Since you can’t depend on year-round temperatures to sustain ice, synthetic ice tiles are the perfect solution.

Since synthetic ice tiles are also portable, they remove the single space limitation as well, and there is your new venture — a mobile ice skating rink business.

Not only will this give you a sustainable business model all year long, but it also provides your community with a place to play and train safely. Contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice for all of your synthetic ice needs. No job is too big or too small.  Let’s take a closer look at what makes this a great business venture.

Year-Round Availability

Depending on your location, operating a traditional ice rink could prove to be cost-prohibitive due to temperature extremes. Maintaining a traditional rink requires temperatures low enough to keep the ice frozen. With a synthetic rink, however, you can set up at any temperature with no fear of melting the ice!

An additional unique benefit of having a synthetic ice rink is that you can build it nearly anywhere. No place is too hot or too cold. No place is too big or too small!  Customize your mobile ice skating rink to any setting.

You can create a large rink for many people or a smaller area for personal practice. With a synthetic ice rink, the only limit is your imagination!

Revenue Opportunities

As a business owner, you want to capitalize on all available opportunities, optimize your revenue, and be successful. Whether envisioning a mobile rink as a pop-up practice area or an entertainment venue, there are plenty of options available for you to customize a rink and generate multiple revenue streams.

The first, and most apparent, income generator is the entrance fee. Keeping your investment and maintenance costs low will allow you to set a favorable entrance fee. Acceptable entrance fees will ensure that those who are skating in your rink return again and again.

In addition to this, many skaters visiting your rink will be there for casual fun. Casual visitors means they don’t have their equipment with them, and will gladly rent from you. Not only will skates be required, but many will also consider safety equipment to be crucial as well. You can conveniently provide these for an additional fee.

A third opportunity to consider is ad space! Your potentially spacious ice rink will have plenty of room for advertising other businesses, generating yet another revenue stream.

Generating ad sales will also give you the chance to reach out to your community and make new contacts. Your business will grow, and your community will thank you for it! It’s a win-win situation.

Lastly, don’t forget about dollars generated by hospitality offerings — food and drinks! Snacks can vary from simple things such as water and chips to a burger and some fries. You could even scale up to full gourmet meals!

It is important to note that everyone coming to your mobile ice skating rink is doing so for different reasons. Providing excellent food with a fun area to eat means a positive experience, and ensures your customers will return and bring friends.

Environmental Advantages

A problem with traditional ice rinks that not many consider is the environmental impact. From indoor air quality to single-use structures, a mobile synthetic ice rink can provide solutions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed the concerns of indoor air quality in traditional ice rinks. The problem is with the equipment used to resurface the ice releasing carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM) into the air.

Without proper ventilation, these can accumulate to dangerous levels for your customers and the environment. Mobile ice skating rinks using synthetic ice do not use resurfacing equipment. Your customers and your business do not have to worry about these emissions.

Also, a mobile synthetic ice rink does not require the construction of a permanent building which can result in possible pollution of the site by fuels, paints, solvents, etc.  It also allows the land to be used for more than one type of activity.

Having a safer environment ensures those at your mobile ice rink can have the most fun possible.

Community Involvement

A mobile ice skating rink business created by you will create a fantastic opportunity for you and your community.

The uncomplicated set-up and tear-down of your arena means you can be where your community needs you. This flexibility also allows for versatile land use, environmentally sound practices, and not locking the community into a permanent structure.

A mobile ice rink allows you to set up at multiple locations over time, giving access to more customers.  Older customers or those with children or limited mobility will thank you for giving them an easy to access, and safe, place to enjoy.

On top of this, your business will provide more job options in your community. There will be jobs for people to take tickets and handle rentals.  You may want to hire skating coaches to be available for lessons. Any hospitality options you offer will also need staff and servers to keep the fun flowing!

With all this positive community involvement, your new mobile ice rink is a welcome boon to your community and provides a unique, year-round, entertainment, or practice option.

Your Chance to Succeed!

The benefits of operating your very own mobile ice rink with synthetic tiles are vast! It’s a great business choice with a plethora of revenue options. It’s a safer alternative to traditional ice rinks and will create a healthier and stronger community around you, providing great jobs to others.

When choosing synthetic ice for your business, you want the very best. KwikRink Synthetic Ice has been in the business for over 20 years and can be found all around the globe.

When you choose KwikRink, you are selecting a rink that is high-tech, adaptable to your needs, and extremely durable. With our customer satisfaction guarantee, you can be confident in your decision. Contact KwikRink Synthetic Ice, and we’ll help you build the mobile ice rink business of your dreams.

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07
July

Have You Considered a Portable Ice Skating option?

Posted by KwikRink
PLAY HOCKEY EXPO

Are you one of those people or organizations who think year-round ice is the ultimate paradise? Then you’ll enjoy what we have to share about creating portable skating places.

Think “pop-up” skating rink, if you will. It’s possible, convenient, enjoyable, functional, and affordable. Plan your next game, practice, or special event with KwikRink Synthetic Ice and gain insight on some unique portable ice applications.

At KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we specialize in making your all-season ice wishes real with state-of-the-art synthetic surfaces. Call us today to customize your project or event.

Conference time is skating time.

A synthetic ice system is a great way to bring ice-sport specific expos or training conferences to your venue. Our portable rinks feature a unique click-and-lock assembly protocol that goes together with ease.

For corporate events, skating entertainment is a great way to “wow” your client’s attendees with something unexpected. From small to large event spaces, KwikRink has a modular synthetic system that fits your needs.

Synthetic ice is a novel way to invite those attendees to take a break from lectures and workshops during the day. Open lobby space is ideal for a synthetic ice rink.

Your client and their attendees will remember walking into your venue and seeing a fully functional ice rink and skating for a lifetime. Your clients will be able to offer their attendees practical instruction and demonstrations on the spot.

The real-world practice of new techniques comes right into the lecture hall with our versatile systems. We can outfit a space from just a few squares of tile for ice demos, to ballrooms and expo halls.

Need a fun event extra? Add a portable skating rink.

Our portable skating systems are functional on any flat surface.  If you’ve got a backyard or park space that will house your next event, why not add a little extra flair and delight with an ice rink?

Not only do we rent the ice rink, but we also provide rental skates, decorative fencing, and rubber mats to get on and off the ice. Portable skate places with KwikRink Synthetic Ice are a total no-brainer.

We can accommodate nearly any space both outside and inside. Your event-goers will enjoy the thrill of winter skating at any time of the year.

The off-season is the best season for synthetic ice.

Summer hockey or figure skating practice times may be a little hard to come by if you live in an area without indoor frozen water rinks. With a synthetic ice portable rink, you can keep your team or private students in tip-top shape in the off-season.

KwikRink portable synthetic ice rinks work both indoors and outdoors. If you’ve got access to a gym floor, a flat open field, an outdoor hockey rink, or even a conference room, there’s a portable rink system for that.

Plus, with the portability of our rinks, you can rotate practice space and time to accommodate different family schedules during the summer.

Turn your garage into a rink.

For the ice-sport family, kids always benefit from extra practice. Why not set up a little practice ice in the garage?

The tiles fit together quickly for a few rounds of shot practice or transition drills. Once practice time is over, the ice tiles come apart and stack up neatly in your garage for the next use.

How much time does it take to set up a rink?

Of course, the size of the rink you want will impact the set-up and tear-down time. However, installation is a snap. Sections of synthetic ice interlock like puzzle pieces and seal seamlessly.

There’s little need for tools, as the floor pieces press together by hand, and the seams disappear. With both rental and purchased rinks, we do a full install for you in the space you designate.

 

With a rental rink, we’ll also take your arena down at the end of your rental term. With a purchased rink, we’re always available for customer service and assistance. Removing and storing your rink is so easy, we doubt you’ll need us.

It works like real ice.

Though it may be hard to believe, KwikRink synthetic ice systems work just like real ice. You can perform any hockey, figure, or pleasure skating maneuvers on our ice just like you would do on frozen water on a lake or field.

Imagine hockey stops, jumps, spins, direction reversals, and more executed effortlessly.  Here’s a video link to show you what KwikRink synthetic ice looks like in action.

Create a community with portable skating places.

Ice skating is not just for hockey players and figure skaters. Skating is a community-building opportunity. Further, with KwikRink Synthetic Ice, you can create those communities in any flat space.

In our fast-paced, digital world, any chance to get both kids and adults doing activities “in real life” teaches team-building and communication skills. It also provides an alternative kind of interactive entertainment.

In rural and urban areas where families and individuals may not have access to a large number of sports and other activities, ice skating would be especially appealing.

Think about it: your portable ice rink could provide hours of healthy, active, team-building entertainment in your:

  • Church
  • School
  • Community Center
  • Event hall
  • Fire Station
  • Police Station
  • Hospital

Recreational league set-up, private skating lessons, and community ice time are easily added to your space to enhance the general quality of life and community-building initiatives.

Additionally, skating programs can provide another revenue stream to add to your organization’s budget. With a portable ice skating space, you’ll establish reliable business income long after your initial rink investment.

Remember, our rink systems are fully portable, so set-up, tear-down, and storage are fast and convenient. Your ice-time can blend in well to the rest of the programming in your space.

Visit our website today to configure your rink. We’ll be on hand to answer all your questions and schedule your installation. We bring skating, community building, and active enjoyment wherever you want it.

 

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26
June

Figure Skating on a Synthetic Skate Rink

Posted by KwikRink
ice skating on synthetic ice

It was bound to happen. If football, rugby, soccer, and baseball can be played on astroturf, why can’t figure skaters skate on artificial ice? They can skate just about anywhere they want with KwikRink synthetic ice systems. Find out how.

Synthetic ice and hockey, sure, but synthetic ice and figure skating?

Intuitively it makes sense that hockey players practice and compete on alternative ice, the surface is built for quick direction changes and a superior sliding surface. But, what about all the toe picks, pivots, turns, jumps, and spins on figure skates? 

Figure skating acrobatics are no problem for KwikRink Artificial Ice. KwikRink polyethylene can help skaters refine their technique. Check it out.

Build more strength with KwikRink

Leg and core strength are two of the foundational building blocks of expert figure skating. Explosive bursts of speed and lift are required to jump faster.

Being able to reach higher levels adds more difficulty to a skating routine, which can boost a skater’s score from the judges at a competition. Building that strength requires specific training both on and off the ice.  

With KwikRink artificial ice, skaters are required to press down more firmly into their jumps just before take-off. This additional pressure creates a more significant “overload” in leg muscles throughout several practice sessions.

When an overload is consistently present, muscles must become stronger to handle the increased exertion required in the movement.

When a skater eventually switches back to natural ice just before or during a competition, her jumps will feel less taxing and more powerful for the extra strength she has gained from training on a synthetic surface.

Enhanced spins and toe-pick precision

Artificial ice requires a figure skater to be precise in his toe-pick for maximum take-off power in jumps. Learning to toe-pick on artificial ice can give an edge (pun intended) that those who only skate on natural ice may not have.

On synthetic ice, skaters have the opportunity to work the details of their spinning and optimize their position and speed for this skill as well.

Bring figure skating programs to new regions with ease

Now it is easier than ever to launch and grow a new figure skating program in your region. With natural ice, a community must have an arena and be able to cool the floor enough to keep ice frozen, sometimes year-round, to have a viable program.

Further, if your only option to skate is outdoors, you had better live in an area where there is plenty of winter time.

With KwikRink artificial ice, you can launch a figure skating program in a school gym, community center, church multi-purpose room, or even in a field outside in the middle of July. 

Everyone wins when a new sport launches in your region

Add Ice skating wherever you are

The benefits of a skating program exist on several levels. Figure skating programs build coordination, athleticism, camaraderie, and community involvement for participants.

When a kid (or an adult, for that matter) learns to skate, it is a skill they will carry with them for a lifetime. When children begin sports at an early age, they often have a better lifestyle and fitness outcomes as adults as well.

Figure skating combines the physical aspects of the movement with the artistic expression of dance, creating a well-rounded sport that a wide variety of people can enjoy, whether they are spectating or performing. Parents love to watch their children learn skills and excel at activities they enjoy.

Our synthetic rinks can expand the activity options for kids and adults in areas where natural ice is challenging or downright impossible to maintain.

When kids learn sports, they build confidence for whatever life throws at them as well as strength and endurance. All the more reason to make figure skating on synthetic ice an alternative option next to all the traditional team sports offered in schools and youth leagues.

