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Highly-realistic ice surface for competitive athletes and recreational skaters.

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29
January

Choosing the Best Synthetic Ice

Posted by Brett
happy woman with ice skates outdoors

Putting in a rink is a fun and exciting process that can take your winter sports game to the next level. For over 20 years, we have placed synthetic ice rinks in homes, practice arenas, and other venues. We believe using the best synthetic ice around will guarantee full use of your rink for years to come.

A synthetic ice rink is an excellent addition to any home with athletes who love winter sports. They can fit into most spaces, whether in a driveway, basement, or an NHL practice facility. Having your home rink can save time and money in the long run. 

Booking ice time can be difficult and expensive for athletes and families. Ice time isn’t when you want it to be, but when the rink is available. You may also pay extra if you’re going to have time on your own without having to navigate fellow skaters.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice hopes to provide winter sports enthusiasts with a rink that skates as close to natural ice as possible. Be sure to visit our site today for a free quote! We service nationwide, and we look forward to working with you. 

father with child teaching how to play hockey on synthetic ice

Your Rink Your Way 

Before giving a quote, you must set expectations for your rink. These are often points we discuss when planning a rink with our clients. 

Who will use the rink?

Is this rink for a serious athlete, or is it for the family to have some serious fun? The number of skaters who will use the rink is also something to consider as it affects the rink’s size and where you place it. 

The ability of those using the rink may also be something to consider when planning. 

Where will your rink go?

One of the reasons we love our rinks is they fit just about anywhere. We have installed single lanes to practice skating fundamentals. We have also built them to cover both basement and arena floors. 

The location of your rink isn’t something that has to be permanent. Our synthetic ice comes in panels that fit together like puzzle pieces. You can move the panels easily and adjust the size by adding or removing pieces.

Mobility is an excellent feature because your rink can change when your needs for it do. The panels can also be stored if needed. 

Bells and Whistles

Personalization is one of the most fun parts of the designing process. Any of our rinks can be tricked out to your specification. 

  • Shooting traps 
  • Netting and plexiglass
  • Training aids 
  • Colored markings 
  • Dasher boards
  • Goals and nets 

friends ice skating on the best synthetic ice

The Best Synthetic Ice 

Since the 1990s, we have significantly upgraded our ice panels four different times. We’ve also made many minor changes to our panels over the years. We see it as our duty to change with technology to deliver the best synthetic ice possible.

Through the decades, we have seen companies build synthetic ice that doesn’t grow with technology. These panels are too hard, meaning the skates can’t dig in, or too soft to the point where skaters can only move straight.

These panels can’t compare to actual ice and do not give customers an ideal skating experience.

Our top product is about 90% of the speed of real ice. This means it can be dug into without being too soft and can withstand hockey stops and jumps from figure skaters.

Each panel is 4×8 feet and made of lubricated plastic, designed to be low maintenance. The upkeep is as simple as sweeping dirt from the rink and occasionally gently mopping it. 

In addition to the ease of installation, the low maintenance nature of our panels makes us stand out in our industry. Our panels come in different sizes and can last a decade of skating with proper care.

Regular maintenance doesn’t stop at sweeping and cleaning. Proper skate sharpening contributes to the authentic feel of our ice. Having skates that are kept sharp also encourages care for your equipment no matter your sport or season.

In a recent blog, we speak about how important the quality of ice can be for hockey players as they play and practice. Information in this post applies to anyone who skates on real or synthetic ice. 

Our ice’s very high molecular weight supports skating over time and will help maintain a great surface. Our panels’ lubrication offers push and the friction necessary to recreate a real ice skating experience.

We want to give our customers a skate that feels as real as possible with little upkeep, no Zamboni needed. We know everyone loves to watch a Zamboni, but they aren’t always practical.

Using the best materials available and changing as technology advances makes our synthetic ice panels great for personal and professional rinks alike. 

best synthetic ice for hockey

Make it Personal 

No matter your skill set or space available, we have a rink for you. We happily serve customers worldwide, bringing them a personal skating experience contributing to both physical and emotional health wellbeing.

According to NeuroRuber, an online health publication, ice skating can boost moods and relax those who lace-up. We want to be a part of the experience for our clients, no matter their ability or location.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice has had the honor of serving clients worldwide and has installed rinks everywhere from driveways to cruise ships. Each rink is unique to its owner and brings joy, exercise, and the very best synthetic ice product on the market.

