The winter of 2003-2004 was the first opportunity I had to build a backyard rink. Up until now either it was not cold enough where I lived or I didn't have a backyard. Sometimes both. But now I live in a cold place (Alaska) and I have a backyard. So I built a rink, never having seen a backyard rink before except in photos on the internet.

While I was building the rink, I wished I had more information on techniques and methods, especially methods specifically pertaining to the Arctic (where the rink does not melt at all until Spring). It seemed that the websites I did find wanted to charge for information, and even after paying (which I didn't do), there was still no one to discuss it with. While I was in the obsessive throes of rink design and construction, I wished I had a suppport group of similarly obsessed individuals. So after I had somewhat painstakenly built the rink, it occurred to me to look for an online group. I didn't find one, so I started one with the purpose of sharing knowledge and techniqes and offering mutual support to home rink enthusiasts. Quite quickly I found a lot of other skaters interested in designing, building, and maintaining a backyard rink.

The notion of having my own private and personal sheet of ice three feet away from my house to skate and shoot and stickhandle as I please is a luxury that I never thought would be mine. So if you have a backyard rink or if you want one, please join in here.