Figure skating programs make excellent revenue streams

Managing a KwikRink system is easy and creates an instant business or revenue stream opportunity for the owner or organization.  If your existing brick and mortar have unused space, a KwikRink system may be just the way to maximize your footprint and serve a new niche in your community at the same time.

Easy to install, easy to break down

KwikRink panels are a breeze to install and maintain, as well as coming apart for easy stacking and storage. If you have an indoor, flat, hard surface with no flaws or cracks, KwikRink panels will lay down well with no underlayment.

If you are working outdoors or on an uneven surface, an underlayment or subfloor is the first step to gliding your cares away on artificial ice.  

KwikRink panels are a snap to put together. They assemble like puzzle pieces and require only a mallet and block to tap into place–the seams are nearly invisible once fully clicked and locked.

With our system, you can have your rink assembled for weekend practice and put it away during the week when you may have other activities programmed in your space, for example. 

Comfort makes for an enjoyable, creative skate experience

Perhaps the biggest advantage to figure skating on KwikRink systems is enjoying the warmth while working on skills, drills, and choreography. In figure skating practice, there is typically a flurry of activity, and then a fair bit of standing still on the ice while your coach gives feedback or outlines the next steps in the routine.

Figure skating practice can be much more fun when skaters are not continually bouncing between sweating and freezing between bouts of movement. A warmer, consistent climate may also help to keep skaters loose and prevent injury as well.

In the end, there are so many reasons to look to KwikRink synthetic ice for figure skating. We are here to answer all your questions, provide a free quote, and help you customize your rink for all your figure skating programming needs. Give us a call today and glide into fitness, coordination, creativity, and enjoyment.

 

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18
June

Valuable Training at Home Using Synthetic Ice Skating Rinks

Posted by KwikRink
Home Rink for increased training

Climbing the ranks in any sport has never been more competitive. That is especially true for ice sports, as ice skating rinks can be challenging to find and book. Fortunately, KwikRink has made it easier than ever before to accelerate your training with synthetic ice for home use. Check out our world-class residential rinks here.

Convenience Is Key

Ever have a gym membership at a gym far from your house? How often did you go? Probably not as much as you would have liked. Setting up your training to be quick and accessible is vital to a dedicated training schedule. 

Ice sports are notoriously hard to train for, as rinks tend to be few and far between. Even if they are close by, you may have to book some off-time hour. And who wants to wake up at 5 am all the time? 

Imagine being able to lace up your skates in the comfort of your own home, and hit the ice on YOUR schedule. Most of your competitors won’t have this ability. They are stuck at ice skating rinks. Training many more hours than your rivals means wins on the ice.

You also won’t be limited to an hour at a time, or however long most rinks restrict you. You may prefer to train for 2 or 3 hours at a time, or maybe 30-45 minutes at a time. With traditional ice arenas, you often won’t have this flexibility. 

Just Like The Real Thing

KwikRink Synthetic Ice Rinks are as close as you will get to skating on real ice. They are 90% of real ice’s glide and are the best way to keep you in skating shape year-round. You won’t have to deal with that summer lull anymore, and your game will improve every month of the year. 

Think about a boxer and how they train. Where do they practice? They spar in a regulation ring, hit speed bags and punching bags, jump rope, you get the idea. They wear the boxing gloves they will use for a real fight. 

Would the boxer put on oven mitts and shadow box with a tree out in the woods? No. The same thing should apply to a skater, especially one looking to improve his or her skills. Competitive ice athletes stand to experience tremendous gains in their on-ice skills with a synthetic ice rink.

Is A Residential Synthetic Ice Rink For You? 

KwikRink residential Synthetic Ice Rinks represents a massive step in your athletic career. As such, they aren’t for everyone. However, residential synthetic rinks are great for both beginners and experts alike, given a few things:

  • You are serious about improving your skills. Putting a rink in your home is extremely valuable and essential if you want to become an elite skater. There is no quicker way to advance your skills, but your mind has to be set on improvement.
  • You are prepared to maximize your skating time. Why get a residential rink put in your garage, basement, driveway, or yard if you’re not going to skate? We build our rinks with one goal in mind: to maximize your potential and success. If you don’t have the time to hit the ice consistently, you may want to consider something more casual.
  • You are frustrated by your current training options. Maybe you live in a region with few ice skating rinks. Or perhaps you live somewhere where the rink is booked round the clock. That’s frustrating, and we’ve all experienced that at some point. If you crave on-demand access to ice training, KwikRink is for you. 

Win The Mental Battle First

Legendary Navy SEAL David Goggins attributes his confidence to his unrivaled hard work. The training no one sees that goes on behind the scenes, that’s what separates him. Becoming an elite athlete on ice requires high self-confidence, and that begins with putting in the work. 

What if you knew you worked harder than your opponents when you stepped on the ice? What if you knew you put in dozens of more hours than they did? That you slept under the same roof as your rink?

Knowing you have this edge over the competition is a huge advantage-no one can hurt you on the ice. Remember, KwikRink Synthetic Ice Rinks are 90% the glide of real ice-you’ve got game-ready skills immediately.

Get Prepared For Your New Residential Rink

Pick a good spot for your home rink

No matter your age or skill level, you want to be prepared for your new at-home training rink. First, pick a location for your new synthetic rink. The most popular choices include:

  • garage
  • basement
  • driveway
  • deck

Once you know where you want your rink, you can begin evaluating your physical preparation. What is your diet like? Another advantage of a residential rink is easy access to your preferred foods at home. These are almost always healthier than the vending machines or snack bars at your local rink. 

Regarding stretching and weight training, you may have a designated spot in your home for this already. If not, you should consider adding a stretching routine and resistance training to your new intense skating schedule. 

Hundreds of Division I college athletes and NHL players took their game to the next level training at home. With the right preparation, you can as well. 

The Takeaway

Have a rink anywhere

The advantages of having your own residential synthetic rink are massive.  First, you will find that you are putting in countless more hours of on-ice training than your competition. You are also not confined to traditional ice skating rinks. Your mental toughness will be strengthened through your new training regimen, setting you up for wins. 

Not to mention KwikRink’s world-class synthetic rinks have 90% the glide of real ice. This will give you an incredible advantage come game time. Imagine playing in your own preseason game every single day-what serious athlete wouldn’t want that?

If you are serious about accelerating your talent and skill on the ice, you want a residential synthetic rink. It’s less about your current skill-level and more about your mindset. 

With that in mind, we highly recommend a Kwik Rink rink for those serious about marked improvement only. If that sounds like you or your family member, request a quote here. 

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11
June

Ice Skate on a Hot Tin Roof?  With Synthetic Ice Tiles, You Can!

Posted by KwikRink
Skate on Your Deck, in the Sun

When you think of ice skating, you probably think of a winter landscape scene, a frozen pond or a lake and bundled-up skaters holding hands. Maybe you think about Rockefeller Center or another public plaza that installs an ice rink in winter, or your mind conjures images of a Zamboni coming out to surface the ice at the indoor rink before another figure skater appears or the team comes back out. 

Whatever you’re imagining, when it comes to ice skating, you generally think of cold, and, well, ice. But that image is changing with the advent of synthetic ice.

Synthetic ice tiles are changing what it means to ice skate. No longer does the weather have to be cold enough to freeze water for you to enjoy ice skating.

At KwikRink, synthetic ice is our specialty. We invented a patented formula, and we have installed ice skating rinks in all sorts of fun places for ice skating enthusiasts to enjoy year-round. Check out our gallery to get inspired.

What Are Synthetic Ice Tiles?

synthetic ice tiles

Synthetic ice is made from high-density polyethylene or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and other polymers. Today’s synthetic ice has built-in lubricants to improve glide and reduce friction. Most estimates give synthetic ice 90 percent of the glide factor of natural ice.

Synthetic ice comes in long sheets, consistently sized tiles, or custom-cut pieces, depending on your needs. The pieces interlock together, typically with a dovetail system, creating a synthetic ice rink in just the size you need. 

What Size is Best for a Synthetic Ice Rink?

The size of your installation depends on your available space, budget, and how you will use your rink. If you have a budding ice skater or hockey player, a small synthetic ice installation of under 300 square feet will be perfect. Many garages are 12’ x 22’, which means a garage conversion can give you skater plenty of space to work on fundamentals.

If you need a place to get in a workout or practice, a smaller synthetic ice installation works well. You can work on starts, spins, and turns within this space.

Skating on your blades on synthetic ice is far better than attempting to practice on roller blades, which require a different technique and balance. Getting your time in the skates and building muscles is easily done with a smaller installation.

If you are or have a family member who is a future hockey star, a small installation is perfect for practicing fundamentals. Puck glide on synthetic ice is very similar to natural ice, so you can practice stick-handling and shooting easily. Set up a goal at one end, and also practice face-offs and defense as well as skating stamina.

USA Hockey endorses a small rink approach for mastering fundamentals such as strides, pivots, turns, passing, and shooting.

If you’re looking to put in a commercial synthetic ice rink for many people to use at once or to host team practices or games, you’ll need a larger (more than 300 sq. ft.) installation. Here are some places where you can install synthetic ice.

Some Good Places to Install Synthetic Ice Tiles

Your imagination is the only limit to where you can install synthetic ice. Here are some suggestions:

  • Rooftop — Minneapolis and other cities have a lot of beautiful apartment, condo, and loft buildings, many of which have rooftop decks. Add a synthetic rink for community fun.
  • Basements — Concrete slabs are perfect for synthetic ice tiles.
  • Former warehouses or industrial spaces — Convert vacant retail or industrial spaces into a fun synthetic ice rink.
  • Garages — Take out the boxes and vehicles and use the area for skating practice.
  • Swimming pools — If you drain your pool in winter and have a single-depth, you can cover the pool bottom with synthetic ice for three seasons of alternative fun.
  • Parking lots — Is the area flat and paved? It could be a synthetic ice rink.
  • Gymnasiums — convert the gym into an ice rink, then pick up the tiles and play basketball later.
  • Cafeterias or cafetoriums — does your school have a cafeteria? You can lay down synthetic ice tiles for an ice-skating extravaganza.
  • Practice rooms — athletic facilities that have separate practice rooms or studios can convert one into an ice rink for hockey or figure skating drills.
  • Dance studios — if you have a room used for dance or yoga, it can quickly become an ice rink using synthetic ice tiles.

Type and Size of Synthetic Ice Tiles

Types and sizes of synthetic ice tiles

Synthetic ice tiles come in varying sizes and thicknesses. The kind you need depends on your budget, space, use, and plans to clean them. Thinner tiles are more budget-conscious and won’t last as long as thicker ones. However, you can get a good 3-5 years out of them and grow your rink later with higher quality tiles. 

Budget-friendly tiles are a good choice if you have a new skater and aren’t sure if they will stick with it. Smaller synthetic ice tiles are also lighter weight and easier to install and remove for a multi-purpose space. 

Larger tiles are better for larger installations since they reduce the number of seams you will have across the surface. You can also opt for tongue and groove seam connections instead of the dovetail design, for an even smoother surface that stays cleaner longer.

Thicker tiles are heavier and better for installations that are more or less permanent. They also last up to a decade or more.

Whatever the size of your planned ice rink, there are synthetic ice tiles to suit your needs and your budget.

Contact KwikRink to Get Started

KwikRink Synthetic Ice® is a Maple Grove, MN company. We have installed synthetic ice rinks in many locations in the Twin Cities area, but you can find KwikRink installations in five continents around the world.

As a pioneer in developing synthetic ice, we’ve been in the business since the mid-1990s. We’ve just introduced our fifth generation patented product, which provides unsurpassed glide and reduced drag. 

Fill out our rink configuration form to get started or give us a call at (888) 275-2345 to speak with one of our friendly staff. Soon you’ll have a synthetic ice rink to hone your puck handling skills or help your child develop stronger skating technique. 

 

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26
May

Synthetic Ice Rinks: How do They Work and How Long do they Last?

Posted by KwikRink
Synthetic ice, the new rage

What Are You Skating On?

When you apply pressure to ice, it melts. When you ice skate, the blade of your skate presses against the ice which creates a thin film of water that acts as a lubricant to allow the blade to slide.

While skating, you are really skating on a thin film of water. At Kwik Rink, we’ll recreate that same experience for you using synthetic ice panels. Ask us how.

What is Synthetic Ice?

Synthetic ice, sometimes referred to as artificial ice, is a surface that simulates that of frozen h²o.  Synthetic ice panels have been around for decades, enabling year-round skating but due to a multitude of performance issues, synthetic ice rinks never quite caught on.

