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The Joy of Outdoor Skating in Maine
By Randy Chenard
Once every ten years or so during the winter in Maine, we get conditions of cold and little snow that creates amazing conditions for magic, where our thousands of lakes and ponds are made of glass, making for surreal landscapes to be explored with a simple pair of skates. There’s nothing quite like the magic of gliding across a frozen pond on a crisp Maine winter day. Whether you're practicing figure eights, playing a game of pond hockey, or simply enjoying the quiet solitude of a frozen morning, outdoor skating is one of winter’s greatest joys, and it doesn’t come very often in the way it did this year.
In Maine, where cold temperatures often linger for months, pond skating has long been a beloved tradition. Unlike indoor rinks, where boards and boundaries define the space, a frozen pond stretches wide and wild, inviting skaters to carve their own paths. There's an undeniable thrill in skating under an open sky, surrounded by snow-covered trees, hearing only the echo of your movements and the occasional call of a chickadee.
But what about most winters, when snow eliminates the option of pond and lake skating? Many families in Maine have discovered the joy of building their own backyard skating rinks—a rewarding project that can enable hours of winter fun and lasting memories.
How to Build Your Own Backyard Skating Rink
Creating a backyard rink doesn’t require a massive space or professional equipment. With some planning and a little patience, you can have your own ice surface ready for skating season. Here’s how:
Choose a Flat Area A level surface is key to preventing uneven ice. A grassy backyard works best, but a driveway can also work if you're careful about runoff.
Create a Border Use boards, PVC piping, or even packed snow to outline the edges of your rink. A simple frame about 4-6 inches high will help contain the water.
Lay Down a Liner A plastic tarp or heavy-duty poly sheet prevents water from seeping into the ground and helps the ice freeze smoothly.
Flood in Layers Fill the rink with a thin layer of water, allowing it to freeze before adding more. Cold, windless nights are best for building smooth ice.
Maintain the Surface After each use, remove snow and use a hose to resurface rough spots. A homemade resurfacer—like a PVC pipe attached to a towel—can help smooth out imperfections. We called it the ‘home-boni’.
Once your rink is ready, bundle up, lace up your skates, and enjoy! Whether it's a family skate under the stars or a pickup hockey game with neighbors, backyard rinks bring communities together and create winter memories that last a lifetime. Of course, it wouldn’t be accurate to character the creation of an outdoor home rink as an easy endeavor, but, if you do it, I guarantee lifetime memories of magical winter gatherings outside with kids playing and sweating in freezing temps and an intense focus on weather patterns like never before!
So, embrace the chill, sharpen those blades, and make the most of Maine’s long, beautiful winters. The ice is waiting!
Resources for skating:
Randal Chenard is a Board Member for the Arundel Conservation Trust and Trail Committee Member. If interested in volunteering or helping out on the trails, please check here for upcoming trail building events or sign up here to volunteer!
If you enjoyed reading this blog post and have any interest in contributing as a writer on our non-profit website please reach out at info@arundeltrust.org. We love featuring guest writers and leaning into the expertise of our fellow community members.
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