How to Ice Skate on Artificial Ice

With artificial ice, you can bring the rink home. Practicing in your home is now accessible to everyone. It’s time to learn how to ice skate on artificial ice.

Not only is artificial ice great for sharpening your ice hockey or figure skating skills, but it’s also just plain fun! If you have extra room in your home, you can build yourself a home ice rink and learn how to skate on artificial ice.

You can install synthetic ice panels in a spare bedroom, basement, attic, deck, or garage. You just need a flat surface. When you’re ready to build your high-quality, low-friction synthetic ice rink, contact KwikRink for your skating needs. 

History Of Artificial Ice

Artificial ice is made of a polymer material traditionally designed for metal blade ice skates. Synthetic ice was first produced in the 1960s using polyoxymethylene, a stiff, durable engineered thermoplastic. 

The first polymers used to produce artificial ice had their flaws. The most apparent defect was that skaters could not easily glide on the surface without an additional silicone surface applied to the polymer. 

In 1982, the first full-size artificial skating rink used interlocking panels and a high-density polymer. It was necessary to clean and spray the rink once a month with gliding fluids.

But as you have probably guessed, synthetic ice products have made many advancements since the 1960s. Now, the high-density polymer is infused with lubricants that absorb into the synthetic ice surface, leaving it smooth and friction-free.

How To Ice Skate On Artificial Ice

The best way to get a feeling for artificial ice is to get out there and skate on some. While quality synthetic ice mimics the skating experience of natural ice, they are not the same.

Now that you’re ready to get out there and try it out, here are a few things you should know:  

Grab Your Ice Skates

There is no need to purchase special skates. You can use your regular hockey or figure skates. 

You skate on artificial ice the same way you skate on natural ice. Synthetic ice provides 90% of the same glide factor as actual ice. There is virtually no learning curve because your actions will produce the same response. 

The molecular structure of synthetic ice has come a long way, which means less friction on your skate blades. And as you learn how to skate on your artificial ice and break it in, the surface becomes even smoother. 

Anything you can do on regular ice, you can do on artificial ice. As you learn how to skate on artificial ice, you’ll find no limits to what you can practice. No more running to open skating rinks for hockey training.

For a guaranteed smooth glide, we recommend making sure your skates are cleaned and sharpened before you get on the ice.   

Ditch Your Cold Weather Gear

You can leave your hat, scarves, and gloves in the closet. You won’t have to wait for the ice to freeze. The best feature of artificial ice is that you can use it in any weather. 

You can find yourself in the middle of summer on a full-size rink, enjoying the cool summer breeze. Or a warm night in the garage practicing your hockey stops. The less gear you have to put on, the sooner you can get on the ice! 

Strengthen Your Skating

There is a 10% difference in glide between artificial ice and actual ice. The slight friction from the synthetic ice will cause you to work slightly harder on the ice. This little extra exertion will help you isolate your movements and become a stronger skater.

Hockey players, figure skaters, and other athletes will appreciate the boost in performance they get from that tiny difference.

As you continue to work with a slight amount of resistance, you will become a stronger skater overall. Think about it like running with weights. Once you remove the weights, you’ll have more endurance and be a faster runner.  

When you get on the ice, you see an increase in your skating speed and improvements in your skills. 

Wear Your Normal Clothes

KwikRink offers self-lubricating panels. You don’t need to worry about staining or damaging your clothes because there are no lubricants added to the surface. 

You can wear your regular clothes without the worry of them getting oily or stained with slip sprays. 

Don’t Restrict Your Movement

KwikRink’s panels are puzzle-shaped and lock together for a nearly seamless skating surface. You can practice your movements at full speed without the worry of tripping on gaps in the paneling. 

Maintain Your Ice

High-quality artificial ice requires very little maintenance. Skating on synthetic ice of inferior quality can create a sizable amount of plastic shavings. Poor quality ice requires a lot of sweeping. 

Our high-performance ice has self-lubricating capabilities that improve glide and function. Your maintenance and sweeping will be minimal. You will want to clean your ice to ensure that it is free of debris before you skate.

New panels no longer require sticky silicones or slip solutions to help with the glide. Thankfully, this keeps dirt and grime from sticking to the surface of your ice rink.

However, if you experience a dirt build-up, a mop and a bucket will keep your ice dirt-free and ready for another skate session. If your rink is outdoors, we recommend keeping it covered when not in use. Covering your ice will help keep it debris-free and protected from the elements.  

For extra stubborn grime, mild soap and a stiff-bristled brush should do the trick. 

Try It Yourself 

The best way to learn how to skate on artificial ice is to get out there and try it for yourself. You’ll find that you can skate, shoot, spin, and stop the same as on real ice. Once you’re convinced that synthetic ice is a perfect fit for you and your home, let us know. 

Contact KwikRink so we can help make your home rink happen! We have solutions for any setup you can imagine.