We invite you to visit our site today to get ideas for your rink and get a free quote. There are several pictures of rinks we have built you can glean ideas from to make your rink the best it can be!

We look forward to working with you to build a rink guaranteed to provide memories and fun for your family. 

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19
January

5 Things You Don’t Know About Synthetic Ice Tiles

Posted by Brett
happy friends ice skating together

It is no secret that we at KwikRink Synthetic Ice love winter sports. One of our passions is to help others experience skating in their own homes or spaces on their own time. The synthetic ice tiles guarantee that your ice time will extend beyond just one season.

For over 20 years, we at KwikRink Synthetic Ice have installed our synthetic ice tiles worldwide. From NHL practice facilities to suburban driveways, we’ve been pretty much everywhere. We have even installed a synthetic ice rink on a cruise ship!

We may be biased, but we feel that our synthetic ice tiles are the best in the game. We have taken the time and researched ways to make them versatile and fun to use by anyone. 

If you are considering placing your own synthetic ice rink, read on. We’d like to share five facts that you may not know about synthetic ice tiles. After you’re done, head on to our site to customize your rink and get a free quote from KwikRink Synthetic Ice.

friends ice skating together on synthetic ice tiles

1. Our synthetic ice tiles are state of the industry. 

It is a disservice to our clients to not keep up with technology in our industry as it changes. We have innovated our synthetic ice tiles many times to be sure that they feel as real as possible when you skate on them. 

We’ve also made numerous other changes over the years to ensure our product is the best it can be. For example, our 5th generation synthetic ice panels are updated to improve how they connect.

As you skate, the ice melts, producing water that lubricates your blade, making it possible to skate. Our ice panels mimic this feel by using a special plastic formula we have developed and refined over time. The result is an ice skating experience that gives skaters 90% of the feeling of real ice. 

Other synthetic ice tiles cannot achieve this because they haven’t changed their production to allow for better glide. Some other companies may cut costs by using inferior quality materials. But when your blades dig into our panels, you will be amazed how you freely glide across the ice. 

If synthetic ice tiles are too hard and do not have enough lubrication, skates will catch and dull over time. If the ice is too soft, skates will stick, and the ice will break down quickly. 

It’s our responsibility to keep up with technology and give the very best skate achievable. That 90% of real ice feel translates into playing hockey, skating with your family, or enjoying the artificial ice however you choose!

2. KwikRink Synthetic Ice panels can go just about anywhere. 

Something fun about our panels is that they are very easy to install, remove, reconfigure, and move. We manufacture our synthetic ice tiles to fit together like puzzle pieces so that you can assemble an entire skating surface quickly. 

Over the years, we have seen our rinks installed in basements, cruise ships, and arenas. We have repeatedly been surprised by the versatility of our own panels. The panels can be placed in a spare room easily for storage as well.

As the needs for your rinks changes, so can the rinks themselves. Maybe during hockey season, you need a place as a family to blow off steam. Once hockey season is over, you can add or subtract panels to create a practice rink.

How big your rink is and where it goes is absolutely up to you.

happy family ice skating together

3. You can have your own “home rink” — even on a budget.

Every synthetic ice rink is unique to its owner. We offer several customization options so that you can get the most out of your rink.

Some of the customizations offered are: 

  • Dasher boards
  • Nets and plexiglass
  • Custom markings 
  • Training aids

Why not go full out and customize the rink of your dreams? 

There are two 5th generation tile options offered to build your rink with. The HOME version is 3/8″ thick and the PRO version is 1/2″ thick. Both have their unique benefits, so you can choose what’s right for you.

Installing a synthetic ice rink is an investment and should serve you in every way you need. Whether that’s training aids for figure skating or plexiglass and nets for hockey, KwikRink Synthetic Ice is here to help. Your rink is unique to you and your space. 

4. KwikRink Synthetic Ice rinks are built to last.

Our improved construction and lightweight, flexible design better accommodate uneven terrain while remaining strong.

In fact, our tiles that are ⅜” thick will last seven to ten years, and our ½” inch thick tiles last ten plus years. That is a lot of skating! 

A high-density plastic called VHMW allows for durability and longevity. 

