DIY Backyard Ice Rink

DIY Backyard Ice Rink

I know I know, what does building a backyard rink have to do with parenting and twins? 

     Those that know me, know I love to play hockey.  When I was a kid, my father took me to the rink every week for public skating.  I loved to skate.  I think I loved the speed, darting in and out of the slower skaters, and snow ploughing my brother.  Those that also know me, know I didn't start playing hockey until I was 26, and it isn't the easiest thing to pick up at 26. 

     So what does all this have to do with the twins?  Well even before the twins were born, I dreamed that one day, one of my kids would play hockey in the Olympics, world juniors or the NHL.  Could my twins be the next great one?  Doesn't hurt to dream and  therefor this weeks article is about building your own backyard rink, staring them young, and leading an active lifestyle.

Materials Required

     There are different ways to build a rink and are well documented on several websites.  The way I built my rink using a tarp and constructing a wooden frame.

4pcs - 2"x6"x12' pressure treated wood
4pcs - 2"x6"x8' pressure treated wood
1pc - 20'x28' white tarpaulin from Canadian Tire
1 box of 2.5" long deck screws.
some extra pieces of 2"x4" scrap wood


How to build the rink

     Since my backyard isn't big, the rink size I chose to build is 24'x16'.  I made the two 24' sides by attaching two 12' pieces using some scrap wood and deck screws.  For the 16' sides of the rink I attached two 8' pieces.  Again, I attached the two pieces using some scrap wood and deck screws.  After securing all four sides of the frame, I placed the tarp inside the frame.  I fastened the tarp to the frame using the rest of the deck screws.  It's important to use a white tarp since it doesn't absorb sunlight which will cause the ice to melt. 

     Once the frame was built and the tarp secured to the frame, the rest was easy.  I filled the rink with water when I saw the weather was going to fall consistently below zero.  It took me about 8 hours to fill it.  For bigger rinks, it can take over a day to fill.

My first backyard ice rink

Problems I faced

     This is year was my first time building a rink ever.  So of course there were a few problems that occurred.

     The first major problem I faced, was not making the yard level.  I never realized how much of a slope I had in my backyard.  By the time the water level was 6", only the back half of the rink was filled and water was spilling over the frame.  I later had to use 2x10" boards near the back of my rink.  At the highest point of the rink, the water level was only 1-2" deep which doesn't give me much ice thickness.  Needless to say that area of the rink cracked and chipped away when I stepped on it.   When I shovelled snow off that area, I happened to also take the ice with it too leaving me just the white tarp.

    The second problem I had was somewhere in my tarp, there must have been a small puncture.  I was losing water near the end of the day after filling it in the morning. 

    The third problem is the weird weather this year.  Almost everyday this year the weather seemed to fluctuate between +5 degrees Celsius to -5 degrees making the ice too soft to skate on. 

    The last problem is a 24'x16' rink just isn't big enough for adults to really skate on.  For kids, I'm sure it's plenty big.  For adults who in a span of 2-3 strides can cover 24', it's too small.

Backyard rink to practice your hockey skills

The cost of the rink

    Probably you are wondering why even make a rink?  There are plenty of indoor/outdoor rinks.  I'll be the first to tell you, having a rink can get costly but worth it.  For a 24'x16' rink here's my breakdown:

wood - $120
tarp   -    $60
net    -    $90
pucks -   $15
deck screws - ?

That is approximately $300 not including the cost of water which I haven't received the bill for yet.  Nor have I calculated the cost of boards which I did not end up installing since the net itself is about 10' wide.  I say the rink is worth it because you have to look at it over time.  The initial cost is high, but if you continue to build the rink year after year, the cost is really the water.  The kids will have access to a rink to keep active and to work on their skills without renting ice time.    I'm hoping they will love it as much as I do.

A backyard rink is worth the effort

     In conclusion, even if my kids don't make it to the Olympics, I'm hoping they love the fact they'll have a rink in the backyard every winter.  I hope they love skating as much as I do.  Even if they don't play  hockey, I think there's nothing more happier than to see a family skating with there children.  As for now, they are in training to become good skaters.  Here are a couple pictures of them in training.

Jayde working on her crossovers

Quynn working on her power stop