What Is a Dasher Board?

The Crystaplex® 6A system is a high-quality dasher board system that meets the standards of the National Hockey League, while at the same time incorporating more safety features than any other system available in the market today.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

We offer features such as the SoftCap® caprail system, which can absorb 96% more force than standard HDPE cap systems; Seamless Acrylic Shielding System &#; a one-of-a-kind, impact-absorbing design that uses industry-leading Crystaplex® 590 Plus acrylic and provides ease of conversion, ultimate player safety and exceptional sightlines for spectators; and GlassFlex®, CheckFlex® and InFlex&#; which allow the shielding, board system and dasher board facing to flex respectively, causing less strain to players who hit the divider. These features make the Crystaplex® 6A system a cut above the competition.

Doing your research and finding the right type of dasher board system to use in your venue or arena is your primary responsibility.

But why spend all that time when you can place your trust in a company that does all that research for you and applies it to their products! After all, you can&#;t go wrong with a company that has expertise installing dasher board systems for NHL buildings, right?

Athletica is a leader in the design, engineering, innovation, and manufacture of dasher board systems for all levels of hockey, from backyards to the pro&#;s. They also supply a full range of specialty products and services for sports facilities of all kinds.

By Michael Barbanente
President, Iron Sleek Inc.
 

Experience the beauty of smooth shiny ice with light snowflakes gently falling from the sky while you play hockey with your children on your home hockey rink. Enjoy that crisp sound of skates cutting ice in your very own home ice rink while listening to the playful laughter of children. The expression of joy and open ice freedom is shown on the smile she wears on her face. In the background, you adore the aroma of fresh burning logs while you skate in your backyard hockey rink. These home ice rink memories create impressions that will last a lifetime when we think back to the great time on the backyard ice rink &#; truly EPIC!

It has been my privilege to be the president and co-owner of Iron Sleek outdoor rink products since . We have built hundreds of rinks for our local customers and also coach thousands of ambitious customers to build the rink of their dreams every year using our unique products. Iron Sleek has designed affordable backyard rink parts that allow you the freedom and flexibility to build the rink of your imagination while providing smart rink components that will make your rink building task much easier. 

What I have learned through my numerous dealings is that most rink builders consider the rink frame or rink boards as the starting point, while hardware and building methods usually follow in the thought process. After all, a rink is possible because a watertight liner is embedded within a rink board frame that holds water in place, allowing it to transform to the expanding miraculous ice when the ambient sinks below 32 degrees. The infographic below gives a general depiction of the rink building process.  

Back to rink boards. Rink boards have a great function and add character and personality to the outdoor rink. Some options for rink boards are:  &#;2-by&#; lumber, plywood, commercial plastic boards, PVC tubing frames and snow banks. These are all viable options, but it is up to the rink designer to choose between cost, effort, aesthetics and their overall vision for the rink.

The three most viable options are lumber 2 by 12&#;s, ¾&#; CDX plywood or a commercial backyard rink board solution. A PVC frame is not very practical in that it cannot accommodate pitch. Since no yards are truly flat, PVC is not a good choice as a side wall containment. Also, snow banks are also very short lived as they will be lost in the first thaw. Yes, snow is free, but if you are serious about having a decent backyard family rink, choose a construction material as a rink board. The chart above quickly summarizes the differences of the three types of boards. 

Continue reading to learn more on the advantages and disadvantages of each board type. 

Commercial poly boards

Poly boards are for those who want a product that will look awesome, endure weather and pass the test of time. If the atmosphere and look of the rink is high on the priority list, they are well worth the investment. Poly boards are inexpensive compared to true dashers, but you can still expect them to be several times more expensive than wood alternatives.

When you look at a backyard rink as an investment in recreation over a span of several years, poly boards fit the bill.  Poly boards can be used as a four-season option as well. They are also an excellent option for recreation centers, country clubs and parks.

There are only a handful of manufacturers that make a commercial version of backyard rink boards. Iron Sleek has the Poly Steel rink board that is specifically designed for backyard rinks and is very easy to use.

The advantages of commercial poly boards are many. The boards are attractive, durable, waterproof and weather resistant.  They truly make a backyard rink look professional. Iron Sleek poly steel boards are easy to store and simple to assemble. If commercial poly boards are in the budget, they are simply a pleasure.  

There are only a few disadvantages to poly boards. The main disadvantage is that they cost more than lumber alternatives. While there are only a few commercially available plastic poly board options on the market, they are not all built the same. When choosing a poly board, you want to be sure that it can be cut or customized to exact lengths in the field. In addition, make sure it is STEEL reinforced (steel is three times stronger than aluminum) to optimize overall strength.   Iron Sleek Poly boards can be cut and customized in the field. Openings can be cut in and lengths can be cut and tweaked to fit tight spots. It is not as simple as cutting lumber, but it is a very manageable task.