This plastic makes our synthetic ice tiles great for years of training and fun. They can handle hockey stops and countless jumps from figure skaters, and they require little maintenance to keep them in top form. 

synthetic ice tiles in a hockey rink

5. Synthetic ice rinks are low maintenance.

A traditional ice rink will have several steps to regular maintenance to keep it ready to skate. Temperatures must be kept just right; the ice must be smoothed out to maintain a proper surface. If you are looking to move or take down the rink, that can be a days-long process with a big clean up.

To take down a KwikRink Synthetic Ice rink, you simply sweep off any debris and pull apart the tiles. They can then be placed wherever you have room to store or move them. 

Clean up is no different for your personal synthetic ice rink. Occasionally you will need to sweep off the debris and then go over your tiles with a wet mop. No special tools are needed!

Synthetic Ice — Real Passion 

The Mayo Clinic cites play as a way to boost emotional and mental growth in children. Playing together as a family can provide additional bonding benefits to this exercise time. We want to offer a way for you to have a great time on the ice.

Whether it’s playing with the family like the Mayo Clinic suggests or practicing figure skating jumps, having a rink available helps. Having one in your home or that your team has access to saves a lot of time spent scheduling rink time, commuting to the rink, and waiting for access.

It will also save money on things like fees for rink time and gas going to and from the rink.

Since the 1990s, KwikRink Synthetic Ice has provided top-notch synthetic ice tiles to our clients around the world. We challenge ourselves by constantly improving our ice to make it low maintenance and practical for the owner.

Please stop by our site today to configure and customize your rink and get a free quote from KwikRink Synthetic Ice! 

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11
November

Here’s Why You Need an Ice Skating Rink Indoors

Posted by Brett
happy family smiling having fun on an ice skating rink indoor

Whether you are serious about figure skating, or a budding ice hockey star, your first step onto the ice is very unlikely to be your last. Ice skating is an addictive sport that gets the blood pumping, the body moving, and your skills continually growing. An ice skating rink indoor space is a perfect chance to enjoy the freedom of skating, whenever the mood strikes you.

In some situations, it can be very tricky to access a rink on which to practice. Public skating hours may not necessarily align with your preferences, and skate rentals can be expensive. For those who skate all year round, there can be another issue: outdoor ice skating rinks can be less than pleasant in the winter months.

Whether skating indoors or outdoors, many skaters prioritize establishing a consistent and regular routine, allowing you to hone your skills. An ice skating rink indoor space offers the freedom to practice whenever the mood takes you, and regardless of bad outdoor weather. Here at KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we have all the information you need to take the plunge: ready for the ultimate ice skating rink indoor requirements!

ice skating rink indoor

Why Do I Need An Ice Skating Rink Indoors?

An indoor ice skating rink comes with a range of advantages for both experienced skaters and relative newbies.

Easy To Install

A synthetic ice rink is fast, inexpensive, and easy to install. While it may feel like a mammoth task, you could actually be up and running relatively quickly. This ice skating rink is an excellent choice for those who are looking to bring their love of the ice closer to home but with minimal stress.

Many synthetic indoor rinks can even be dismantled and stored as an added bonus when not in use. If you are limited on space, this can be a great option which allows you to skate and train when required. Enjoy the ice without the need for large properties or outdoor areas.

Cheap To Maintain

Unlike traditional rinks, an indoor synthetic rink is cost-effective. Outdoor rinks need water or electricity, and are quite noisy because expensive generators are required. KwikRink Synthetic Ice rinks don’t require any of that! Once you have paid for the initial outlay, the rink will be easy to take care of — allowing you to focus on skating!

This synthetic ice option can also work out cheaper for those who skate regularly. Skating lessons and skate rentals can add up if you are visiting multiple times each week. Installing your own rink can actually save you money.

Skate In Any Weather

Moving your ice skating rink indoors allows you to make the most of your rink, no matter the conditions outside. Low, cold temperatures can harm your performance, which can be a disaster if you are training.

Moving your ice skating rink indoors allows you to really focus on your technique, drills, and practice. You can improve your form, rather than concentrating on desperately trying to keep warm!

Of course, this also works the other way round. Those in warmer climates may find that their slot for winter sports is relatively limited each year. Synthetic ice does not need to be temperature regulated, making it the perfect choice even for those in hotter climates.

