Robert McLeman, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of geography and environmental studies, says refrigerated rinks may represent the future of outdoor skating. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Plateau-Mont-Royal on Feb. Nantais said Montrealers who wish to skate can do so at a refrigerated rink, or indoors by checking the schedules for free skating at a local arena. However, most refrigerated rinks were open. Speaking for the city of Montreal, Kim Nantais said most of the skating rinks in the city were closed at the beginning of last week because of poor weather conditions. Above: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park in Plateau-Mont-Royal on Feb. Robert McLeman, a professor in Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of geography and environmental studies, says climate modelling shows this winter will become more typical in the decades to come, with yo-yo temperatures. “I would definitely say the outdoor rink is an endangered species.” “By 2050, this will be a typical winter in Montreal,” he said. This is the third winter in the last decade when temperature fluctuations have made it difficult to maintain an outdoor rink. McLeman said the previous two winters were more typical for Montreal, but his climate modelling shows this winter will become more typical in the decades to come, with yo-yo temperatures. “Some folks get a little too excited and put a whole bunch of water as soon as it gets cold, and that can be bad, because you get this sandwich effect where the top will be frozen but the middle will be soft.” “Most folks (in Montreal) were able to get a rink going from mid-January until the end of January,” McLeman said, adding rink enthusiasts need a day or two after a thaw to get a rink back up to proper conditions. He said Montreal had its first outdoor rinks for a few days around Christmas, and everything melted until mid-January. They are freezing and thawing, and slush is building up on them.” “We had a week when it went from minus-15 to plus-2 in the space of 24 hours, which is just terrible for outdoor skating rinks. “From Chicago to Halifax, it’s been a really challenging year for outdoor skating,” McLeman said. YTPZDPPDfH- Rideau Canal Skateway February 8, 2023 While we have made progress, the current condition of the ice prevents us from opening the #RideauCanal Skateway in time for this weekend. ICE UPDATE □ | The colder temperatures from the past week have allowed the teams to flood the ice several times. It has never had to wait this long, and weather forecasts don’t yet indicate there will be enough cold days in winter’s final sprint. In Ottawa, the National Capital Commission has not been able to open the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink, so far this season. ![]() Called RinkWatch ( ), the project analyzes user data from across North America. Several years ago, McLeman decided to study climate change using data from people who put up their own backyard rinks. Montreal is not alone - it has been a frustrating winter for outdoor enthusiasts nearly everywhere on the continent, said Robert McLeman, a professor in Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of geography and environmental studies in Waterloo, Ont. “If it’s wet but not cold, then all you’re getting is slush and rain.” ![]() “If it’s just cold but it’s also wet, then you’re constantly shovelling and you can never water, because the snow will ruin it,” Pinsky said. ![]() Pinsky, who is something of an expert in the domain of outdoor rinks - having set up several dozen around the city during the height of the pandemic - said two weather conditions must be met if a rink is to stand a chance: it must be cold and dry. Photo by Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette Phil Pinsky hasn’t been able to get much use out of the backyard rink at his Dollard-des-Ormeaux home this winter. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.
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