ODR’s are very enjoyable and fun, but making it is 100% worth the experience.
For those who don’t know what an ODR is, it’s an acronym for outdoor ice hockey rink. ODR’s are usually made on lakes or rivers where the ice is frozen enough to not break and be able to skate on. Some ODR’s can be self made by filling a pool with water then waiting for it to freeze during the winter. There are also creative ‘kits’ to set up in backyards, and some are even known to try it in their basements.
There are some downsides of an ODR, the biggest downside can be weather. Weather plays a crucial role in the quality of the ice. Weather can either make the ice better or break the ice. The perfect temp for your ice is under 30 degrees because solid ice is the best ice. Any temp above 30 degrees is alright, but when it’s above 50 the ice will soften.
Snow is 50/50 because it can either fill in holes on the ice or make the surface of the ice uneven. Also, shoveling the snow is a hassle and it can crack the ice leaving it crusty.
Rain and water is another factor in the surface of a rink. Just like snow, rain and water can make a new surface that is either flatter or bumpier. A common practice is draining your rink, what that means is just pouring water on the rink, so there is a newer surface to skate on.
The sun is a very reliable way to make a perfect rink because if you build or shovel out a rink in a sunny spot with no shade, then the sun will melt off the bad parts, bettering the ice.
It is very lucky to find perfectly flat ice. Finding the best ice is very rare, people almost never find it. Plus, it won’t be perfect by the next day if people decide to skate on it. Another concept to remember, is part of the fun of an ODR is its imperfections – but not too many imperfections. Some imperfections that won’t get in the way are just tiny bumps in the ice.
There are some imperfections to watch out for, such as holes. Holes are really bad especially because it’s dangerous. Skating over a hole and crack a blade and even break an ankle. Rocks are the same way, they can make cracks in your skate blades if skated on and can cause injuries like bruising and cuts.
There are some upsides such as not having to wear all your equipment, just a pair of skates, a stick, some pucks, hockey gloves, a net, and some warm clothes depending on the weather.
It’s also very enjoyable, just messing around on the ice because it’s just you and a bunch of free ice. It’s definitely worth the time and work to skate around.
On a different note, making your own rink is pretty difficult because people need to find the right materials and perfect week to build it. Also, the construction and the outline is what to think about when you build it. Such as how long or how wide it should be.
Also, before flooding the rink, check the weather because putting the water in the rink won’t freeze right if it’s not going to be a cold week
Overall, ODR’s are hard to build because of how you treat the ice and just waiting for the right weather to skate. It’s definitely a tedious task because of all the preparations you have to go through to get the right ice, but it’s definitely worth the experience.