Thankfully, we’ve made significant improvements in synthetic ice panel designs that have drastically improved the quality and experience of synthetic ice rinks.

You Need an Even Surface

Most synthetic ice rinks use a puzzle or dovetail system in which ice panels are interlocked horizontally but not vertically. This system can cause a shift in the panels, which causes the ice to be uneven. Puzzle connections are long and can allow dirt and water to enter, creating an uneven surface or shifting panels.

By utilizing a tongue and groove, the ice panels are interlocked both horizontally and vertically. Interlocking the synthetic ice panels this way prevents the panels from shifting in any direction. This connection system creates a smooth, even surface, just like real ice.

Less Friction = Better Skating

Many synthetic ice panels are composed of low-quality materials that cause friction. This friction causes an unsatisfactory skating experience, dulling skates in the process.

A skater’s smooth flow requires there be no friction. Friction makes gliding difficult, requiring more effort, and also makes a skater exert more energy which detracts from the enjoyment of skating. The highest quality materials must be used to create synthetic ice panels to get the best skating experience.

You Want An Authentic Ice Experience

Most companies utilize new technologies to manufacture synthetic ice panels in an attempt to make skating as easy and as pleasant as possible. However, most plastic ice rinks fail to recreate an authentic ice-like feeling on their synthetic surfaces.

You need to look for ice rinks that use the newest high-quality material and create a response identical to that of authentic ice. Only when a skater feels they are truly skating on ice can they reach their highest potential.

No More Shavings and Abrasions

The Synthetic Ice Buyer’s Guide lists shavings and abrasions as one of the top considerations in selecting a synthetic ice panel for purchase. Inferior quality synthetic ice panels cause shavings and abrasions.

These low-quality panels make the ice rink messy, are hard to clean, and leave skaters unhappy. Using self-lubricating panels adds to the quality of the synthetic ice rink.

No Additional Chemicals

No chemicals need to be added to self-lubricating synthetic ice panels to create a smooth surface. However, this alone does not guarantee exceptional performance.

Every aspect of the synthetic rink process from the production of the synthetic ice panels using the highest quality materials, to the mechanism and pattern by which the panels are connected, to the care of the panels themselves, determine a quality synthetic ice rink.

Stop Dulling Your Blades

If you want to stop blades from being dulled from friction, you will need a premium glide technology with enhanced molecular structure. Low-quality plastic ice rinks do not incorporate this technology, which makes skating difficult and miserable.

Synthetic ice rinks that utilize a premium glide technology enhance the skaters’ glide and allow you to have a better grip just like real ice rinks. These are the perfect conditions for you to attain your skating goals.

High-Quality Materials are a Bargain

Buying cheap synthetic ice panels will cost you in the long run. There are many lower priced, synthetic ice panels which are also of lower quality that will not last. Low quality, cheap, synthetic ice panels, get discolored from the sun and changing weather conditions, many even begin to break down and degrade considerably.

Assurance Your Rink Will Last

High-quality synthetic ice panels incorporate UV protection. The manufacturers know high-quality raw materials are vital to ensure the life and usefulness of quality synthetic ice panels.

If you purchase a quality synthetic ice rink, it will provide long-lasting enjoyment. A high-quality synthetic ice rink will be well worth your investment

Accessories Are Important

Using low-quality accessories will ruin a synthetic ice rink. If your skates are sub-par or your dasher-boards are foul, they’re going to impact your rink negatively. If you want to maintain that even, flawless, synthetic ice, the use of high-quality, compatible, durable accessories is essential to your success. Don’t skimp on the accessories!

Synthetic Rinks Are Gaining Popularity

Using synthetic ice panels to create ice rinks is gaining popularity. Synthetic ice panels have some significant advantages over traditional ice rinks. Synthetic ice panels can get used continuously without re-surfacing and gliding on synthetic ice panels is much more consistent than that of real ice.

The glide factor on traditional ice starts at 100% then reduces to approximately 80% after just a few hours of usage, unlike glide-factor of synthetic ice panels on which does not diminish over time.

Synthetic ice panels are more economical than traditional ice. There is no need to replenish water or use electricity for refrigeration. Synthetic ice panels are environmentally friendly.

Skate Anytime You Want

By utilizing synthetic ice panels, you can have that ice rink you’ve always dreamed. You can have the flexibility to practice your sport at any time. You can play ice hockey in the summer and fulfill all of your icy desires.

Let’s Get Skating

Are you in the market for a fantastic, all-year ice rink? If so, Kwik Rink has what you are looking for. At Kwik Rink we’ll provide you the realistic feel of an ice rink in the form of the highest quality synthetic ice panels preferred by professionals and experts. We use only the highest quality materials and employ the newest technology to provide you a fantastic synthetic ice rink experience.

Give us a call at Kwik Rink, and we’ll get you skating right away.

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18
May

Cool Places to Build Synthetic Ice Rinks

Posted by KwikRink
home synthetic ice rink

If you think you need a covered stadium to build an ice skating or hockey rink, think again!  The advent of cool, ice-less synthetic rinks means that you can create a place to skate year-round in all kinds of nifty places, and this includes your very own backyard!

At KwikRink Synthetic Ice,™ we’ve been involved in creating and manufacturing synthetic ice since the mid-1990s. We’ve seen the product grow and get even better for feeling like real ice.

We’ve also been part of some advances to make synthetic ice more flexible and affordable. That means that more people and localities can install synthetic ice rinks and enjoy skating without the high costs of refrigeration and maintaining a real ice rink.

Here are some cool places that you can build a synthetic ice rink. Give us a call if you want to get started on one!

Your Basement

A basement can be the perfect place to transform into a hockey rink. You need a flat surface to install synthetic ice, and basements typically have a concrete slab floor. You can turn unfinished storage space into fabulous rink space for practice and fun.

Have a smaller basement? Turn a portion of it into a practice area for stick-handling and shooting. Set up a goal in the corner and have a short space to dribble, pass, and score — or defend.

Your Driveway

Driveway for an all season ice rink

A synthetic rink can be built up using side-boards and a foundation to make a flat area, kind of like an above-ground pool. If you have available street parking or a long driveway with an extension, you can turn your rectangular area into a home rink for practicing those skating moves.

Your Backyard

If you have room enough in your backyard for a swimming pool, you have room for a rink. You can build a deck from wood or pour a slab if you want something more permanent. Install your synthetic ice rink on top of it.

You could also create benches or other seating areas for spectators and other skaters. Imagine sipping a cold one on a summer’s day and watching your kids play hockey in the backyard. It could happen!

Game Courts

If you have a multi-purpose room at your school, community center, or parks and recreation site, you can turn your game court into a hockey rink by installing synthetic ice. If you need to use the court for many purposes, you can install a synthetic ice rink by snapping the panels together on the floor.

It’s quick and easy and only takes a rubber mallet to get the job done. It’s not a permanent installation, and you can lift the synthetic ice panels and store to convert the gymnasium back into a basketball court or for dodgeball.

If you do want a year-round ice rink solution, you can still use synthetic ice. The installation changes slightly to put in anchor plates to make it a permanent fixture.

You can keep it synthetic ice at all times, for the closest thing to real ice you can find. KwikRink’s synthetic ice has 90% of the friction of actual ice, and skates and pucks behave very similarly.

Synthetic ice means you don’t have to maintain refrigeration of the ice or use a Zamboni to maintain it. A synthetic ice rink can be a cost-effective solution for many rec centers.

If you install a synthetic ice rink but have cold winters where keeping ice frozen is not a problem, you can have your cake and eat it too. In the winter, you can flood a synthetic rink with water and create an actual ice rink on top of it.

When the weather warms, thaw and remove the ice, and your synthetic rink is ready to go with a little mopping.

Garages and Outbuildings

Covered Ice Rink in a Yard

You can easily convert your garage, with its poured concrete floor, into a synthetic ice rink. Our KwikRink synthetic ice is strong enough that you can even park your car on it. That means you don’t have to remove the synthetic ice to use your garage for your car sometimes.

Just remember to back it out when you want to skate and remember that although synthetic ice isn’t as slick as actual ice, it is still slippery. When you walk to or from your car, treat it like real ice to avoid falls!

You can also construct or use a pre-fab shed or outbuilding with a poured or wooden floor to create a synthetic rink. Sheds are low-cost additions, and synthetic ice rinks do not require access to water, plumbing or power, so you can save money and still get your covered rink on your property.

On a Rooftop

You’ve heard of rooftop pools and patios. Why not a rooftop synthetic ice rink? Many condo buildings, apartment buildings, or hybrid towers have large flat roofs that they have turned into community amenities and features. A synthetic ice rink doesn’t create the weight of an actual ice rink, so it doesn’t stress your roof’s structure.

Imagine a multi-purpose rooftop patio with some folks barbecuing in the corner, some others sunbathing, reading, or looking at the views, and still some others playing a pick-up game of hockey.

If you don’t want to have the hockey rink installed all-year-round, synthetic ice comes in panels or tiles that you can put down and pick up again quickly.

Get Started on Your Custom Synthetic Rink

As you can see, you can install a synthetic ice rink almost anywhere! When you’re ready to consider a project that turns underused space in or near your home or business into a fabulous place to play and exercise, give the pros at KwikRink a call or complete our rink configuration form.

We’ve got a bank of ideas for cool places to build synthetic ice rinks and a gallery of completed projects to help spark your imagination.

At KwikRink, we stand by our product and have a customer satisfaction guarantee. Enjoy long-lasting durability and superior performance with a KwikRink synthetic ice rink. Give us a call, and let’s see what we can build for you.

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11
May

Synthetic Ice: What it Is and Why it’s so Cool!

Posted by KwikRink
Outdoor synthetic ice rink

Perhaps you love to ice skate, or you are just a weekend hockey player. Maybe you used to play hockey but couldn’t fit getting down to the rink into your schedule.

Maybe your child wants to take up figure skating or ice hockey, and they need a place to practice. Do you have a secret love for curling, and are preparing for your Olympic debut? Or perhaps your child is already an accomplished skater and is trying to compete at a higher level.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have access to an ice rink close to your home and all-year-round?

That’s not an impossible dream anymore. With advances in technology, you can now install synthetic ice anywhere, indoors or out, in any weather climate. At KwikRink Synthetic Ice®, this is our business.

We can bring a fun, safe, and affordable year-round ice rink to your home, school, or business.

Here are seven reasons why synthetic ice is so cool.

1. You Can Install it Anywhere

Synthetic ice is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) an oil polymer that is slick, similar to ice, that gets extruded into sheets or panels with interlocking edges.

You can install it like puzzle pieces into existing areas and cut it to fit as needed. You can quickly turn your backyard, driveway, or basement into a small rink area to practice, install it over a larger amount of square footage for a half-size or even full-size rink.

2. It Doesn’t Melt

Made with high-density polyethylene, and not water, synthetic ice doesn’t need to stay frozen. You don’t have the excessive cooling costs associated with a traditional ice rink. It’s also self-lubricating, so it remains slippery.

You can keep your basement at average home temperature, and skate without an issue. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the heat of summer, you can get your ice skating practice done with a synthetic ice rink.

If you’re installing your synthetic ice outdoors, you’ll be pleased to know that it is UV coated to protect the surface from damage from the sun. It’s okay if your synthetic ice gets rained on; you’ll want to clean it of any debris before using.

Best of all, you don’t need a Zamboni to maintain it. Just a broom and a mop.

3. You Can Put It Down and Take It Up

synthetic ice tiles

Synthetic ice isn’t a permanent installation. Since it snaps together with edge-locking grooves, you can install it for a while and then pick it up if you need to use the space for another purpose.

Garages make perfect places for home-based synthetic ice rinks since they are large and flat. If you need to host a family reunion or use the space for another purpose, you can lift the synthetic ice panels and store them to use again later.

4. It’s Close to Real Ice But Gives You a Better Workout

High-quality synthetic ice such as KwikRink is made with silicone additives to decrease the friction and get as close in feel to actual ice. Synthetic ice isn’t as slick and frictionless as water-based ice, but it’s quite close, within about 10-15% of the friction of real ice.

That means you have to work a bit harder to propel yourself across the synthetic ice.

Much like trainers attach weights to swimmers’ legs and arms or have runners run through sand and snow, the extra friction of synthetic ice means that if you train on it, you’ll build up additional strength and speed. When you return to actual ice, you’ll be even faster and perform better, thanks to your synthetic ice training.

