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Arena ice quality and perspectives on optimizing performance and addressing emerging challenges
Summary
This survey and review of North American ice arena managers found that maintaining ice quality involves managing temperature, humidity, thickness, and water quality — but also notes that emerging contaminants including microplastics and PFAS ("forever chemicals") are present in arena ice and warrant monitoring. While the paper's primary focus is on optimizing ice conditions for athletic performance, the mention of microplastics as an environmental concern in indoor ice facilities is a notable finding. It highlights an overlooked exposure pathway for arena workers and athletes.
Maintaining optimal ice surfaces in arenas is essential for ensuring athlete performance and safety in sports such as hockey, figure skating, and curling. This study combines expert survey responses from 55 North American ice arena managers with existing literature to identify best practices for managing ice conditions. Key factors, including ice temperature, humidity, thickness, and water quality were examined to identify areas needing empirical validation. While expert opinions offer valuable insights, controlled experiments are necessary to determine how compressive strength, friction, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) influence ice performance. Lower ice temperatures improve compressive strength and durability for hockey, while slightly warmer temperatures offer better grip for figure skating. Maintaining humidity between 40% and 50% aligns with industry guidelines, balancing friction while limiting frost formation and sublimation. Water quality plays a critical role, yet conflicting recommendations highlight the need for further research to determine optimal TDS levels. Additionally, emerging contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS pose environmental concerns that warrant monitoring. Future research should bridge the gap between expert knowledge and scientific evidence to refine best practices and promote sustainable ice arena operations.