Problem
I'm all for having hockey in the desert, but I am really having problems with the desert in my hockey! The town has sanded the roads a couple of times this year, and the wind that whips across the lake has blown the sand from the street, up my driveway, and on to my rink. It's so bad that I was coasting on skates last night and came to a grinding halt. A $4 skate sharpening is toast after 15 minutes on the ice. There is sand on the pucks, squeegee, net frame, rubber platform, and ice. Even when I connect the hose to the MIM I can hear the sand crunch as I screw the connectors.
I'm all for having hockey in the desert, but I am really having problems with the desert in my hockey! The town has sanded the roads a couple of times this year, and the wind that whips across the lake has blown the sand from the street, up my driveway, and on to my rink. It's so bad that I was coasting on skates last night and came to a grinding halt. A $4 skate sharpening is toast after 15 minutes on the ice. There is sand on the pucks, squeegee, net frame, rubber platform, and ice. Even when I connect the hose to the MIM I can hear the sand crunch as I screw the connectors.
Repair
As for the sand already on, I have scraped as much off as possible using a shovel. I will attempt to put down several layers of water to try and "bury" the sand under new ice. What a mess. When I drag the MIM across it there is a wave of brown that comes with it.
Prevention
I have set up a temporary barrier where the wind blows on to the rink in an effort to keep it off. I am hoping that helps. I will park a car in front of that to help break wind (gotta keep a sense of humor in all this). Next year I will have to add to the boards coming up the driveway side and toward the bench in an attempt to have a more permanent barrier.
I have set up a temporary barrier where the wind blows on to the rink in an effort to keep it off. I am hoping that helps. I will park a car in front of that to help break wind (gotta keep a sense of humor in all this). Next year I will have to add to the boards coming up the driveway side and toward the bench in an attempt to have a more permanent barrier.
I feel bad for all of Danny's friends who came over the other day as their skates are now shot and they will all have to have them sharpened before hockey this weekend. Gotta remember the Rinkbuilder's Creed I made up...."work with what Mother Nature gives you"
2 comments:
Sand. That's something I never really considered. Luckily, my rink is pretty sheltered from the road (on a very quiet dead end street as well). Although I DID play hockey with my daughter last week and didn't clean off my shoes first. Left an awful lot of dirt on the rink. I was able to sweep most of it off, but the rest will be there til the thaw.
Hope for a few days of melting and your sand will settle...all your problems will be solved!
Love Kim
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