How Olympic Experts Keep the Ice Intact

Technicians and Zamboni drivers restore the frozen surface before, during and after Olympic competitions, shaving scratched ice and laying down a thin layer of filtered water that freezes into a new, even surface. They work to maintain the right thickness and temperature while managing arena humidity so skaters can perform at their best.

Figure skaters prefer slightly warmer, softer ice with some give for landings, while speedskaters need colder, harder surfaces for maximum glide. Because arenas are often shared, the resulting ice can be a compromise; some athletes have complained. Remy Boehler monitors ice temperature and humidity on his cellphone and laptop, adjusts heating and air-conditioning and pumps ethylene glycol through pipes beneath the rink, and sometimes goes onto the ice to clear slush or check for divots.

The margin for error is slim. Restricted sightlines can cause skids into walls, and an imprecise control can leave a hole in the ice.

zamboni, ice resurfacing, figure skating, speed skating, ice temperature, arena humidity, ethylene glycol, ice thickness, ice maintenance, remy boehler