An indoor rink can also be temperature controlled and designed to stay cool and atmospheric all year round. This adjustment means that you can continue to practice in realistic conditions. If you are a serious athlete or merely concerned about losing condition out of season, an indoor rink is essential.

ice skater holding ice skates on an indoor ice skating rink

Enjoy A Better Workout

Another benefit of synthetic ice comes from its composition. By its very nature, synthetic ice is not quite as smooth as its natural counterpart. This difference means that it offers a greater resistance against the blades of your skates, increasing the friction.

With KwikRink Synthetic Ice, you will be able to glide across the ice with 90% as much glide as real ice, but you will have to put in a little more work than skating on a surface made of real ice. As a result, your body is working harder, improving your workout quality, and building up strength. Over time, training on synthetic ice will help improve your overall body strength, improving your performance on real ice.

Having access to an indoor rink on a regular basis is, therefore, a great way to step your training up a notch. Used regularly, it can help boost your fitness and skills.

large ice skating rink indoor

Choose Your Specs

While a public ice arena will come in one size only, your own indoor rink can come in almost any size or dimension you prefer. You can choose the exact size and specifications, and this can be different for each skater. 

Figure skaters may need a long, wide space to complete a routine, while the local hockey league will need space for drills and games. By choosing the exact size you need, you can ensure that the rink is perfect for your practice.

Stand The Test Of Time

With KwikRink Synthetic Ice rinks designed to last for up to 15 years, this is an investment you can rely on. Once you have found the initial cost, your indoor rink can prove to be a real cost-saver, which will last for years to come.

Why Choose KwikRink Synthetic Ice?

Here at KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we are the folks to talk to about all things ice-related. Our experienced team have worked with families, athletes, and skating fans from across the country. Over the years, we have helped a huge variety of skating fans to find their perfect rink — hockey skaters, figure skaters, and everything in between.

Get in touch with the team today, and see how we could help you find your perfect indoor rink. You will never be stuck and unable to skate again! Call us today and discover the convenience of your own indoor ice skating rink.

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14
September

How to Make an Indoor Ice Rink in Your Home or Business

Posted by Brett
indoor home ice rink in a garage or basement with synthetic ice

When it comes to indoor artificial ice rinks, most people think they could never afford such a luxury. Perhaps it would work in a professional setting, but a residential space? It doesn’t seem possible. 

Think again. Enter KwikRink Synthetic Ice! 

It turns out that indoor artificial ice is actually THE next big thing in ice sports. Let KwikRink Synthetic Ice help bring those indoor ice rink dreams back faster than Wayne Gretzky’s slapshot. Don’t miss out on such an amazing solution for your home or business. 

From Tucson to Two Harbors, you can install a KwikRink synthetic ice rink in any location, inside or out! Kwik Rink’s high-quality, artificial ice rinks will fit into any residential or commercial space.

Looking to remodel your unfinished basement, redo a three- or four-season porch, or even outfit your company’s empty warehouse? Let KwikRink Synthetic Ice help! 

Our rinks are custom-sized to your individual spacing needs. Their patented interlocking panels can be cut to accommodate any area, small or large. To see if a KwikRink indoor ice rink can be installed in your home or business, contact them for a free estimate!

home indoor ice rink in basement with stone walls and a father and child playing hockey

Benefits of Artificial Ice

Did you know that by installing an indoor artificial ice rink in your home, you can help your wallet and reduce your carbon footprint? It’s true! 

Real ice is complex and expensive to maintain. It also requires the proper temperature. Even cold climates don’t stay below freezing year-round. 

That, in turn, usually translates into your purchasing highly sought after ice time. Thoughts of having real ice in a warmer climate melt faster than the ice itself.

In addition, even if you live in a colder climate, costly refrigeration systems are needed to keep ice in a solid-state indoors. Even a small-sized indoor rink can cost upwards of $5,000 for proper HVAC, which explains why local ice rinks charge such high prices. 

Why pay for exorbitant prices at your local rink for ice time, when you could be the one charging others to pay for your indoor “ice” time! With a KwikRink indoor ice rink installed in your home or business, you are the one in charge. 

Compared to real ice, maintenance and upkeep costs of artificial ice are virtually zero. With just a few sprays of lubricant, your KwikRink is as good as new. Real ice wastes upwards of 12,000 gallons of water for a full-size rink. That’s the amount of water an average family of 4 uses per month! 

