Figure Skating Synthetic Ice

SmartRink is serious about helping you understand using synthetic ice for hockey practice. Therefore, we would like to work with you to help you understand how our products differ from other synthetic ice panels for hockey players. Our mission is to provide the best overall synthetic ice skating experience on a synthetic hockey surface. Our primary advantages over other brands are:

FOREVER warranty due to our incredible synthetic panel durability for hockey training.
Superior Glide Performance for hockey training due to our uncompromising attention to our sinter pressed materials
Client Product Confidence due to our Home Trial advantage allows you, the player and/or the parent to try the product

Synthetic Ice for Figure Skating

Let’s examine if synthetic ice for figure skating is worthy to pursue. I’ve had the pleasure to meet and work with some amazing champion figure skaters over the years. The list includes champions likes Jamie Sale, David Pelletier, Joannie Rochette, Jennifer Don, and Robert Strong. All champions and all extremely accomplished skaters.

One thing about figure skaters I’ve come to appreciate is the level of detail and condition they give to their skates — to perform at their best. Some will roll with the punches and some insist on perfection – that’s part of what’s made them champions – attention to detail. Some figure skaters that I’ve worked have made adjustments, even during televised performances! I’ve seen figure skaters doing complex lifts, jumps, and spins on synthetic ice – and it was virtually their first time using synthetic ice! From what I’ve seen, much of their confidence in the product comes from relying on sharp skates that allows them to edge in for certain moves. Depending on their routine, they can dial up or down the complexity if they don’t feel 100% confident. On the other hand some figure skaters perform often on synthetic ice and are completely at home with it.

The bottom line is that figure skating synthetic ice can be an effective training tool on certain moves. Figure skaters often require large surfaces to practice certain parts of their routines. Unless you have access to a large synthetic ice surface, for those aspects of training that don’t require a great deal of space, then a smaller scale synthetic ice surface can not only give a figure skater unlimited ice time but nicely compliment their real ice training regimen.

A Figure Skater Reviews SmartRink Synthetic Ice Panels

I just finished my best skate ever on my SmartRink. It was my first, with the added row of 3 panels. It is so enjoyable being able to glide longer–and not always having to make tight turns. I enjoyed it before, out of appreciation more than joy or happiness. Now, I am truly enjoying skating, not just thankful for practice availability. I was moved to joyful tears! I skated longer than ever, and tried new maneuvers. What a delightful time. Before, it was strictly practice with intense focus. Now, it has become the satisfying ecstasy of my favorite sport/artistic expression. I detect the first symptom signs that my edges are less keen–and will soon need sharpening. It’s so pleasing how well my blades maintain edges on my infused panels. I believe they are a tad softer than others I sampled (my blades cut in more). But they skate the best. That is paramount.”
~ R. Strong, Synthetic Ice Figure Skater in Florida

Figure Skating Synthetic Ice Panels

Our best synthetic ice panels for figure skaters are SINTER Pressed. Most North American brands we come across are extruded material. We sell extruded material also, but because we sell both extruded and sinter pressed material we feel very comfortable comparing them. We also feel we can be more helpful in assisting you to make an informed decision about buying synthetic ice panels for figure skaters.

If you feel you would like additional information or maybe looking for a product and price comparison then please hit the Product / Price Request button below and a SmartRink representative will assist you as soon as possible.

PRODUCT / PRICE REQUEST

SmartSkate8000 Synthetic Ice Skating Panels for Figure Skating

Ready for figure skating training at home? This is our high performance synthetic ice panel – for less. Both indoors and outdoors, this synthetic figure skating product will beat the pants off the best North American produced synthetic ice materials.

Incredibly durable, this German produced synthetic ice material is well suited with both budget and performance in mind.

Forever guaranteed synthetic ice skating surface!
Higher performance for less!
SINTER pressed solid sheets – greater density – great durability
No messy powdery residue
UV stabilized
Can be used anywhere there is a solid flat, level surface

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Profast8000-SG Synthetic Ice Skating Panels for Figure Skating

The Best synthetic ice for figure skaters! Others try but they can’t come close to this glide and FOREVER Warranty!

