Engineering to save ice skating

[NewLaces]

Skaters are facing rising costs, and the possible threat of rink closure.
Improving efficiency could help and additionally, facilitate new builds.
This document covers ideas for evaluation.

https://t.ly/bqJLO (~270 KB / pdf / 8 sides of A4 / 5,174 words)

 

[Winnipeg]

Good idea! How about switching ice to rollers? That would be really cheap, no ice to maintain, etc etc

 

[NewLaces]

Yep, I did mention the possibility of operating ice seasonally, with rollers during the summer months (Page1, Line32)

There's nothing quite like ice though ;-)
I think it has something to do with movement amplification.
The effect that the slightest move has, forces fine motor control, of everything.

Updating the thread due to having updated the document with some more ideas.

 

[Winnipeg]

I heard there is also a manufactured surface that emulates ice. However, I also heard it is hard on blades.

 

[NewLaces]

The aptly named 'plastic ice', not used it myself though.

Synthetic ice - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"most synthetic ice products still wear down the blade of a skate very quickly, with 30 minutes to 120 minutes the industry average."

Ouch! So you'd need access to a blade sharpening machine, and some low cost blades to 'burn through'.
Speaking of which, due to the friction, I heard someone remark that the blades get warm.