Our highly specialized materials require very little maintenance: no new material waste, water waste, or wallet pain. Synthetic indoor ice is another tool you can use to combat climate change. 

Our indoor rinks are cost-effective and are making your skating dreams into reality. No project is too challenging for our installation pros. Check out some residential spaces we have developed here. 

indoor ice rink in a home with yellow walls and a goalie target

How Does Synthetic Ice Compare to Real Ice? 

 

KwikRink Synthetic Ice’s expert design boasts an impressive 90% comparison rate to that of real ice. Start, stop, pass, shoot, and score your way into the best feeling artificial ice. Users of KwikRink happily report ease of glide and maneuvering and precision in all forms of stopping. 

Did we mention you won’t need a Zamboni with KwikRink? That’s right! KwikRink synthetic ice simply needs to be kept clean to keep the “ice” healthy.

We realize most residential homes won’t need a Zamboni, but your real homemade rink won’t repair itself. This translates into more water waste and time spent on unnecessary maintenance. A KwikRink synthetic rink won’t need this extra maintenance. 

Our rinks are also highly durable. Our thinner surface rinks have a 7-10 year lifespan, while our thicker surfaces have well surpassed ten years. Now that’s a guarantee you can take to the net. 

indoor home ice rink in a garage or basement

Why An Indoor KwikRink is Right for Your Home or Business

 

You’ve got the perfect place in mind. You’ve taken the measurements, and you know precisely the type of indoor ice rink you want in your space. You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood. Don’t let this opportunity push you offsides, contact KwikRink today. 

We guarantee all our products. If you aren’t happy with your indoor ice rink for some reason, we will work with you to find a solution. Our rinks are easy to install in any location. 

Our rinks are multi-functional too. They are predominantly used for ice sports but can be used for basketball, boxing, soccer, and tennis, to name a few. 

Also, we can provide your rink with all the accessories you will need. Fully deck out your indoor ice rink with everything from lines and nets, to dasher boards and plexiglass. 

Your rink could have everything a professional rink has. The best part is that you get to blow the whistle!

Our low maintenance and resilient rinks are guaranteed for up to 10 years. They are so durable; you can even park a car on them! We have over 30 years of experience so that you can trust our expertise in regards to all things artificial ice. 

KwikRink proudly serves all 50 states, plus five continents worldwide. Start bringing your artificial indoor ice rink dreams into reality. When the Blue Line meets your bottom line, you know it’s time for a KwikRink Synthetic Ice indoor rink. Give us a call today! 

 

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06
September

Things You Can Do on Synthetic Ice Panels

Posted by Brett
happy family on synthetic ice rink

For a winter sports enthusiast, finding ice to skate on can be a challenge. Rinks can be closed, and rental is often expensive; it would be easier to own your rink. You can do that with synthetic ice panels from KwikRink Synthetic Ice! 

KwikRink Synthetic Ice offers synthetic ice panels worldwide and can place them in most locations. Owning your ice is just one perk of our panels. Of course, we could name a plethora of reasons, but we will detail only four for now. 

Read on to see how great owning your rink can be. Better yet, visit our site or give us a call today to request a free consultation. 

What Offseason?

With synthetic ice panels, you can skate whenever you please. 

When the offseason happens, athletes run to gyms or training facilities to condition. There is no guarantee for ice time. These obstacles can make it hard to keep up skating fundamentals season to season.

If you happen to live in a warmer climate, ice training and sport can be strictly seasonal. Having synthetic ice extends a season and offers training and conditioning without running a full ice rink. If you don’t own a rink, then you are fully aware of the fee to skate.

Fees for a traditional rink owner include coverage for staff, compressors, building fees, and so much more. If you are just attending a conventional rink to skate, you may incur an hourly fee. That adds up to quite the total over time — especially if you skate often.

Placing synthetic ice panels at your home (or gym!) cancels the offseason, rink fees, and the high cost of operating an ice rink. 

little boy with helmet and other children ice skating on synthetic ice panels

The Possibilities are Endless with Synthetic Ice Panels

You can put our panels anywhere in the world that you would like. 

What makes synthetic ice panels so useful is their true versatility. The panels fit into one another like puzzle pieces. This feature makes them convenient and offers the option of adding to or taking away from the space. 

