Frequently Asked Questions

Global Synthetic Ice Clearwater, FL, U.S.A. Phone: 305-218-2966

Really Nice Basement Rink

Check out this outstanding home synthetic ice rink! This family is really enjoying thier new Super-Glide rink in Michigan. Since installing it in their basement last week, they are now the favorite place for the neighbors to hang out. Dad did say it will give them something else to do beside X-Box in the winter! Skate without limits with Super-Glide synthetic ice! Anywhere, anytime, any size!... More >

7/29/2010 2:00:00 PM

Global Synthetic Ice wins bid to replace ice in Canada

Over the past eight months a prestigious Canadian group has been conducting extensive research to find the best synthetic ice to replace real ice at their facilities throughout Canada. Fifteen Synthetic Ice companies submitted bids for this major contract. Experts compiled information such as company backgrounds, types of assembly methods, quality of skating surface, durability and more. Synthetic Ice surfaces from each of the companies were extensively tested, checked and double checked. ... More >

7/22/2010 11:42:00 AM

Reaching around the globe to Belarus

The reach of Global Synthetic Ice has expanded to the city of Minsk! For those who aren't up-to-date on current Eastern European geography, Minsk is the capital and largest city of the country of Belarus, which you will find nestled between Russia, Ukraine and Poland. Victor Orlow, our distributor in Belarus, has been working with Torvlad, LLC in Minsk to import Global Synthetic Ice products to Belarus. They supplied us with this video of young hockey players enjoying some ou... More >

7/13/2010 4:12:00 PM

Super-Glide Mini Rink photos

Here are the first photos of the installed Shapiro family rink in New Jersey. This is the first installation of a 32x48' Super-Glide "Mini Rink" with embedded hockey markings. The colored lines are molded into the Super-Glide synthetic ice surface so they require no maintenance and will never wear away! Global Synthetic Ice is proud to offer this incredible new development to families and hockey coaches worldwide. ... More >

6/29/2010 11:18:00 AM

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Super-Glide^®?

How does Super-Glide^® work?

What is the Size and Thickness of Super-Glide^®?

How does Super-Glide^® fit together?

How easily is a Super-Glide^® rink assembled?

Can Super-Glide^® be laid on grass?

How does a hockey puck react on a Super-Glide^® surface?

Can a Super-Glide^® skating rink be damaged by frost or extreme sun exposure?

Is a roof required over a Super-Glide^® skating rink?

Is drying an outdoor Super-Glide^® skating rink after rain necessary?

How do you maintain the surface?

How do you clean the Super-Glide^® surface?

What is the life expectancy of the Super-Glide^® surface?

What is Super-Glide^®?

It’s a high-tech plastic that you can skate on. Super-Glide^® is a synthetic ice skating surface composed of specially engineered polymers that permit a skate blade to glide as smoothly as on real ice.

How does Super-Glide^® work?

Skating on ice means gliding on a thin layer of water as the blade’s friction generates heat and melts the ice surface. Skating on Super-Glide® causes the same friction and heat, which releases lubricants chemically engineered into Super-Glide^®. This sets Super-Glide^® synthetic ice apart from all competitors. Older synthetic ice surfaces required silicone lubricants. When skate blades cut through the silicone and hit dry spots, skaters felt undesirable "chatter" that increased friction and made skating harder. Super-Glide^®’s unique formula eliminates "chatter" and allows the blade to glide smoothly at all times.

What is the Size and Thickness of Super-Glide^®?

Super-Glide^® panels are available in two standard sizes. Super-Glide^® Heavy-Duty panels measure 48" x 96" x 1/2" (122cm x 244cm x 1.27cm) and weigh approximately 80 lbs (36 kg) each. Super-Glide^® Home panels measure 48" x 48" x 1/2" (122 cm x 122 cm x 1.27 cm) and weigh approximately 35 lbs (16 kg) each. Heavy Duty panels are recommended for commercial installations. Home panels are lighter, reducing shipping costs and making installation easier. The smaller home panels can easily be installed by one person.

How does Super-Glide^® fit together?

Super-Glide^® uses special "seamless technology" to control expansion and eliminate cracks during contraction. Patent-pending cut outs are engineered to withstand forces above 200,000 pounds, allowing any size surface to be built inside or outside in extreme temperatures. The system also has patent-pending tabs on the sides that eliminate vertical movement. This is the most advanced system to date.

How easily is a Super-Glide^® rink assembled?

Two people can easily assemble a home rink in a matter of hours. Panels require just a few minutes each to install on a properly prepared sub-surface..

Can Super-Glide^® be laid on grass?

Yes. We have developed a sub-floor system for grassy areas. The sub-floor is laid first, followed by the Super-Glide^® surface.

How does a hockey puck react on a Super-Glide^® surface?

A hockey puck will glide across the Super-Glide^® surface just as fast as on ice.

Can a Super-Glide^® skating rink be damaged by frost or extreme sun exposure?

No. Super-Glide^® is virtually unaffected by high and low temperatures and is UVA protected.

Is a roof required over a Super-Glide^® skating rink?

No roofing is needed over a Super-Glide^® rink, but a roof does prevent contaminants from falling on the skating surface. Excessive surface dirt slows the skate blade’s glide.

Is drying an outdoor Super-Glide^® skating rink after rain necessary?

Super-Glide^® is waterproof and can be skated on wet, if desired.

How do you maintain the surface?

Super-Glide^® is extremely durable. Other than keeping it clean, nothing really needs to be done.

How do you clean the Super-Glide^® surface?

Sweeping or vacuum-cleaning the surface after heavy use will suffice. Heavily polluted rinks can be cleaned with a non-bleach cleaners (Simple Green or Dawn) and then rinsed with water. Pressure washing restores the surface to new condition with slight scraches that do not affect the skater.

What is the life expectancy of the Super-Glide^® surface?

Each Super-Glide^® panel is reversible for skating on both sides. With proper care, they can last well beyond 10 - 20 years.

Niagara Falls – First NHL regulation size outdoor Rink

Georges Laraque, NHL Montreal Canadians, partners with Super-Glide^®

'My goal was to find the best synthetic ice surface for the Canadian people, I had no other motive. After extensive research and testing, I found that Super-Glide was the most advanced surface available. Now I promote Super-Glide so the Canadian people can have the very best surface to play hockey on.'

- Georges Laraque

2009 NHL Draft, Montreal Canada, Super-Glide^® is there

Outdoor hockey in 80 degree weather