January 8, 2025

The Nature of a Frozen Lake vs. a Land-Based Rinknd Based Rink

Dear Community Members,

As we continue to enjoy the winter season, we’ve received feedback and questions regarding the state of the lake ice and the differences between maintaining a natural body of water versus a land-based rink. We appreciate your interest and involvement and want to provide a clearer explanation of why the lake presents unique challenges that are different from a traditional rink, especially from a scientific and logistical perspective.

The Nature of a Frozen Lake vs. a Land-Based Rink

A frozen lake is a living, dynamic body of water that is constantly influenced by natural processes. When a lake freezes, several factors affect the formation and quality of the ice:

1. Water Currents and Movement: Even in cold temperatures, lakes rarely freeze uniformly. Currents beneath the surface can create thin ice areas, pressure ridges, and uneven freezing patterns. This makes it difficult to achieve a consistently smooth and even surface.
2. Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Unlike a land-based rink, which is easier to navigate in spite of the environment, a lake’s ice is directly affected by the weather. Daily fluctuations in temperature, snowfall, and wind can cause cracks, fissures, and surface roughness that are challenging to manage.
3. Natural Expansion and Contraction: Ice on a lake is subject to expansion and contraction as temperatures change, creating large fissures and heaves. These cracks can render the surface uneven and potentially unsafe if not addressed carefully.
4. Water Pressure and Flow: Because the lake is a live body of water, the movement of water below the ice layer can further impact the surface integrity, creating areas where ice may lift, sink, or fracture unpredictably.

The Difference in Tools and Maintenance Techniques

Land-based rinks, like the Jellybean, are constructed on a solid, flat foundation. This stability allows for precise control of the ice’s thickness and quality. With tools like Zambonis, the surface can be meticulously groomed, smoothed, and maintained with hot water flooding to eliminate imperfections.

By contrast, maintaining a frozen lake requires a different approach:

1. Clearing and Grooming: Snow must be cleared from the lake using smaller equipment such as tractors, plows, or hand tools. Unlike a Zamboni, these tools are not designed to resurface ice but rather to remove snow, leaving a rougher surface behind.
2. Flooding: To improve the ice surface, water must be manually pumped onto the ice and allowed to freeze, layer by layer. This process is labour-intensive and requires favourable weather conditions. Wind, fluctuating temperatures, or precipitation can disrupt this process and lead to uneven results.
3. Safety Considerations: Using heavy equipment like Zambonis on a natural lake is not always feasible because the ice’s thickness and stability can vary dramatically across the surface. The Zamboni needs 22″ to drive safely Even with 8-10 inches of ice, the risk of fractures or equipment breaking through the ice is very great.

Why It’s Different

While a land-based rink offers a controlled environment where ice can be built and resurfaced with precision, a natural lake is subject to the whims of nature. Despite these challenges, our team works diligently to prepare the lake for skating and hockey, adhering to methods that have been developed over the past two decades.

Our current approach involves clearing the ice with smaller, lighter equipment to ensure safety, followed by flooding and manually smoothing the surface where possible. While this method cannot replicate the polished finish of a land-based rink, it allows us to provide a safe and enjoyable space for winter activities until the ice thickens enough to get the Zamboni on the lake.

Looking Ahead

We understand that these differences can sometimes be frustrating, but it’s important to recognize the complexities of working with a natural resource. We remain committed to improving our processes and exploring new ways to enhance the quality of the lake ice while prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work to make the most of our beautiful lake this winter season. Should you have any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.