5. Customizable and Easy to Install

You can order the number of synthetic ice sheets you need to fit the space you are installing them. Synthetic ice comes in various sizes so you can customize it for your unique space. You don’t need to pay for extra materials, only the ones you use.

Since synthetic ice snaps together like puzzle pieces, you don’t need expensive installation equipment or tools to get your customized ice rink. All you need is a rubber mallet to tap the pieces together securely.

You can also order edge guards and add goalie creases, face-off dots, and lines as you prefer.  

6. Long-Lasting and Durable

Made stronger than Ice without the chill

Top quality synthetic ice like KwikRink will last up to 10 years with minimal maintenance. You can practice for countless hours and many years with a single investment. You can even travel with your synthetic ice panels. Load them up in your van and install them on site for an ice-skating party or vacation.

7. Puck and Stick Handling Practice

You don’t need a full-size rink to practice your shooting and stick handling. A 10’ x 10’ area is enough to practice critical skills to up your game. You can practice these skills in your tennis shoes and back yard, but then you’re building muscle memory without your skates, and the puck handling isn’t nearly the same.

When you practice on a synthetic ice installation, you get a very close approximation of how the puck moves across the ice. You can practice passing, cradling, dribbling, and shooting with realistic ice-feel and from the height of your skates, which makes for better transfer of practice skills to the actual rink situations.

Contact KwikRink to Install Synthetic Ice for your Location

Not all synthetic ice is made the same. Lesser quality synthetic ice has a lot more friction and your skates, nor the puck will glide properly. It can also dull your blades and even leave plastic shavings you have to clean up.

Cheaper synthetic ice will only last a few years and not provide the smooth slick ice feel you want. You want the synthetic ice you install to provide the quality, durability, and glide you need.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice is located in Maple Grove, MN, and we are proud to have installed synthetic ice rinks in many locations here at home. You can find KwikRink installations around the world in five continents.

We are a pioneer in developing synthetic ice, and we’ve been in the business since the mid-1990s. We are continually reinventing our product to make it even better, and we’ve just introduced our fifth generation product, which provides unsurpassed glide and reduced drag.

Give us a call at (888) 275-2345 or fill out our rink configuration form to get started. We stand by our product and have a customer satisfaction guarantee.

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21
November

KwikRink Synthetic Ice Holiday Sale!

Posted by KwikRink
residential synthetic ice holiday sale

Expect big savings, as KwikRink is offering a synthetic ice holiday sale! This is currently active, and will continue to be active while supplies last. The biggest savings will be to our residential clients.

We still are the leader in custom synthetic ice rink applications, while offering all commercial accessories to complete your synthetic ice rink. Find out what type of savings to expect, why you should choose KwikRink, and how to get started creating  your own home ice advantage!

Synthetic Ice Holiday Sale

Currently, we are offering a $36 discount per panel on our 3/8″ thick surface, which is what the majority of residential synthetic ice applications use! This attributes to huge savings, and grows as the orders become bigger! We are also offering a $23 discount per panel on our heavy duty 1/2″ thick surface. Get a quote now!

Why KwikRink Synthetic Ice?

Not only are we the Pioneers of the industry – introducing synthetic ice to the hockey market over 20 years ago, but we also provide the best synthetic ice surfaces in the industry. We always strive to make ourselves available to answer questions, and take a very hands-on approach with our clients. There is nothing more that we want than a happy client!

Home Ice Advantage

Now is the time to create your own home ice advantage with KwikRink Synthetic Ice. Find ideas and inspiration for your new home synthetic ice rink by checking out our website gallery and Facebook page.

We have helped thousands of clients design their home synthetic ice rink applications from scratch. This includes all components, like: custom synthetic ice, markings, dasher boards, netting containment, shooting tarps, etc.

As rink design consultants, we make this process as simple and straight forward as possible. Nearly any space with a hard and flat surface can become your own “Home Ice Advantage!”

 

 

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31
October

Can you skate on synthetic ice?

Posted by KwikRink
Toronto Maple Leafs Synthetic Ice by KwikRink

Can you skate on synthetic ice? Although synthetic ice has been around for decades, many people still do not know much about it. Below, we have posted answers to some of the most common synthetic ice questions that we frequently receive.

It can also be hard to find accurate information on the web, as most of it is posted by companies with an agenda. Since 1996, KwikRink Synthetic Ice has been selling premium skating surfaces and are considered the elite experts in the industry.

Can you skate on synthetic ice?

This is a question we get a lot…Can you skate on synthetic ice? Really, can you? Yes, you can, but not all synthetic ice tiles are created equally – Some will skate better than others. Many competing brands sell surfaces that we were selling in the 199o’s…That is old!

We currently manufacture our own synthetic ice formulas in the USA. KwikRink V panels are the best self-lubricating skating surface in the industry.

How long does synthetic ice last?

There are a lot of variables to consider when answering a question like this. Ultimately, the answer to this question will depend on factors like; frequency of use, the intensity of use, number of users, the weight of users.

We sold and installed a KwikRink to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. We expect up to 10 years of lifespan with a team of professional hockey players using the surface intensely every day.

Most commercial training facilities and especially residential rinks can get a lot more life out of their synthetic ice. We have been in business for over 20 years, and have not seen a residential rink wear out.

The only exception is when the synthetic ice is used for goalie training. Goalies do put more wear into the synthetic ice tiles, as they stay mostly in one spot while training.

KwikRink V (3/8″) – 10+ years on average

KwikRink V (1/2″) – 15+ years on average

Will Synthetic Ice Ruin my Skates?

No, synthetic ice will not “ruin” your skates. Most of our clients will use their primary pair of ice skates when skating. Again, all synthetic ice tiles are not created equally. Some will dull your blades faster than others.

Some of the hardest surfaces will dull the blades very fast, so it is important to find a synthetic ice surface that has the proper hardness balance. While skating on KwikRink, you can expect your blades to dull at about the same rate as if you were skating on an outdoor pond on a cold day – a huge improvement over competing brands.

Can I do a Hockey Stop on Synthetic Ice?

Yes, hockey stops are possible on synthetic ice. All skating maneuvers on KwikRink V synthetic ice tiles, such as; backward skating, transitioning, and hockey stops, are 100% natural movements when compared to real ice.

What type of maintenance is required for my synthetic ice rink?

The simple rule of thumb for any synthetic ice rink – The cleaner it is, the faster it will skate. Dirt and debris create extra friction between the skate blade and synthetic ice tiles. Make sure to sweep and mop your rink, as needed. If outside, using a pressure washer works very well to clean rinks that show signs of neglect.

Can I wear shoes on synthetic ice?

Yes, you can wear shoes on synthetic ice. We always recommend keeping a clean pair of gym shoes to use when not wearing skates.

This will help keep the surface clean and performing at its best. The synthetic ice tiles are designed to be slippery to the skate blade but are not as slick on the shoe. That being said, you are purchasing the rink for ice skating, which is what its intended use is. Synthetic ice will not be an ideal surface for intense running and jump-cuts.

 

 

 

 

 

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19
September

Synthetic Ice Panels – 4 Reasons Why Bigger Is Better

Posted by KwikRink
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What is the ideal size for synthetic ice panels? As the saying goes, “the bigger, the better” in most cases. “Bigger” panels certainly have the disadvantage of being less convenient than smaller panels when it comes to shipping and receiving.

From a purely functional standpoint, however, a bigger-sized panel tends to be a much better choice for your synthetic ice rink installation for several reasons.

At KwikRink Synthetic Ice, our default panel is a whopping 8′ x 4′ size, about the same size as a full sheet of plywood. Many other companies sell panels as small as 1.5′ x 1.5′!

These tiles are great for shipping, but the advantages stop there. If you’re looking for the most authentic ice skating experience, you’ll get it from installing larger panels of synthetic ice. 

Let’s take a look at 4 reasons why bigger synthetic ice tiles are the way to go.

1. Larger synthetic ice panels make for less seams in the surface.

While smaller panels are easier to move around, they also will have substantially more seams when the panels are connected. In our example above, comparing a KwikRink 4’x8’ panel with the 18” x 18” tiles, you would have approximately 11 seams from the smaller tiles inside one seamless KwikRink panel.

These seams simply leave a lot more opportunity for things to go wrong in a synthetic ice rink. Seams can bulge, lead to cracks, or catch dirt and debris. If a seam pops up, even very slightly, from variation in the floor surface or expansion due to temperature changes, you can catch the edge of your skate on the lip.

2. Larger synthetic ice panels provide more forgiveness when a substrate is flawed.

Most sub-floors are not perfect. The smaller the synthetic ice tiles are, the less “forgiveness” they provide in a flawed substrate. Aside from the extra seams, the smaller size leaves the panels much more likely to have seams that lip up. This protruding edge is a problem that can stop pucks and trip skaters.

It’s easier for a smaller panel to lift up or buckle, too. The weight of larger panels keeps them more stable and stationary. In short, larger size synthetic ice panels are able to cover up substrate flaws much better than smaller panels. 

You also need to think about the synthetic ice panels shrinking and swelling some due to temperature changes. When that occurs, seams, in particular, are vulnerable to cracking.

Some tiles snap together with a dovetail design, and cracks that break off one of the tabs means that you’ll need to replace a panel. Tongue-and-groove designs are also vulnerable to cracking from an uneven surface or fluctuating temperatures.

3. Larger synthetic ice panels allow for a quicker installation.

This one is a bit obvious, but having to connect fewer panels makes doing a synthetic ice installation much faster. These larger-sized panels will not be as easy to move around as the smaller ones, but connecting one KwikRink synthetic ice panel to another is comparable to connecting up to 16 smaller panels from a different supplier.

Fewer connections mean less time to install and less opportunity for error or breakage. At KwikRink, we can even create custom-sized panels for the odd edges and irregularities for your surface and dimensions.

4. Larger synthetic ice panels offer the best bang for your buck.

Bigger synthetic ice panels will provide the best value for your money. Most competing brands that offer smaller panels do so to improve shipping and convenience of mobility for the consumer.

Although these aren’t bad reasons, consumers are left with even less panel for their dollar due to the desire to cut overhead costs and meet various shipping restrictions. This is also why you often will see “Free Shipping” for the smaller panels. It is not really free, but built into the cost, as they are vastly overpriced for what is received. 

In contrast, larger synthetic ice tiles are thicker and more durable. Their weight is an asset when it comes to rink stability. Larger tiles aren’t going to bounce or flex from the weight of skaters upon them. The additional thickness means they will last.

Check the warranty any synthetic ice panels you’re considering, as well as they approximate years of useful life. Super synthetic ice in larger panels from KwikRink has a 10-year warranty. Other smaller tiles often have a 3-5 year lifespan and warranties for a fraction of that.

Larger panels install securely and stay put, which lowers your maintenance costs. Your ice rink will be the closest to real ice that it can be when you minimize seams, create a smooth surface, and replicate the weight and thickness of actual ice’s feel.

Don’t compromise on the function of a rink and pleasure of skating by installing smaller, thinner tiles. In the long run, whatever initial savings you may have celebrated will vanish with cleaning, repair, and replacement costs.

 

BONUS REASON TO USE LARGER SYNTHETIC ICE SHEETS

Puck glide. Skate glide. Performance. Durability. Cleaner, smoother surface. Okay, that was six reasons. The fewer seams a puck or a skate has to glide over, the lower the amount of friction and the better glide. Better glide means closer to the real thing: natural ice, which is seamless.

Bottom line: a synthetic rink will look, feel, perform, and last better if you use larger, more stable, better manufactured synthetic ice sheets. 

Let’s face it. When you spring for a synthetic ice rink, your goal is to get the feel of natural ice as much as possible. Especially if you are doing a regulation rink-size or more than 300 sq. ft. installation, you’ll be glad you opted for larger panels instead of hundreds of small tiles.

When it comes to synthetic ice panels, bigger is better. Contact our installers at KwikRink with the measurements of your rink space. We’ll help you lay down a rink quickly with as few total panels as possible.

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29
August

Best Synthetic Ice – What is it?

Posted by KwikRink
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What is the best synthetic ice? Really…what is it? The market is flooded with options for synthetic ice. Its a tough world for consumers, as you are generally needing to make a costly investment in a surface before trying it out. The below points outline some of the things to look for in a synthetic ice product.

Glide

This is the starting point, as there are a lot of synthetic ice surfaces out there that put a black eye on the whole industry. There are still companies selling similar synthetic ice surfaces that we were selling in the mid 1990’s!