Our rinks can be installed in a backyard, a basement, or even a commercial space. Our goal is to ensure you the best rink for your needs. Our rinks have been installed in areas as small as a lane in a driveway, and as big as a cruise ship. 

We are a United States-based company that proudly serves our global community. Fellow ice sport enthusiasts are using our panels on five continents across the globe. That’s a lot of skating, fun, and memories!

Low Impact Big Results

Use our panels to be good to your body!  

An added perk to installing a synthetic ice rink is it provides a low impact workout. Skating is powered by gliding, making it an excellent option for those who need one. 

These workouts can be fun and easier on the body. Humana, a trusted insurance company, cites low impact workouts as a better option because of their ease on joints and the body.

Lower impact exercise regularly can aid in weight loss, endurance, and more. Just twenty minutes a day can help strengthen your heart. With results like this, it is not a question of why low impact workouts are raved about. 

Enough cannot be said about how much skating can contribute to your overall well being. Doing something you love without the pressure of driving, sharing ice, or configuring schedules can make for a sincerely enjoyable experience. That is just plain good for your mental health.

happy family ice skating in a line together

Return on Investment 

You can have a product that will last and be used enough to pay for itself. 

Synthetic ice panels are ideal for those who want to invest in their families. The fifth-generation technology used in our panels is guaranteed to last at least a decade. KwikRink Synthetic Ice panels can mean a decade of skating parties, practice, fun, and quality family time.

The 13- time Stanley Cup Champions Toronto Maple Leaves have recently installed our ice panels. They have been established for practice use in the Mastercard Centre. We know that this will be an excellent investment for them. 

You don’t have to be an NHL team to have a rink custom to your training needs and personal style. The ultimate rink is easily made with custom crease lines, face-off dots, and even your own markings. 

If you are into bells and whistles, how about skate sharpeners, shooting traps, or even plexiglass? There are many more customizable options; however, any of them is a great investment in your very own rink that will be enjoyed and used for years to come.

two people wearing ice skates next to an outdoor ice rink

Goal!

No space is too small or too far away to place a rink in. Our panels are built to last, and also a lot of fun. We constantly improve upon our product for your enjoyment, health, and training.

We have been serving the Twin Cities and beyond since the mid-1990s. We have found a lot of uses for our panels and enjoy making them better, stronger, and above all, more fun to use. 

Placing synthetic ice panels in your home is a great investment in your athlete’s skating skills and potential. Whether you are a hockey player, a figure skater, or a speed skater, ice time on demand is invaluable.

Also invaluable are the memories made and the fun to be had. How else would it be possible to have an impromptu family hockey game? Maybe work on that jump when you have the time instead of working your schedule around a rink that may be crowded?

The family budget is also kept by removing hourly fees for skating rinks.

The value is not just in the time that is available but also lies in the ease of set up and cost. KwikRink panels come as puzzle pieces making them simple to set up, change the configuration, or takedown. 

Bringing winter sports into your home is a big decision. We are not blind to that, and we want to make sure that you are informed and all your questions answered. Please visit KwikRink Synthetic Ice online or call today for your free consultation. 

 

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22
June

Synthetic Ice Maintenance

Posted by Brett
SIM 1

 

For home or commercial synthetic ice rink owners, synthetic ice maintenance is, thankfully, easy and inexpensive. A low maintenance product is one of the top benefits of owning and enjoying synthetic ice. Owning and maintaining a synthetic ice rink is much easier than you may imagine.

KwikRink Synthetic Ice is a one-stop-shop for a comprehensive rink set-up in any size space. With a synthetic ice system from KwikRink, your household figure and hockey skaters can practice uninterrupted, regardless of the state of the world, weather, or your community.

Plus, if you want to launch or continue a community skating program (especially as we all continue to explore getting out into small, public groups again), KwikRink has a rink solution. We provide low overhead and low-maintenance equipment, and high user satisfaction, event enjoyment, and potential revenue streams.

SIM 4

Call us today, and we’ll help you select the ice tiles and accessories to fit your space and your budget wherever you want your rink.

Rink use best practices

Though KwikRink synthetic ice tiles are practically indestructible, easy to assemble, and quick to tear down and store away, we recommend a few best practices to keep your ice as frictionless as possible. You’ll want to maintain the highest quality glide and tile life you can, for years of skating fun and improved skating skills.