This is our professional series product – but for the DIY market. If you want the best synthetic ice panel material for figure skating on the market produced today, then this is it!

This German engineered and produced panel is made with SmartGlide Technology which means the spray on glide enhancer is 100% optional, and not required! EVER!

VHMWPe providing excellent balance between longevity and market leading, exceptional performance.
Multiple slip additives provide superior glide – for life!
Infused permanent glide enhancer
LIFETIME warranty
Extreme durability – no messy powdery residue
UV stabilized
can be used anywhere there is a solid flat, level surface

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Synthetic Ice for Figure Skating Frequently Asked Questions

The quick answer is that nothing skates like real ice. That said there are some products where the experience is excellent but most fall well short of their marketing claims. But strong skaters will find better products easier to skate on. And weaker skaters will notice the increased resistance. This will be more apparent with lower quality products. The best products skate the best and there is nothing that can’t be duplicated on synthetic ice as with real ice – using a high quality panel. Because a very good product is one where the skater does not have to change their body mechanics to perform the same task as on real ice. They should be able to pivot, turn, skate backwards and stop just the same as real ice. Poor products force the skater to develop bad habits with posture, knee bend and stride length – all things you want to avoid.
Practise makes perfect! But seriously, there is no better way to get better than by putting the work in. This can be difficult when you only have so many available ice times, which can also be expensive. Imagine being able to do figure skating training at home on synthetic ice. When practising your maneuvers out of skates, you are training your muscles to perform tasks differently than they would be when in skates. Muscle memory is key to figure skating success so you shpuld practise in skates as much as possible.
Almost every maneuver than can be performed on real ice can be performed on synthetic ice, it depends on your comfort level. The only major difference is the added resistance, which actually strengthens the muscles you use to initiate spins and jumps.
Normal skates are fine for synthetic ice. The blades will require sharpening much like with real ice. Toe picks will not damage the ice any more than normal skating would.
This is the most common question. Price is the one thing that people do understand and can compare. The problem is that unless you know the material you are comparing it is almost meaningless. moreover, we’ve seen price per square foot as low as $8 and as high as $28. As a result, we’ve written about understanding the importance of molecular weight in the past and how that relates to panel thickness and pricing relationships. If you want a true comparison send us a request and we’ll do our best to answer your questions directly with fact based information. The best raw material costs the most money and that directly translates into a higher cost panel – plain and simple. In the case of synthetic ice – paying less money is almost never a good thing.
Panel size can be important. Some companies promote the advantages of very small panels, while others promote very larg panels, such as 8 ft x 4 ft. These companies promote fewer joints as an advantage, but if the application is correct and it’s a good quality panel, the skater will never feel the joint anyway. But we feel that for home synthetic ice rinks a 1m x 1m size is perfect. Also, smaller synthetic ice panels are cheaper to ship, can sit on a standard pallet size and easier for the average person to install. For thickness, high quality panels with a good molecular weight need not be thicker than 8mm (5/16 of an inch) to last 15+ years. Often we see cheap less expensive material sold in thick panel configurations as a way to cover up that it will wear down rapidly.
Actually it’s quite easy – but it does have to be maintained – just like any flooring product does. As a result, this typically means vacuuming and washing the surface. But usually plain hot water and some elbow grease will work fine. And anything from a wet mop to a stiff brush will work depending on how dirty the surface it. But larger surfaces typically use a commercial floor scrubber. Also most products suggest using a glide solution to enhance the skating experience. That needs to be applied regularly. Hence each manufacturer will be able to provide instructions on that.

Photos of Figure Skating Synthetic Ice

Be inspired by some of these synthetic ice hockey rink photos. Let your imagination be your guide as your consider what your synthetic ice hockey rink design might be. From the most simplistic basement shooting pad, to a more professional looking backyard set-up – here are some great synthetic ice images and examples to get you thinking about your own synthetic ice surface at home!