All of these will need a lubricant spray to achieve any glide. Many companies are currently selling “self-lubricating” surfaces. These are surfaces that achieve glide without any lubricant aids.

This is where it gets tricky…to what degree is the glide comparable to actual ice? Even within the “self-lubricating” category, there will be a vast array of how the glide performs. Synthetic ice is generally made with a resin and a “slip agent”.

The slip agent is what makes the synthetic ice glide. The biggest difference in glide among competing companies will be what specific slip agent is used, and how much of it is used.

Cheaper synthetic ice brands tend to use less effective slip agents, or use it at a much lower percentage than the best synthetic ice surfaces. The glide will be much stickier, and may even require a lubricant spray to achieve its true desired effect (many cheap brands won’t tell you that ahead of time).

Generally speaking, with an increase in the proper slip agent, comes an increase in the glide (resin dependent). This also will cause an increase in price, as it is more costly to manufacture. The best synthetic ice has a glide in excess of 90% when compared to real ice.

Hardness Balance

The hardness of the synthetic ice surface is imperative for durability and a natural feel. Many cheap surfaces are much too soft or too hard. These products tend to use a cheaper resin, which softens the surface.

Or they use little-to-no slip agent, which hardens the surface (slip agents tend to soften synthetic ice). Durability or performance for these synthetic ice surfaces will be dramatically affected in a negative manner.

Skating on soft surfaces feels similar to real ice that is too soft. You will dig into the ice and feel like you are skating on a train track. This also adds friction and slows down the glide.

On the other hand, surfaces can be much too hard and dull the blades very fast. These tend to be seen in older surfaces, and surfaces with no slip agent added to the resin. We often refer to these synthetic ice surfaces as, “dead cutting boards”.

Achieving the right balance of hardness in synthetic ice leads to natural ice-like skating surfaces, that are not too hard or too soft on the blades. The best synthetic ice has the perfect hardness balance.

Seamless Connection

There are two main ways that synthetic ice panels are connected. These two methods are known as the “tongue and groove” and “dovetail” connections.

The tongue and groove connection came first. In fact, this is how we connected our panels back in the late ’90’s. This connection is a lot more work for the end user and makes it very difficult to install and take apart.

This connection can also pose problems in larger spaces, as panels like to pull away from one another and don’t want to connect.

The dovetail connection is what we currently are using. This connection allows for fast and easy installation/tear down. The key to the KwikRink Lock-Rink Dovetail assembly is that the male and female joints have a slight overbite for a snug fit.

With proper subflooring, this connection is seamless and will not trip skaters or stop pucks. The best synthetic ice surfaces are seamless!

Best Synthetic Ice

  1. The best synthetic ice surfaces have glide in excess of 90%  when compared to real ice
  2. The best synthetic ice surfaces have a natural ice-like feel – not too hard or soft
  3. The best synthetic ice surfaces have a seamless connection

Searching for the best synthetic ice in today’s market can leave the average consumer with a headache. At KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we invest heavily in R&D, and have been manufacturing our own surfaces for 20 years. It would be much easier for us to purchase pre-made synthetic ice surfaces like most of our competitors, and resell them under our own name. Manufacturing our own synthetic ice allows us to make the best synthetic ice!

 

 

 

 

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25
July

Synthetic Ice Underlay – Is it Necessary?

Posted by KwikRink
types of synthetic ice underlays

Is an underlay for my new synthetic ice rink necessary? Well, this depends on a lot of variables. It is very important that the synthetic ice panels be laid on top of a hard and flat surface. In this article, we will dive into three categories that all sub-floors fall into when it comes to the necessity of having a synthetic ice underlay; no underlay, simple underlay, and advanced underlay.

No Synthetic Ice Underlay

When no underlay is needed for a synthetic ice rink, it tends to be in an inside space with a very flat and hard sub-floor. We also see this outside on sport courts that were done correctly by the contractor. These are any floors with no flaws.

  • Indoor rooms/basements
  • Sport courts
  • Tennis courts
  • Leveled decks

Simple Synthetic Ice Underlay

A “simple underlay” is needed when the sub-floor has some flaws, but is mostly hard and flat. Undulation in the sub-floor is the biggest reason for a simple underlay – most of these surfaces are still hard (concrete,asphalt, wood, etc.). This can require something as simple as using 3/4″ OSB tongue and groove plywood. The plywood is very flat, and will provide extra forgiveness in a flawed sub-floor. Rubber matting can also be used as an underlay for your synthetic ice panels in these type of scenarios.

    • driveways
    • parking lots
    • streets
    • on pavers

Advanced Synthetic Ice Underlay

An advanced synthetic ice underlay is necessary when hardness of the sub-floor is not up to par and/or the sub-floor is very un-level. These tend to be a little more work, as these have the worst sub-floors to place synthetic ice panels on. The best ways to remedy this is to pour a concrete slab (like a sport court) or build a raised wooden deck. The deck platform does not have to be very high off of the ground, but does need to be made level.

  • grassy areas
  • some parking lots
  • turf
  • carpet

Synthetic ice rinks are possible anywhere with the right sub-floor. It is important to assess to which degree a synthetic ice underlay is necessary for optimal performance of the skating surface. Often times, no underlay is needed at all. Don’t fall for these added costs from other suppliers…We will help you determine the best underlay treatment for your synthetic ice rink!

 

 

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14
June

Synthetic Ice Rent with Option to Buy Program

Posted by KwikRink
Synthetic Ice Rent with Option to Buy Program

At KwikRink, we understand that any transaction for a synthetic ice application is quite the investment and should not be taken lightly. This is why we offer our clients the “Synthetic Ice Rent with Option to Buy Program”. This program entails all brand new materials shipped to the end user on a monthly rental program. When that time has completed, the synthetic ice can be returned or purchased at the remaining balance of the cost to own.

Our program offers turnkey solutions for communities and businesses interested in a synthetic ice skating rink. The rental period acts as a trial, so there is no long-term commitment that needs to be made upfront.

Who/What does this Synthetic Ice Rental Program benefit?

  • Holiday celebrations
  • Annual festivals
  • City parks
  • Schools
  • Churches
  • Shopping centers
  • Company parties
  • Private celebrations

The “Synthetic Ice Rent with Option to Buy Program” offers a unique experience for attendees and at an affordable price for the individual/company/community that is holding the event. When you compare the cost to support real ice, synthetic ice rentals are a fraction of the cost – no electricity or water needed. These synthetic ice rinks can hold up in any climate, which often brings an awe factor in any location where outdoor ice is unsustainable.

What does this Synthetic Ice Rental Program offer?

  • Custom-sized synthetic ice rink tailored to your needs
  • Decorative fencing
  • Rental skates
  • Skate sharpeners
  • Rubber matting
  • On-site supervision and installation

KwikRink is your one-stop-shop for all items needed to make your event a success. All materials are quoted in an itemized fashion, as you may pick and choose what products are needed for your specific application.

We will work with you before, during, and after the initial process to ensure the rental period and potential purchase are a big success. These types of applications have drawn rave reviews from our past clients. The most important aspect when it comes to setting up events with synthetic ice applications is to bring people together for a fun time!

Get started with a quote today!

 

 

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16
May

Installing a Synthetic Ice Rink with On-Site Obstacles

Posted by KwikRink
Residential synthetic ice rink with obstacles

Are support beams or other obstacles stopping you from adding synthetic ice to your home or commercial space? it shouldn’t! We work with several clients that are hesitant to add synthetic ice due to support beams, “jut-outs”, or odd shaped exterior dimensions, in their potential space. At KwikRink, we have the capabilities to custom cut your synthetic ice rink to exact specifications. As a wise man once said, there is always a way! Often times, we find that these obstacles work as training aids, creating better hands and agility.

Support Beams

With proper on-site dimensions, we can have our expert programmers devise a CAD tailored to your space. When working with support beams, it helps to work off of two adjacent walls to nail down exactly where the support pole(s) line up. The goal is to always have the supports lineup on the seam of the synthetic ice panels. This allows the client to make a nice and neat cut around the support pole, without wasting excess material.

Spaces with “jut-outs”

In any scenario where a room has portions that “jut-out”, have no fear, as there are easy ways to work around these obstacles, as well. Any small obstacle like this is best dealt with on-site for the tidiest cut possible. If necessary, we will also line this up on a seam of two connecting panels, but often times we do not need to do this. We recommend using a skilsaw with a 24 tooth blade for cutting around the obstacle. The synthetic ice will cut like butter – no problem!

Odd Shaped Rooms (Exterior)

This has been discussed in other blog posts, and you can click here for more information. When filling a hard room in wall-to-wall, it is quite rare to find that some amount of customization is not needed. Our machines are very precise and can save you a lot of money in a custom space. We can send you your rink with precision cuts to the exact specifications of your room. All you will need to do is simply connect the panels, like a giant puzzle! Most home synthetic ice rinks can be installed in 20-30 minutes depending upon the amount of on-site cutting involved.

Don’t let on-site obstacles stop you from your dream synthetic ice space. These types of obstacles are common, and can potentially be seen as a plus rather than a negative!

 

 

 

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24
April

Synthetic Ice Earns A Place In NHL Training Regimens

Posted by KwikRink
Toronto Maple Leafs Synthetic Ice by KwikRink

Attempts to imitate the glorious gliding of a frozen ice rink have been around for a long time.

In June 1844, the Glaciarium opened in London, after a couple of smaller rinks concocted by inventor Henry Kirk convinced investors a bigger venture was commercially viable.

It wasn’t, as the public never quite adjusted to the smell of the “ice” — a mixture of salts, sulfate of copper, and lard — and the Glaciarium closed within the year. Luckily, artificial ice has come a long way since those early beginnings, and you no longer need to wear a mask over your nose to enjoy a skate.

The first true synthetic ice surfaces — formed from a plastic known as polyoxymethylene — arrived in the 1960s. But, with rough, draggy surfaces that required skates to be re-sharpened in less time than it takes to play an NHL period, they were slow to catch on.

You also couldn’t skate across the plastic polymer without applying silicone on top. As you might expect, the oily compound on top of the surface was a magnet for dirt and grime. 

The origins of modern synthetic ice aren’t pretty, but they paved the way for today’s self-lubricating and non-smelly product that reproduces roughly 90% of natural ice feel.

Things are different now.

There are a variety of products on the market, some claiming a coefficient of friction roughly the same as real ice, while others claim no reliable scientific comparison exists. But inarguably, synthetic ice is gaining wider acceptance as a tool for NHL players — as well as amateur skaters of every stripe — to augment their time on a frozen pond.

Many NHL clubs, as well as semi-pro and amateur leagues, use synthetic ice rinks for practice these days while regulation games are still played on natural ice, that used to be the case for grass football fields as well. 

Time was that only natural grass was used in professional games and stadiums, or championships like the Super Bowl. Then, artificial turf got better and better, coming closer to the performance of real grass and outperforming it in others. Now, 32 NFL teams play their games on artificial turf. 

NHL hockey may not be far behind as synthetic ice continues to advance in glide, performance, and durability. A top-of-the-line KwikRink Synthetic Ice ® rink installation is much less expensive than installing and maintaining a natural ice rink.

The cooling costs to keep the rink at the proper temperature and humidity are very high for a natural ice installation, leading more clubs to use synthetic ice as much as they can. In the NHL now, synthetic ice is a reality.

Puck-Friendly Playability

Unlike most rink alternatives, synthetic ice allows the use of a real puck. Thus, many around the NHL have embraced such surfaces as an economical way to extend opportunities to shoot and handle the puck.

Heading into the 2017-18 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs installed a synthetic pad at their training center — a shooting range next to their main rink displayed as a 60-foot zone from the blue line (pictured above).

Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, who this year became the youngest Lightning player ever to score 100 points in a season, works on his shot on a synthetic pad in his two-car garage — 20 minutes per session, twice a day during the offseason.

Many other current and former NHL players have installed synthetic ice for personal use as well. Garages, basements, driveways, and decks can all become practice rinks to keep specific key skills up to par, and it’s not just for the pros.

Training’s Friendly Faux

Most of us, when we can’t afford or access ice time, have limited training options: a slide board, roller blades, maybe a nice tile floor and a portable net. But there’s no real puck, no ice skates,  and no opportunity to work on many of the skills you’ll need on the ice.

When you train, you build muscle memory, so you want your muscles to learn the way the skill feels under the conditions you will use it. Practicing shooting in your tennis shoes or even on roller blades isn’t the same as putting on your skates and working with the glide and friction of ice.

