News
Newcastle Ice Rink triumphs against Extreme Weather
The weather in December 2015 was officially record-breaking. According to the Met Office the UK experienced the warmest December on record, alongside gale force winds and almost double the expected rainfall*. All of which combined to make very tricky conditions for Life’s annual outdoor ice-rink.
After 15 years’ experience running the region’s favourite outdoor ice rink, it takes a lot to faze the Life team, however this season’s erratic weather has certainly proved an interesting challenge. Rarely has the rink had to operate in a month that saw record breaking warmth, gale force winds and heavy downpours (often all in the same day!).
“Creating the perfect ice rink is a gradual process, which requires each layer of water to be applied and frozen individually before the next layer is added, to be sure of a strong and smooth surface.” explained Terry McCartney, Head of Technical Operations at Life. “Glycol chillers run at a bracing minus 12 degrees to keep the rink perfectly frozen, which proved essential when the outside temperatures reached 14 or 15 degrees! “
He added: “Luckily we have a very skilled Operations and Technical team that are constantly working to maintain perfect ice conditions, ensuring that our visitors can relax and enjoy their skating experience –whatever the weather!”
Life is offering 2-4-1 on weekday skating tickets until 12 February 2016, so let’s keep fingers crossed for cold weather. Download the offer here.
