The environment of a figure skating rink is critically important to figure skaters. There are currently no standards enforced across the country or between different countries concerning ice temperature, air quality and air temperature from rink to rink.
This unit on the environment and figure skating is to provided you with additional information which you may share with your class which may provided either a better appreciation of the sport of figure skating, or some interesting scientific facts to enhance your science classes.
Ice rinks are maintained by Zamboni's. A Zamboni is a large truck like vehicle which scrapes the surface of the ice and lays down water to provide a new layer. Some Zamboni's run off gasoline while other's use natural gas or are powered by electricity. Depending on the ventilation system of the rink, the air quality can become quite poor due to the exhaust from the Zamboni. This can cause breathing problems for the skaters who spend hours a day practicing inside the rink.
A further problem for skaters is the temperature of the air inside the rink. Exercising in cold rather can be problematic for many athletes, since the cold can tend to cause respiratory problems. In particular, many skaters suffer from exercise induced asthma, which is made worse by exercising in the cold. In a cold environment, more water is lost from the body through respiration, which can tend to dry the respiratory passages making the respiratory process more difficult. People suffering form asthma who want to get involved in sports are often encourage to participate in swimming events where the humid warm air of a pool is not as hard on the respiratory system as is exercising in the cold.
Ice temperature is an important factor in determining the frictional characteristics of ice. Colder ice is slower, or has greater friction, than warmer ice. Managers of ice rinks may choose an ice temperature based solely on economics. Generally, a harder or colder ice does not get as chewed up during skating as a warmer ice. An ice surface during a competition which is dramatically different in temperature to the ice surface of the skater's training rink may results in the skater needing to make modifications in his or her program. For instance, they may need to but more power into their strokes to obtain the velocity needed to complete their jumps. Likewise, they may be able glide farther on warmer ice, which may change the shape or size of the pattern of their program.
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© April, 1998, Montana State University-Bozeman |