Synthetic ice affords the opportunity to practice shooting, stick-handling and skating on a surface that closely mimics a real rink. Some of the training benefits of synthetic ice include:

  1. It’s easier than ice. With synthetic ice, there’s no refrigeration and no climate control necessary to maintain a surface that can be installed in virtually any indoor setting from a basement to a garage to a warehouse. And a vacuum is a lot cheaper than a Zamboni.
  2. It’s harder than ice. You see runners doing sprint training harnessed to parachutes. Baseball players swing weighted bats. Pro hockey players know one of the great benefits to synthetic ice workouts is that the material isn’t quite as smooth as the real thing — it takes more effort to get where you want to go. It’s a subtle boost to your workout that will make you feel that much faster when you hit the ice.
  3. It’s cheaper than ice. Especially in warm-weather months and climates, real ice is hard to find, and time on it can get expensive. Synthetic ice is one way to clear the cost and availability hurdles, and can even be installed on a smooth outdoor surface.

Melting Apprehension

You won’t have to worry about rising temperatures, melting ice, or unsafe surfaces when you use synthetic. You also don’t have uneven spots or dips from different temperature levels.

When it comes to skating surfaces, it might not be ice — but synthetic products are still pretty cool. At least, that’s the take the Florida Panthers came away with when hosting the first hockey clinic in Barbados during the summer of 2017.

On a 60-foot-by-35-foot synthetic surface, locals showed some impressive skills.

“It’s a little bit different skating on,” defenseman Alex Petrovic said. “But some of the kids that come here regularly are actually really good at skating on it.”

Pay attention to the kind of synthetic ice you plan to install. There are varying levels of quality, durability, and glide. Thinner panels are less expensive, but wear out much more quickly. Inferior polymers lead to higher friction and resistance and less ice-like feel. Smaller tiles instead of larger panels lead to additional seams that can trap dirt.

KwikRink has helped install synthetic ice rinks for NHL teams and players for years. We’ve also helped private citizens convert a garage into a practice rink and communities that have never had access to ice skating learn the fun and sport. 

With synthetic ice from KwikRink, more people around the globe can become skaters. Maybe the next Stanley Cup MVP will be from Barbados, and he learned to skate on synthetic ice.

Which is really the point, isn’t it? Synthetic ice can help create better skaters — and shooters, and stick-handlers — anywhere by reproducing the playability characteristics of ice at a fraction of the cost.

 

Author bio: AJ Lee is Marketing Coordinator for Pro Stock Hockey, an online hockey store that offers pro stock hockey equipment. He was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, and has been a huge Blackhawks fan his entire life. AJ picked up his first hockey stick at age 3, and hasn’t put it down yet.

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30
March

Synthetic Ice “Panel Loss” vs Exact Customization

Posted by KwikRink

Synthetic Ice Layout

Synthetic ice layouts are extremely important, as each client has different needs. We will touch on “panel loss” vs exact customization in this article post. Regardless if you digest the below information or not, KwikRink Synthetic Ice is here to determine the best route for the client with their goals and budget in mind.

KwikRink’s standard synthetic ice sheet has exterior dimensions of 95″ x 48″ (#1 cut), typically yielding 94″ x 47″. This is by design, so that the panels can be connected every which way. Because they are so close to 8′ x 4′, we go by these increments for simplicity, and many of the quote inquiries we get, also follow this guideline. The dovetail pattern is 1″ deep, and when connected, this causes the loss of 1″ every 4′ of connection. This is called “Panel Loss” or “PL” for short. If i am losing you here, it will be simplified below…

Examples using all #1 cuts:

40′ x 20′ PL = 39’3″ x 19’8″ (25 Panels)

32′ x 16′ PL = 31’5″ x 15’9″ (16 Panels)

24′ x 12′ PL = 23’7 x 11’10” (9 Panels)

Why #1 cuts? 

Using the default cut panels is the best bang for your buck when it comes to choosing a synthetic ice rink layout. You will have no charges for custom cutting, no excess scrap, and be able to rotate all panels in your synthetic ice rink to expand the lifespan. Anything that is custom cut is often locked into that specific spot on the rink. #1 cuts can be used for synthetic ice rinks that do not need to fill in an exact space (think wall to wall – inside). Outdoor rinks and open areas work the best.

When is Custom cutting is needed?

For commercial or residential synthetic ice rinks that need EXACT dimensions, often times custom cutting is required, as the #1 cuts natural dimensions will not get you there. KwikRink specializes in custom cut synthetic ice solutions. It is also necessary with custom markings (lines, creases, circles, dots, etc).

When we say Exact, what do we mean?

We truly mean exact. If your space is 24’6 1/2″ x 15’3 1/4″, KwikRink can do it with world-class precision machining. Often times, residential basements that are interested in adding synthetic ice for home training have pole supports to work around in the area. We can design a layout with custom cut panels, so that the seams of a panel line up at the pole. This allows for the easiest cut around the pole.

In conclusion…

When it is not necessary to have exact dimensions, “panel loss” is the way to go. This will get you to 8′ x 4′ multiples minus a few inches each way, depending upon how big the rink is. Exact is they way to go when…well you need exact dimensions to fit into a hard space. Get your quote today!

 

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03
February

Super Bowl LII Synthetic Ice Rink Installation (Photos)

Posted by KwikRink

The temperature was hovering in the teens all day, but it could have been much worse on a late January day in Minnesota. The installation took place on January 28th and was completed in approximately 12 hours. This is one of the most complex jobs that we have done and certainly is one to be proud of.

Ice Rink

The synthetic ice surface was to be cut around the Medtronic “Horn” sculpture. This is not your standard synthetic ice rink installation. When dealing with a very abstract project like this, it is important to be able to ad-lib as you go. There is no blueprint for this type of installation.

Ice Rink

The flooring/substrate around the sculpture was very unlevel with a lot of undulation. This can pose problems for the seams on any synthetic ice surface. We were forced to individually shim each panel as it was laid down. If this rink were to be permanently placed here, an underlay substrate may have been necessary.                                                                                                                          
Ice Rink

Once the installation got towards the arms of the Medtronic Sculpture, the project slowed down a bit. It was important to make precise cuts around these arms. Skaters will be skating through this sculpture during pregame Super Bowl LII festivities – open to ticket-holders only.

Ice Rink

As we close in on our 11th straight hour on the job, we see the end in sight. Day turns to night, and the Medtronic Sculpture lights up creating a beautiful visual of the rink right in front of U.S. Bank Stadium.

Ice Rink

A clean look at the finished synthetic ice installation. This is game-day ready as soon as the perimeter fencing is installed. Freestyle skaters and figure skaters will be providing some eye candy for those walking into the big game!

 

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26
January

PRESS RELEASE: Synthetic Ice Rink At U.S. Bank Stadium For Super Bowl

Posted by KwikRink
Kwik-Rink-Super-Bowl-LII-Synthetic-Fake-Ice.png

Contacts: Don Mason: 612-483-3020; Brett Mason: 612-387-1288

Synthetic Ice Rink At U.S. Bank Stadium For Super Bowl
Minnesota-Based Company Constructing Skating Rink on Plaza at U.S. Bank Stadium

What Is Synthetic Ice:
The KwikRink Synthetic Ice provides skaters about 95% of the speed of a natural ice surface. It can be installed virtually anywhere, in any climate and temperature.

When Is The Rink Being Constructed:
Installation will take place on Sunday, January 28 starting at 8 a.m.

Where Is The Synthetic Ice Rink Being Constructed:
At U.S. Bank Stadium at the Medtronic Plaza, right outside of the Legacy gates. The rink will be intertwined with the Medtronic “horn” sculpture.

Why Is The Rink Being Constructed:
Minnesota is proud of it’s skating heritage, with more than 200 indoor ice facilities and thousands of natural ice rinks at parks and frozen ponds that are used all winter for ice sports. The KwikRink Synthetic Ice will capture the spirit of this history and feature skaters on the surface only for ticket holders to enjoy, only on February 4 from noon until game time.

Who Is KwikRink:
KwikRink is a Maple Grove, Minnesota-based company founded, owned and operated by Don Mason. KwikRink synthetic ice surfaces can be found around the world in private homes of athletes and celebrities, training facilities, ice shows, five-star resorts, garages, backyards and even on the beach! For more information, pictures, and videos, log on to www.kwikrinksyntheticice.com.

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02
May

Spotlight: Gentry Academy Installation

Posted by KwikRink
Ice Rink

In Vadnais Heights (MN), you can find a brand new hockey school called Gentry Academy. The beautiful building that houses this school just completed in March. The Gentry Academy Galaxy are a sanctioned Tier 1 hockey program.

The training area is in the basement and will have a fully equipped surrounding workout area. The synthetic ice portion covers a roughly 35′ x 30′ area using KwikRink V synthetic ice. There is one NHL goal crease in the surface to accommodate goalie training.

The area will be available for students to practice for fun during downtime. There will also be formal training sessions with experienced instructors to supplement on-ice training. Gentry Academy has it all!

 

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30
January

KwikRink V: Luxury Synthetic Ice

Posted by KwikRink
SYNTHETIC ICE

KwikRink V is ferociously changing how people view synthetic ice as an alternative training tool to ice. The surface has only been officially released for 2 months, but several panels have made their way into residential homes of hockey moms and dads, as well as some current and former NHL players and teams (more to come on this).

This new surface is hitting the highest performance levels in the industry, and is considered to be 95% the speed of real ice. The breakthrough in this surface compared to other fully lubricated panels is that the “slip agent” does not migrate out. It is dry and not injected. Some competitor brands will skate great until its injected oils run dry, making the surface skate similar to synthetic ice that was sold in the mid 90’s. Our products are manufactured in the USA with our dedicated team of chemists, which allows us greater attention to detail. The majority of what you find on today’s market is bought from China and resold.

This new state-of-the-art surface is as close to ice as you can find on today’s market.

“KwikRink V is easy to install and maintain. It feels as close to ice as any alternative I’ve skated on. Transitions and stops are close to the real thing, thus great for edge technique, stick handling with movement as well as shooting.   My whole family uses the sheet – I love this stuff.”

– Nick W, MN

“KwikRink Gen 5 surface skates like real ice and the puck slides around as if it where on real ice. My son is a goalie, and does a little goalie work on it , but he usually skates and shoots on it , and he can do everything from skating backwards to hockey stops.”

– Scott S, IL

As a manufacturer in an industry that only has a handful, we are proud to say that our products are unique from all other brands on the market. No other company sells the same surfaces that we do.

 

 

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30
December

Failproof New Years Resolution

Posted by KwikRink
Customized Indoor Synthetic Ice Hockey Rink

Every 365 days a new year comes around. Each year we hear about so many resolutions in an attempt to create a better year than the following year. Some people are successful, and many are not. We live busy lives, and sometimes our resolutions fade away come February.

We don’t generally think of kids having resolutions within their mostly carefree lives. Some parents that we work with unknowingly make these resolutions for their kids. The holiday season is a hot time of the year for us, as it is for many businesses. We have created home ice advantages for countless families this holiday season.

With the main premise of creating healthy-fun exercise for their kids, KwikRink delivers without hesitation. In a world with TV binge-watching, video games, and social media, we often find that our children are not being as active as they should be. Jim from Michigan says, “After purchasing the KwikRink surface for my basement, I can’t get my kid or his friends off the stuff.” Sometimes, it is a battle to get him off of the ice for dinner, but it sure beats video games!”

The other obvious benefit to the KwikRink surface is that it allows unlimited ice time, and ice time can be scarce in certain areas of the world. Being able to skate as you please will certainly make for a better hockey player in 2017 and beyond.

If you make any resolutions for your kids this year, make sure that it is to create a year filled with activity disguised as fun. Have fun and improve your game with KwikRink synthetic ice premium ice surfaces!

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17
November

KwikRink V Synthetic Ice: Changing an Industry

Posted by KwikRink
SYNTHETIC ICE Rink

KwikRink has officially released its 5th generation formula. We call our latest formula, KwikRink V (KwikRink 5). This new formula has a dry slip agent throughout the panel, and requires no topical sprays or liquids. KwikRink V will change the perceptions of current industry limitations. The most common consumer complaints in the industry have to do with; surface glide, backwards skating and transitioning, and oily panels.

Surface Glide

One of the most common complaints about synthetic ice is that it doesn’t glide anything like real ice. You can YouTube countless videos of people skating on “synthetic ice”, but it looks more like they are walking with skates on. KwikRink V has a surface glide of up to 50 plus feet with just one stride. Check out the video here.

