Synthetic FAQ
Synthetic
FAQ
I get asked a lot of questions about our synthetic ice. So I have been wanting to do a blog posting to answer some of the more frequently asked questions.
What is synthetic ice? Synthetic ice is a man made alternative to refrigerated ice that is virtually maintenance free and uses significantly less utilities then traditional ice.
What is your synthetic ice made from? It is a man made polymer that was initially a NASA discovery that was used in the space program.
What is the skate life of the surface? Each panel has a 2 sided skate-able surface that last 15-20 years on each side.
Can I do on synthetic what I can do on traditional ice? Yes! Anything you can do on traditional ice you can do on our synthetic. Skaters get 90% of the glide ratio compared with traditional ice. Both hockey and figure skaters push 10% harder on synthetic which makes for stronger skaters when they return to real ice.
Will synthetic mess up my blades? No. Skaters that train on synthetic get their skates sharpened at about the same frequency as skaters who skate on “hard” hockey ice.
Will my blades de-temper on synthetic? No. We use a special glide enhancer that keeps that from happening. It also gives a better glide to the surface similar to real ice.
Will the Glide Enhancer stain or ruin clothing or hockey gear? No. The glide enhancer we use is EPA approved and is non toxic. When skaters touch or fall on the surface it has an oily feel that can be wiped away and will come out of clothing when washed.
Will the surface scratch? Yes. As you skate lines will be seen but they do not impede when you skate. The more the surface is skated on the faster the surface becomes.
Will I get snow on my blades like I do when I am on real ice? In the beginning you will. Once the surface has been skated on for a while that will stop.
Can I do Hockey Stops on synthetic? Yes anything you can do on real ice you can do on synthetic.
How big is your rink? Our starting size is 15x15ft. Once we get open we play on enlarging the size of the rink to 21x30ft and will continue to enlarge the rink until we are a NHL size rink.
Will you offer Learn to Skate (LTS)? Yes we will start LTS as soon as we open.
When are you planning on opening? As soon as we can. We are waiting on the property owner to get back to us on some things but are hoping to open by Fall 2010.