Temperatures have been freezing recently, and if we are in for a prolonged cold snap we could see lakes and ponds frozen over thick enough to skate on. Ice should be at least four inches thick before it is safe to skate on, and it is important to check that the ice is the same thickness, or at least no thinner, in areas you intend to skate on. If you are planning to skate on frozen ponds and lakes then always make sure there are other people with you; they can help should someone be unfortunate enough to fall in.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The big difference between skating on a frozen body of water and on an ice rink is the surface; a commercial rink is smooth and glass-like, being treated and polished in between sessions. By comparison, a frozen pond is bumpy and prone to chipping and can be difficult to skate on once it has been used several times. In Vermont, USA, back garden ice rinks are a common feature of the winter, as temperatures stay low for weeks at a time. One enterprising ice skater came up with a solution to the problem of bumpy makeshift ice rinks by using a customised lawnmower.
Ten years ago inventor Damian Renzello wanted to skate on a nearby pond, but the surface was awful. He decided to customise his petrol push mower, into an ice mower that could shave off the lumps and bumps in the ice and create a smooth skating surface for everyone to enjoy. The ice mower uses a custom made blade to cut the ice down; a heavier, flatter shape to the blade with an angled section on each end makes short work of ridges and lumps in the lake surface. The mower is operated like a normal lawnmower, but pushed on ice instead – so shoes with an excellent grip are a must for this job.
Renzello did not stop at the ice mower in his quest for private ice rink perfection. He wanted to achieve an even smoother, glassy surface more like that of a commercial rink, so he developed a simple, miniature zamboni (the ice polishing machines that remove chips and cuts from the surface). With a hot water tank, some piping and a smoothing mat all mounted to a frame, Renzello can mimic the shiny surface that is perfect for skating. Hot water is gravity fed down onto the mat, which melts the very top layer of the ice and smooths it out simultaneously. As the water refreezes it stays smooth and reflective – giving the finishing touches to the job started by the ice mower.
Renzello produces and sells his lawn mower inspired creation online, as well as the Bambini (his miniature zamboni), alongside his range of portable ice rinks, but shipping to the UK might be rather expensive. The mechanically minded out there, would be able to make some modifications to an old lawnmower to turn it into an ice mower, although the bespoke ice blade may be harder to manufacture in the shed at home. If you have a pond in your garden that freezes solid enough over the winter it would be a nice project for the family to take advantage of during cold snaps.