Backwards Skating and Transitioning

The next most common issue regarding synthetic ice has to do with backwards skating and transitioning. These skills have had a very unnatural feel across the industry, and are entirely impossible on some of the surfaces out there – until now. Again, if you aren’t buying it – check out the video here. KwikRink V is the closest synthetic surface to ice, made to date.

Oily Panels

There are other fully/self lubricated panels on today’s market. These panels do not require any type of topical spray. The problem with the majority of these panels is that the slip agent will migrate out over time, rendering the surface a dead cutting board within a few years. This leaves you with an oily surface that eventually turns into a useless piece of plastic. KwikRink V’s slip agent is completely dry and will not migrate outside of the panel.

KwikRink is proud to be one of the few manufacturers of synthetic ice in the entire world. This allows us infinite quality control over our surfaces. Many companies selling synthetic ice purchase cheaply made plastic from China for resale. We brought this product to the hockey market over 20 years ago. We know hockey. We know synthetic ice. The best comes from the pioneers of the industry.

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31
October

KwikRink Synthetic Ice in Association Hockey

Posted by KwikRink
Synthetic Ice

Synthetic ice from KwikRink is becoming an increasingly popular tool to supplement off-ice training in youth hockey associations. Many associations struggle to find adequate ice time in their local community to support youth hockey development. Both traditional and non traditional hockey areas are finding it increasingly difficult to supply the growing demand for ice time. This makes ice time very expensive, and also makes youth teams practice very late at night, or very early in the morning. In many areas, hockey moms and dads have to drive countless miles just to get their child to the ice rink. Many of these hockey associations are turning to KwikRink commercial synthetic ice to help remedy this problem.

Woodbury Area Hockey Club (WAHC) is a youth hockey association located in the eastern part of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Woodbury has a large hockey association and only so many rinks to go around. They recently purchased the rights to Harding Ice Arena in St. Paul, MN. Harding was an arena that was no longer in use, and WAHC saw this as an opportunity to create ice time that was so desperately needed. Woodbury wanted to use as much of the building as possible for training, not just the one sheet of ice that the building already has. In a spacious 70′ x 30′ area upstairs next to the ice sheet, WAHC installed a beautiful training area consisting of; 4 shooting lanes, 1 goalie training lane, and 2 stick handling zones. (pictured above). KwikRink works closely with the purchaser to help design the optimal layouts for an alloted space.

Supplementing KwikRink synthetic ice is an inexpensive and convenient way to create more ice time for youth hockey players. The sport of hockey has been growing every single year. We have seen 100,000 more members to USA hockey in the past 10 years alone. Demand for ice time will continue to increase, and the current construction of ice rinks is unable to adequately supply what is needed. Supplement with KwikRink synthetic ice surfaces and #DontSuckAtHockey!

 

 

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07
October

Winter Wonderland Rinks

Posted by KwikRink
Winter Wonderland Rinks

The holiday season is just around the corner, and people across the world are gearing up for some special times spent with family and friends. Many of us in colder climates associate these times with snow and ice skating. As climates change, supporting outdoor ice even in these colder climates has been a challenge, to say the least. We have worked with several communities and event planning companies across the world to bring holiday themed pleasure skating rinks for the locals to enjoy. KwikRink synthetic ice does not need cold weather to support its magic, which makes it a hit in warm climates and assures stable skating conditions in colder climates that have had unreliable weather to support good ice.

KwikRink Lock-Rink dovetail pattern allows the panels to be installed and torn apart very easily – like a puzzle. The high performing synthetic ice is a fraction of the cost of refrigerating real ice. It also is much lower maintenance compared to manufacturing real ice with an expensive refrigerated system. These convenient qualities make KwikRink the perfect surface for such events.

Some of the coolest seasonal rinks are done in the most nontraditional climates. Imagine ice skating outside in Bermuda with someone special. The Planning Factory – Bermuda has worked with us to make this a reality. This rink is currently being added onto – pictures to come soon! Pleasure rinks are simply about bringing people together! See below pictures for more seasonal rinks!

Winter Wonderland – Rockford, IL

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This Winter Wonderland pleasure skating rink shows the versatility of KwikRink synthetic ice panels. President, Don Mason, designed this layout himself.

Target Corporate Headquarters – Minneapolis, MN 

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Target setup synthetic ice for employees to blow off some steam during the winter months, and hosted a corporate holiday party with the skating rink as the main attraction, surrounded by the Minneapolis skyline!

Oakville Winter Wonderland – Ontario, Canada

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The city of Oakville put on a fun holiday event to bring the local community together…Rental skates on site. Happy Holidays!

Pleasure Rink – Izmir, Turkey

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A pleasure rink setup with rental skates for all to have a good time. Turkey does not have the type of climate that you would expect to offer outdoor skating. What a cool novelty in a nontraditional location!

People are intrigued by novel ideas. With the ability to build rinks anywhere, seasonal rinks with KwikRink are a hit! This is due to its versatility, convenience, and affordable cost. Bringing people together is the inevitable byproduct that KwikRink synthetic ice offers. Endless possibilities and themes allow for some of the most unique skating applications anywhere on the planet.

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21
September

10 Dream Home Rinks

Posted by KwikRink

Hockey nuts will love what this article has to offer. At KwikRink we have serviced several private residences with their own home ice advantage. Generally, the client installs a home rink for their kids (or themselves) to have fun and train for hockey. Others will dedicate an area in the house for shooting pucks in between periods of the game. Some do it, simply because they can, and they love hockey. Below are 10 ideas for your dream home rink. “If you build it, they will come” rings true. You wont be able to get the kids off of this (or their teammates), so I would recommend investing in convenient feeding strategies like the pizza oven offers. The best perk for parents is that the home rink acts as a babysitter, so mom can get a little more of that “me” time she deserves. Some supervision may be required for when the games get a little heated. We have yet to hear of any bench clearing brawls, however.

 

Basement Overlook Rink

Michigan Indoor Basement Hockey Goal Practice

This Indoor Basement rink is actually a level lower than the rest of the basement. It features a plexiglass protected overlook viewing area equipped with a ledge, and bar stools for the parents. How about some ice cold beverages and hockey?

Pole Barn Rink

Indoor Synthetic Ice Hockey Rink in Rochester

This hockey family put a home rink in an added on pole barn. Roughly 50′ x 25′ area allows some fun and fast paced games. The high ceiling is an ideal setup for flying pucks!

Backyard Rink

backyard_deck_rink-2

This 32′ x 16′ back yard rink is one of our favorites. There is nothing like skating in the middle of July surrounded by woods, is there? I can envision some backyard hockey tournaments complete with a family BBQ. Maybe even some fireworks, as the teams enter!

Garage Stall Rink

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If you have one garage stall to spare, this 18′ x 10′ size area could become a nice little home rink for you. This rink has enough size to improve stick-handling, shooting, and skating agility. Check out our blog on small area games if you aren’t buying it.

Under Garage Rink

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An under garage space with odd dimensions, and cut outs, turns into a game-ready indoor rink. This one has an off camera penalty box, and mom is the referee.

Upstate NY Outdoor Rink

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Ignore last nights rain on this one. Let’s just say the Zamboni driver had a few too many, and didn’t resurface properly. This 40′ x 20′ outdoor rink with markings and boards is really something to admire.

Ex-storage Room Rink

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Another 18′ x 10′ size rink with a view from the locker room, fully equipped with rubber matting for changing into skates. This rink offers a crisp and clean look, completed by the NHL style dasher board system.

Ex-Playroom Rink

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How about a playroom that the kids will never grow out of? This family dedicated a portion of their home for this, roughly, 34′ x 13′ size rink. I would look for these kids in the 2030 NHL draft.

Minnesota Wild themed Rink

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Building a home rink is all about getting creative and having fun with it. This rink was certainly fun to install. A really nice sized 20′ x 13′ rink equipped with a shooting tarp, and NHL player Fatheads, bringing this one to life. What team do you root for?

Castle Rink

castlerink-2

Okay, so this actually isn’t beside a real castle, but it sure looks like one, and provides a really cool home rink. Beware of flying pucks above to the king and queen of this castle.

The above pictures just show some of the ideas out there that have been done. These home rinks certainly require some dedication, and most likely some passion for the game of hockey. Having a home rink allows unlimited ice time and fun. If you get creative enough, you can probably do something like this at your home, and the hockey players of the house will surely be happy. The first step is to find an available space around the home, and then send in an inquiry for a quote, and free design ideas. KwikRink are the experts in the synthetic ice industry, and have been designing layouts for home rinks and training centers around the world for the last 20 years.

 

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13
September

Goalie Training on KwikRink

Posted by KwikRink
Goalie Training on KwikRink

KwikRink synthetic ice has been an extremely popular tool for goalie training at all levels. Professional and amateur goaltenders regularly use KwikRink to supplement their on ice training. The surface allows goalies to practice slides, and all the skills that they would on real ice at a fraction of the cost. Many goaltenders will install KwikRink synthetic ice in their own home to create an unparalleled home ice advantage when it comes to training.

KwikRink is featured in many goalie training camps around the country. MEGA Goaltending, a Minnesota based goalie training camp, has used KwikRink as part of their training regimen for several years. MEGA consists of highly experienced staff members working with a small group of goalies to offer a truly in depth goalie training experience. A synthetic ice area with two creases was recently installed at Elk River Ice Arena to add to their arsenal of training tools.

“KwikRink has become a proven and invaluable surface for us to use when working with our goaltenders. We have found KwikRink to be the ideal surface for us to train our goalies on save techniques and receive a ton of repetitions. It also allows us to keep the costs down for families, in comparison to the cost of training on ice. We have trained over a thousand goalies on KwikRink synthetic ice, and the results have been fantastic.”

– Justin Johnson, Founder of MEGA Goaltending and Minnesota Golden Gophers Men’s Goalie Coach

The first synthetic ice crease was created by KwikRink in the late 90’s. Many residential clients will install their own goalie school inside their homes. The ideal setup has a permanent inset goalie crease, providing positional guidance, and has the depth and width to work on shots at all angles. An ideal goalie area would be something like 16 feet wide by 24 feet long. This would allow the goalie to work on common angles, as well as, taking screened shots. Many of these clients do not have this kinda of space in their home to dedicate to hockey training. You can still get a lot out of a goalie area with limited space. The minimum area would be 10-12 feet wide by about 16 feet long. This would still provide room to practice slides, and work at head on shots. When it comes to training, nothing compares to getting in your skates and doing the work.

 

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19
August

5 Steps to KwikRink your Game

Posted by KwikRink

Are you contemplating the idea of a commercial or residential rink? KwikRink is here to help you design a rink that will meet the goals you have for it. We share the same concepts as you when it comes to hockey training. We want you to improve, while having a great time. Below, is a step-by-step process resulting in unlimited ice time and fun.

1. find an available space, indoors or outdoors, that can be dedicated as your home or commercial rink. The best areas include, a hard flat surface (wood or concrete), high ceilings, and 2:1 ratios.

2. What is the purpose of your rink – Is it to train a goaltender? To practice stick handling and shooting for skaters? Do you want to be able to play 3 on 3 games? These questions will determine the size and layout of the rink.

3. Measure the available space. What are the dimensions? Take measurements, and get your quote request into KwikRink. We specialize in providing a proper layout with the clients rink purpose in mind.

4. Sit back and wait for KwikRink to contact you. We will request pictures of the area, design a mindful layout, and send a specific quote for the project. KwikRink can always be added onto down the road. We can offer you a “Cadillac” package with all the bells and whistles, as well as a budget proposal with only the core necessities.

5. Decide how you want to complete the project, and buy KwikRink! #DontSuckAtHockey

Following these steps will surely put you on your way to unlimited ice time. KwikRink synthetic ice offers unmatched performance in the industry, and expert design services no one else does. We innovate our own formulas with our team of chemists, creating the elite alternative ice skating surfaces in the industry. Act now, before your competitors do!

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02
August

KwikRink V: A New Synthetic Ice Formula Set to Revolutionize the Industry

Posted by KwikRink

KwikRink will soon be releasing its 5th generation product that has been in the works for years. It will be known as “KwikRink V”, with the V standing for Roman numeral five. Several years of work with KwikRink’s team of top-notch chemists has finally paid off, as the synthetic ice industry has not seen a product like “V”. The first shipment of test panels brought both good and bad news. The panels had broken its packaging and were in disarray all over the truck. The good news was that they were that way because the surface was so slippery. We had to develop a new way to hold the panels together for shipping, but we knew we were on to something right away.