  1. Even though you can technically park a car on our ice tiles, we recommend using synthetic ice for ice skating only. If you want to grab some hockey shooting practice in your spare time without fully suiting up, we get it. Make sure to wear non-marking, clean, dust-free sneakers on the ice if you opt-out of skates for a particular drill.
  2. Keep your skates clean and sharp as well for the best skating experience on KwikRink Synthetic Ice. Our tiles feature 90% of real-ice glide, and you’ll maximize that sensation with clean, sharp skates.
  3. Follow the simple assembly and tear-down instructions. A rubber mallet is extremely helpful to snap and lock our ice tiles together. They connect like giant puzzle pieces with an easy press for a seamless rink every time.
  4. Cover your tiles with a tarp or blanket if possible when stored away to cut down on ice-surface dust and dirt build-up.

SIM 3

Maintaining your ice tiles when assembled

Okay, you’ve placed your tiles, locked them together, checked for a dust-free, clean surface, and you’re ready to skate.

Here are a few tips to be quick and efficient about performing the simple maintenance your ice tiles need to deliver top performance.

Always sweep first

  • Replace the Zamboni with a large, soft-cloth push-broom on a rotating pole. You can pick up such a tool at just about any hardware or grocery store in the cleaning section. If you have a large home or commercial rink, you may want to special-order a longer broom to cover more area in fewer passes around the rink.
  • Some Synthetic Ice owners use a shop vac or leaf blower to move dirt and dust into one corner of the rink to sweep or vacuum up at once. This practice also counts as sweeping, or debris removal.

Then, mop thoroughly

Once all the dry dust and dirt have been removed, use a mop with a gentle cleanser to lock in a super-clean finish. A traditional mop with a bucket of warm water and dish soap is just as effective as a more specialized floor cleaner. 

You could also use an automated mop-and-cleaner system with removable mop pads, like a Swiffer Wet Jet(™), or similar product. 

If you go the traditional route with a regular mop and bucket, be sure to change the mop water if you notice it’s getting particularly grungy. You don’t want to apply a bunch of dirt back on the surface you just cleaned, after all!

SIM 5

Once cleaned thoroughly, allow your synthetic ice rink to air-dry. With our products, you won’t need to apply a lubricating product for glide. The tiles maintain their glide as long as they remain clean.

It’s smart to place your maintenance tools (brooms, vacs, and mops) near your rink when setting it up. Get into the habit of cleaning your rink before and after each skate. 

If you’ve swept and mopped thoroughly after each skating session, you’ll likely be ready to glide next time with a quick inspection and dust-off with a broom.

Reminder: cover your tiles when not in use, especially if you set up or store your rink outdoors.

There’s hope for neglected rinks

We’re all human and have full plates, especially when it comes to household and business maintenance, right? If you’ve neglected your rink’s regular cleaning schedule, you can bring the glide back to life with a pressure washer.

As long as the dirt and dust do not penetrate the ice surface, a pressure washer will refresh and prep the ice tiles again for quality skating. 

With proper care and (low) maintenance, your KwikRink Synthetic Ice system can deliver the best all-weather skating experiences for up to 10 years, depending on the product you select.

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Select the best in all-weather, indoor and outdoor synthetic ice

At KwikRink Synthetic Ice, we provide a superior synthetic ice product backed up by over 20 years of industry experience. We live and breathe ice skating and work diligently to ensure your satisfaction. 

We continually improve our products so our customers can enjoy practicing the sports they love, providing innovative community programming, growing their revenues, and uniquely entertaining their clients and guests with our ice tile lines.

We’re here to help you get up-and-running with top-quality ice tiles as well as all the accessories you may need. In addition to ice tiles, we offer: 

  • Skates 
  • Skate sharpeners
  • Plexiglass panels
  • Goals and nets
  • Shooting tarps
  • Netting
  • Dasher boards
  • Colored ice markings  

For more answers about how to get KwikRink Synthetic Ice into your home, business, or indoor-outdoor community spaces, contact us today. We’ll glide to your “virtual” side and help you secure the rink you’ve always wanted. 

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19
September

Synthetic Ice Panels – 4 Reasons Why Bigger Is Better

Posted by KwikRink

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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25
July

Synthetic Ice Underlay – Is it Necessary?

Posted by KwikRink

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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