I had built an ice rink last year for the little ones and that went over rather well.  They were outside for about an hour a day, skating around and getting used to the ice.  I made my own ice surfacer too.  There were a lot of lessons learned, primarily that my backyard is not level and that the ice takes a crap ton of water to get started.

This year I want to try something a bit different.  We had our first snowfall last weekend, so time’s a wasting before I can get something up.  Instead of just laying it on the ice and flooding (and losing water from the sides), I want to do a slightly better job.  Main points:

• Set up boards and supports
• Put a tarp to contain the water
• About 20′ by 30′.

Boards can be simple or complicated.  A real rink is rectangular, with rounded corners.  I’d have to bend some wood to make that work, or get some plastic.  And I have a near full size outdoor rink about 5 minute walk from my house anyhow.  I need simple.

The thinking right now is a simple box, with side supports.  Figuring I’ll need those supports every 4′ or so, and at the above size, that’s 26 needed.  NiceRink has some brackets that I’ve used in the past.  They are quite expensive though – just over $250US.  I think this year I’ll just use some treated 2×4 and build my own 12″x18″ brackets.  That’s ~48″ linear per bracket, I need 26, and a spare or two… so 112′.  Or 10×12 footers.  Just under $100.

Then the actual boards.  Plywood seems the best option.  2′ height, 8′ length.  A full sheet is 4’x8′, given 2 lengths per.  At 100′ to cover, that’s 7 total sheets.   Prices are all over… but likely $250 all told.

I bought a tarp last year for $100 that will more than cover the surface.  Just need to make sure that when it’s all assembled, I don’t pierce it.

I’ve got a couple weekends to go before the real snowfall and freezing temperatures hit.  Let’s see what I can do.