posted December 13 2006

Outdoor ice rinks get off to a shaky start

From Jutta Mason to City Rinks supervisor Brian Green, December 11, 2006

The rinks seem to have been unusually dirty this year, our rink and others as well, before any ice went in. Here are two photos of the melted spots at Campbell and Christie yesterday:

Trinity Rink seems to have had some extra trouble -- yesterday the sides were not too mushy but the centre was down to cement in a number of places -- and at Ramsden they could only use half the hockey rink. Is that because each of them only had two days (or nights) of flooding before opening day? I know the crews used to do four.

Are you being short-changed on your staffing budget to prepare the rinks properly? I'm particularly concerned about the many dirt patches -- they certainly absorb the sunlight, and that will give trouble all along, maybe.

From rink ice researcher Corey Chivers, Dec.11 2006

A note about this message to Brian. While the dirt and leaves on the concrete will absorb more sunlight (and heat up, melt ice) while the ice is still relatively clear, the issue with dirt and leaves is a concern over the entire rink season. From Michael Doucette, lead engineer at The United Illuminating Company - "Water impurities can adversely affect ice quality because they result in a higher conductance levels." This is a similar phenomenon to why salt helps melt ice.

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