“KwikRink V” is a fully lubricated surface that requires no topical sprays whatsoever. The slip agent will not ooze out of the surface and run dry in a few years like many of the “self-lubricating” panels sold on today’s market. The speed and performance will be unmatched in the industry. One of the biggest differences you will notice on the KwikRink V is in backwards skating and transitioning. Because of other synthetic ice surfaces resistance, you will often notice a big difference from real ice to synthetic ice when it comes to transitioning. You will slow down as you transition, and backwards skating does not feel as natural. On “KwikRink V”, this drag or resistance is dramatically decreased.

The new “KwikRink V” surface is set to revolutionize the synthetic ice industry by changing the perceptions of the products limitations. Boasting performance and speeds as close as you can get to real ice, “KwikRink V” is sure to help everyone not suck at hockey!

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28
June

KwikRink by the Numbers

Posted by KwikRink

1996 – The year KwikRink brought synthetic ice to the hockey market. KwikRink boasts the “Pioneer” tag of the industry.

90 – Percentage that correlates to the speed of KwikRink 4th Generation surface compared to real ice. This slight resistance makes this synthetic ice a perfect training tool.

20 – The number of years attending the Let’s Play Hockey Expo as a vendor. (St. Paul, MN)

1 – KwikRink started out as a one man business (Don Mason) for a number of years, but has grown since.

30 – average time in minutes it takes to install a rink using KwikRink’s proprietary Lock-Rink assembly, which assures a virtually seamless surface.

6500 – Square footage of KwikRink’s 4th Generation synthetic ice in the Hockey Sports Academy training center in Clinton Township, Michigan. The layout was designed by President, Don Mason.

18 – Years since the first permanent synthetic ice goalie crease was started as a garage project in Minnesota!

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03
June

A Look Inside an Installation: The Hockey Headquarters

Posted by KwikRink
Hockey Headquarters

You can find a beautiful synthetic ice facility in Sioux Falls, SD. The Hockey Headquarters did not hold anything back with their 76′ x 32′ size training rink (pictured below).  In front of the building is a full on hockey store, selling the latest and greatest skates and twigs to hit the market. The rink is located in the back, and is fully equipped with NHL style boards and glass.

1. The Synthetic Ice arrives

Roughly 75 panels weighing 80 lbs each arrive on the work-site… The panels are 8′ x 4′ in size, with some other custom cut pieces. Ideally, having a  forklift will save a lot of time during the unloading process. Luckily, we had several high school hockey players on site to help unload the heavy panels from the semi-truck to the rink site. It took a couple of hours to hand unload each panel one by one.

When you have the synthetic ice budding up to a wall or boards, there is quite a bit of strategy that goes into how it is laid out. It is important to allow for expansion and contraction of the synthetic ice surface during hot and cold temperatures. We prefer the boards to be installed first, which is what took place here. The boards are actually lifted slightly to allow the ice to slide underneath them.

2. Installation begins…

We decided to first put the crease together and then build around it. The crease has a few more parts, and does take a little bit more time than laying down the basic panel, but it sure looks awesome in the rink. The crease is then essentially a floating slab of many pieces that we have to move to a perfect center.

From here, we can build forward and really get going on the installation. It is important to start on a side wall and build it vertically before going side to side. We set everyone loose on pounding the 8′ x 4′ panels home. This application was beginning to take the form of an ice rink.

3. The Tricky Parts

After we had most of the rink completed, besides the far end and entire last row of panels on the right side, we ran into a few tricky parts. As you can imagine, with the boards in place, the custom dimensions need to be spot on. For the entire right side, we connected about 8 panels vertically (64′ x 4′). With a lot of man power and good timing we slid this one long piece under the board slot and into place on the right side.

Lastly, On each end where the boards circle, we had to do some custom cutting to create that authentic round about look. This is done with precision cutting, as there were no pieces to spare.

4. Finished project

The rink turned out to be an absolute beauty, and is a site that both KwikRink and The Hockey Headquarters are proud of. Many items have to fall into place to complete such a perfect installation. When installing synthetic ice, you are always “last on site”. By this I mean, if the previous work in the building is off (crooked walls/incorrect board dimensions), you have to be able to adjust. The naked eye wont notice a small misstep on the boards installation, but it can completely change your approach with the ice surface. We worked with top notch professionals on every level of the install, and the below picture shows the outcome.

installprogressions

 

 

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20
May

More Than Sellers – Rink Design Consultants

Posted by KwikRink
RINK DESIGN

Back in 1996, KwikRink was the first company to bring synthetic ice to the hockey market. Now in 2016, the industry is saturated with several companies trying to claim a portion of this thriving market. There are really only a handful of companies out there that pay enough attention to detail to deserve your attention as a consumer.

Purchasing synthetic ice is an investment. Like buying a car, you should put in the time and effort to make sure you are spending that hard-earned paycheck wisely. It is important that it delivers the results you are looking for. Many companies today offer a click and buy approach. Synthetic Ice is not meant to be a click and buy the product. Would you buy a vehicle online without talking to a dealer? I am guessing no. there is too many details to cover to not talk to a live person. When you call KwikRink, you will get Don (President) or Brett (Operations Executive) on the phone. No salespeople.

At KwikRink, we prefer to speak with you on the phone about your application. We have 20 years of experience designing both residential synthetic ice applications and commercial synthetic ice applications. Using the dimensions of the area, we can design the blueprint for an ideal use of the space with the potential clients criteria in mind. We can install the application for these clients, or offer on-site supervision. many of our residential clients will have their home builder install the rink, in which case, we work directly with the builder to make sure the job is done correctly. In commercial applications, a lot of the same variables hold true. Most commercial applications or training centers share a common goal. That common goal is to have a very high return on investment. If you have ever seen a home remodeling show, it does matter where all the parts fall. Our specialty is making sure that they fall in the right place.

KwikRink offers more than just a product to its consumers. We offer education and design as the expert consultants of the industry. Available areas vary widely when it comes to synthetic ice applications. The most important element is the utilization of the available area in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

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13
May

Home Ice Advantage: Residential Synthetic Ice Rinks

Posted by KwikRink
ICE RINKS

Some of us don’t have a rink nearby. Some of us live in warmer climates, where the only available ice time is at a booked ice rink. Even the cooler climates aren’t having the usual cold weather that supports outdoor ice. Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 rinks for all of its outdoor ice venues available. This past winter was awful for outdoor ice. More and more people are starting to look at an alternative solution to unlimited ice time. It is time to install a residential synthetic ice rink in your home and create an unparalleled home ice advantage for your hockey players.

Where? Indoor or outdoor? Basements, garages, and backyards are all plausible areas for home ice advantage. Many people get very creative in answering this question. I have had a client transform what was supposed to be a home movie theater into their own home ice advantage. I have seen a bedroom turned hockey rink, 3rd stall garage, and even an attic. The most important aspect is that the floor space is hard and flat (concrete or wood).

What size is enough for my hockey players to have fun and improve their skills? Ideally, you would shoot for a 2:1 ratio in length to width. Often times, this is not possible with available space indoors. Small kids can get a way with a 12′ x 8′ size rink, which fulfills our minimum order requirement. We recently installed two home rinks that came to roughly 18′ x 10′ dimensions. This is a solid size to use as a shooting lane, improve quickness, and hand skills. I have had clients add on to their garages and go quite big in size (50′ x 25′).

With skill development and fun in mind, a lot of our residential rinks share a common theme. You’ll often see a shooting tarp on one or both ends. Dasher boards on the side walls will protect the walls and bring authenticity to your home rink. We offer design ideas and installations. Every application is different and should be treated as such. Customization is essential when it comes to creating your own home ice advantage.

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27
April

Synthetic Ice Industry Evolution and Misconceptions

Posted by KwikRink

Throughout the years, the synthetic ice industry has evolved and grown quite substantially. Back in 1996, we were the first company to bring the product to the hockey market. At that time, there was not much to it besides a hard plastic that you can skate on. It certainly worked for skating, and people seemed to be in awe when seeing it for the first time, although it would not have been considered high performing. Fast forward to today, and the synthetic ice surface becomes a complex chemistry formula (at least for our company). This evolution has created a very realistic alternative surface for ice skating.

There are many misconceptions about the synthetic ice industry. As the experts in this space, I would like to touch on some of those.

The first of which is that, not all synthetic ice surfaces are created equally. The synthetic surfaces themselves may look the same, but it is really about what the synthetic has “under the hood.” If you are looking at a new Ferrari, one with an engine, and one without, which one is better? I am assuming you want to hit the Autobann with the engine equipped Ferrari!

The next big one I hear has to do with a technical term known as the “coefficient of friction” test. It sounds very scientific, and you could certainly be persuaded that this rating can tell you how awesome the synthetic surface is! Wrong. There is no scientific test that correlates to how it will perform on ice skates. The only way to find out what works best, is to use the ancient “guess and check” method with real skaters. Although, it is not so much guess, as it is the tweaking of a current formula. The key is to find the right balance of hardness and lubricant.

Some companies have switched over to a UHMW plastic, which is very expensive, but not necessarily better. The problem with these types of plastic is that they constantly bleed out lubricants (kids may be allergic), and will eventually become a dead cutting board with no lubricants left inside of the panel. There isn’t any off-the-shelf plastic that is good for ice skating. It must be created.

KwikRink uses our own proprietary formula when manufacturing our panels. Our goal is to provide a synthetic ice surface that skates the best in the world. We are hockey people, providing a high end product to other hockey people.

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09
April

Hockey: A Way Of Life

Posted by KwikRink
Maple Grove Highschool Hockey Team

From five in the morning practice as a kid to beer league or the pros as an adult, hockey has shaped everything from A to Z in our lives. The game has taught us to persevere through the inevitable obstacles that life throws at us on a daily basis. Speaking personally, I would not be where I am today without the greatest sport in the world on my resume. Hockey has given us even more off the ice than it did on.

Beginning in youth hockey, we form friendships that end up lasting a lifetime. Camaraderie is naturally created from the agony of a sudden death loss in the extra period. It is created from the glory of a championship victory in double overtime. Experiencing the ups and downs with teammates gets us ready for the roller-coaster ride of ups and downs in life.

Hockey has shaped our culture. As our career in the sport continued throughout the years, our language was changed for better, or for worse. We could probably write a new dictionary on hockey slang from our time around the rink. Often times we will see that the entire team has neglected a visit to the local barber, as our hair starts to flow every which way out of our helmets.

The game has given us priceless memories throughout the years. Memories were created with the best of friends and family, in locations spanning states/provinces, which will last a lifetime. Some of our fondest memories come from the time spent in a locker room full of the biggest beauties around.

Whether you are just starting youth hockey or have already hung them up for good, we can all agree that hockey has shaped our lives in some form. Once a hockey player, always a hockey player. Cheers to the greatest sport known to mankind. Cheers to hockey.

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28
March

Small Area Games

Posted by KwikRink
Small Area Games

Many of our clients buy rinks for their basement or garage, which are typically small areas and only have so much space available. Often times they worry whether the rink will offer enough space for their kids to practice skills and have fun with friends. The majority will quickly find that the KwikRink surface, regardless of size, has improved their kids skills in an immense way.

Practicing skills in small areas can be a blast for kids, simply because it doesn’t feel like practice. It’s like that vegetable you slip in their fruit smoothies that they can’t even taste, but they still receive the benefit from it being there. Kids have many options when it comes to small area games, and most just come naturally. Some examples of these games would be; 1 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 3, keep away, or stick handling games a lot like what you see in the picture above with NHL superstar, Patrick Kane. All of these small area games are going to translate to a noticeably improved skill-set on game-day.

One of the main areas most kids will improve upon is their hands. When working with a smaller area, you must learn to handle the puck with quick hands protect the puck using your body and stick angles intelligently. Another vastly improved skill is quickness, both physically and mentally. In tight areas, players are required to process thought and act in a lightning quick manner.

“It’s very important to learn how to play in tight areas. We still do drills to this day that are tight area games where it’s 2-on-2, 3-on-3 down low, maybe 1-on-1 in the corners. They teach you how to battle and how to maneuver in tight space.”

– Patrick Kane on Small Area Games

 

 

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P.O. Box 1173 | Maple Grove, MN 55311 USA

(888) 275-2345 or (763) 420-4527 International

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