The last disadvantage would be the strength of the plastic board if it is not properly reinforced with steel on top and bottom. Be sure that you choose a board with top and bottom steel reinforcement. 

&#;2 by&#; lumber

&#;2 by&#; lumber is a great choice for building a skating rink. There are many benefits for using 2 by 12 lumber for rink boards. 2 by 12&#;s come in a wide range of lengths so our customers can build a rink without a single cut. Local lumberyards may even have 20 footers. With 20-foot boards, Iron Sleek&#;s 20-by-20 rink kit could be built with just four boards &#; no board seams! As an FYI, most of our customers who use 2 by 12&#;s buy them in 10-foot lengths as they fit just perfectly in a minivan. &#;2 by&#; lumber is also durable, easily stacked to build a second story (using the Iron Sleek extension bracket), and is the most cost-effective solution for building a basic rink enclosure. &#;2 by&#; lumber is a tough construction material, so fewer Iron Sleek brackets supports could be spanned across the boards. Lastly, &#;2 by&#; lumber is milled with a radius edge which helps prevent liner cuts where plywood has sharper, splintery edges.

A shortcoming of using lumber for an outdoor rink is that the lumber is heavy and sometimes boards can warp if not stored properly. Iron Sleek base cove works out great to fill the gaps on warped boards. &#;2 by&#; lumber boards are heavy, they can split along the grains and they can warp with time. All in all, for about $1.25-1.50 per foot investment, &#;2 by&#; lumber is a great inexpensive solution for building a skating rink. 

Goto ABOSN to know more.

Some tips on using lumber:

&#; Try telling your lumberyard that you are building a backyard rink and that you would be willing to take boards with knots for a discount. You may be pleasantly surprised. When I built my first rink, I got 50 percent off for taking &#;inferior boards.&#; The store clerk will be impressed that you are doing something so awesome and a few knots in a board will not affect the quality of your rink.

&#; Be careful to not miscalculate lumber sizes. &#;2 by&#; lumber is just a nominal size. The actual thickness of the lumber is only 1 ½&#;. The same is true for the height. For example, a 2" by 12" is actually 1 ½&#; by 11".   

&#; Treated lumber is not necessary unless you plan on leaving your rink set up out in the elements year-round. Treated lumber costs more and is much heavier. Since the liner will protect the boards during the rink season, treated lumber is not required.

&#; &#;2 by&#; lumber is a great choice for building a free skating rink on a mildly-pitched site. The rink will go up easily and it is easier to maintain as snow could simply be pushed off the sides versus having to throw the snow off.  

¾&#; CDX plywood for rink boards

¾&#; plywood is also widely used as rink boards. Did you know that in the olden days plywood was used to build above ground pools? Plywood is tough, durable and readily available. Plywood can be picked up at any home improvement store. Plywood boards can last from 1-3 years, depending on how much exposure they receive from the elements. You might be able to get a little more life out of treated plywood, but it is usually the adhesive between the layers that breaks down. 

Plywood has several benefits for building a backyard rink. Some of these are listed below:

&#; Plywood boards are taller. &#;2 by&#; lumber maxes out at 11.5 inches while plywood is 48 inchec tall. There is no longer a need to stack boards when using plywood.

&#; Plywood boards store easily since they are actually half the thickness of &#;2 by&#; lumber.

&#; Plywood is better for building a hockey rink because you can have taller boards. 

&#; Plywood is the choice of simplicity for commercial installers as they can stack and transport more boards to the job site.

Some of the challenges with plywood are:

&#; Plywood sheets must be ripped by using a saw. Ripping means cutting the board along its length with a power saw. I strongly recommend asking your lumber provider to rip the plywood. Sometimes lumber yards rip plywood at no cost. I have been charged the fair price of $2 for a 4&#; by 8&#; sheet. 

&#; You will need Iron Sleek base cove or top soil to protect the liner because the edges are sharp and could cut the liner from below. Cove or dirt is critical with plywood, especially when water levels exceed 11 inches. 

&#; Plywood flexes so that a rink wall that once appeared straight will look wavy. The water pressure and ice expansion will show board flex throughout your rink season. 

&#; The tops of the plywood are flimsy so they must be mended with Iron Sleek Mending channel or basic mending plates. 

&#; Screws do not bite in as well into plywood as they do with &#;2 by&#; lumber. You must be especially careful to not strip out your screws when using a power drill. 

&#; Plywood does not last as long as lumber.

I hope these rink building tips were helpful and that you are now closer to knowing which way to go with your rink boards. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. Wishing you all the best for your backyard ice skating rink.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Hockey Dasher Boards. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.