Info & Tips

Skating firms and Coaches alike have pivoted to online classes and building virtual communities by implementing synthetic ice skating.

One particular Coach stands above many others in social media reach, online classes, and pivoting through the pandemic.

Michelle Hong, a former competitive skater, turned coach and entrepreneur, was already "ahead of the curve."

Coach Hong is also an ambassador for PolyGlide Ice and has done a fantastic job integrating our brand with hers and showing new way to implement synthetic ice skating.

We’re going to talk about Coach Hong, her use of social media, and how she has supported PolyGlide Ice.

We’ll also cover how other Coaches can use PolyGlide Ice to their advantage when rinks are not a viable option.

 

A Little About Coach Hong

Coach Michelle Hong is based out of Oakland, California.

Before her coaching journey, Hong was a competitive figure skater at Junior and Senior levels.

Her noticeable achievements as a competitive skater include the 2009 Central Pacific Regional Silver Medalist as a Junior and the 2010 ISI World Champion at the Senior Level.

She eventually moved on to coaching and choreography, starting the company, Coach Michelle Hong.

Hong’s company is dedicated to bringing training and skating-related content to the masses. 

 

 

The Power Of Social Media

Social media has been a central part of Hong’s business model.

She’s been slowly building her YouTube, Instagram and Tik Tok channels to help grow the sport of figure skating.

Hong’s content surrounds simple to advanced techniques helping skaters to build a solid foundation.

From a one-foot glide, loop jumps, crossovers, and more, Hong covers them all.

She even answers her follower’s questions with video tutorials. 

Hong also creates content off the ice, helping her followers learn stretches and exercises to improve strength and flexibility, a crucial part of figure skating.

Functional movements make the content accessible to people who don’t skate, significantly improving her reach.

Tik Tok has been incredibly useful in growing her brand, as she’s seen significant growth on the platform over the last year.

With over 350,000 followers, her hard work on content creation has paid off, landing her in publications like Disrupt Magazine and US Figure Skating.

Coach Hong shows us all the indelible power of social media.

Her work since 2016 has positioned her to be ready for the demands of digital connection.

Many hope to continue their training during a pandemic, and Hong’s content has delivered with the use of synthetic ice skating.

 

Making Skating Accessible Through The Pandemic

With a headstart online versus other skaters and coaches, Hong has consulted, provided coaching, and mentorship during the pandemic.

A host of content since 2016 built her social proof, allowing her to offer classes via Coach Michelle Academy.   

She turned her popular stretching videos into a Stretching course for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced skaters.

The course, taught live by Hong via Zoom, covers the techniques skaters should practice executing moves on the ice.

There will be more content to come, including Pre-Recorded courses.

Even if you don’t have access to a rink or have synthetic ice tiles at home, these exercises are geared towards bringing you massive value and preparing you to be a stronger skater.

Other coaches and skating instructors must find ways to connect with students and still earn an income.

Start by leveraging tools like Zoom and course creation software like Teachable.

To get the word out, focus on a social media platform like Hong, giving as much value as possible. 

 

Highlighting Diversity In Skating

 

Coach Hong is passionate about teaching others to skate and making what many consider a privileged sport more accessible.

She’s on a mission to improve diversity and accessibility in the sport. Her Cambodian-American heritage places her in a position of empathy. She also struggled with inclusion, affordability, and accessibility.

These experiences make her a key Membership Growth Consultant for US Figure Skating. 

Coach Hong regularly highlights skaters of color and differently-abled skaters on her social media platforms.

Her weekly IG Live segment, Paving The Way, highlights diversity and inclusivity in the sport. 

Her efforts have also led her to co-found FSDIA, the Figure Skating Diversity, and Inclusion Alliance.

The movement and its petition seek to drive the conversation and bring about change in the sport.

Diversity has always been a concern in all aspects of skating.

While decision-makers in skating acknowledge an overall discrimination issue, FSDIA feels little has happened to turn those words into action.

FSDIA seeks to “foster a more diverse & inclusive figure skating environment worldwide through policy change, program development & funding for the next generation of athletes.”

Hong has collaborated with Diversify Ice Fellowship and Foundation, a nonprofit we’ve had the privilege of working with as well.

These initiatives align with our belief that skating should be accessible to all. 

Skating In Your Kitchen?

Like Coach Hong, the pandemic has affected thousands of skater’s ability to visit rinks at will.

She had to pivot, and PolyGlide Ice’s Spin Station was a great solution.

We provide High Molecular Weight panels that can be installed on almost any hard service. 

 

 

These panels interlock like puzzles and are perfect for skates.

The Spin Station is specially made for figure skating.

Its triangular panel design helps set up the tiles that allow skaters to spin, turn, and jump safely.

We’ve always encouraged setting up Spin Stations in your driveway, spare room, basement, or backyard.

But we were pleasantly surprised to see Coach Hong set up in her kitchen!

Since then, she’s created unique content on Tik Tok and Instagram. 

For starters, she created content on what it feels like to skate in your kitchen.

PolyGlide Ice feels close to natural ice, which allows Coach Hong to train in her own space.

Since then, her kitchen skating videos have gained popularity on Tik Tok, with some earning over 400,000 views, like this one, where she confirms our Spin Station does not ruin blades.

She continues to be a great ambassador for the brand, showing off amazing YouTube content as well.

As a takeaway, people who can be themselves while being authentic, original, and consistent can find success online. 

Are you getting the best out of your synthetic ice panels?

If you’re an ice skating coach or enthusiast, you can gain an edge on the competition with synthteic ice skating.

We see our Spin Station and other products as an investment in your long-term skating career since synthetic ice panels last many years.

Here are some ways you can use your at-home rink during the pandemic:

1. Have one-on-one (or more) classes in person: Move your training from the crowded rink to the safety of your home. Have your student come over to your location to practice on your Spin Station. Make sure to follow the proper safety protocols so everyone can train without the risk of infection. If done right, you can have several students creating a sustainable source of income during the day. 
2. Create skating related content: Like Hong, you too can start teaching your audience your skating techniques and tips. Social media is not a zero-sum game. More followers for someone else does not mean fewer followers for you. You can build your own tribe with consistent content. Synthetic ice panels allow you to skate at home while expressing your personality. Aim for platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In your bio, find a way to connect with your audience personally (for example, by collecting emails or text messages).
3. Seek out sponsorships and collaborations: Exposure to the right person can open the door to sponsorships or partnerships with businesses. Influencer Marketing can add an extra income source to sustain your business or practice during the pandemic. Don’t be afraid to pitch to companies in your field, even with a small following. Micro-influencers (someone who has between 1,000 and 10,000 followers) can be valuable as they are more engaged. 

Conclusion

Skating is not just a way to earn income for Coach Hong.

It’s a way for her to be herself, be creative, and impact the lives of others.

The pandemic has no doubt created a strain on her business, but she powered through.

It’s not been easy as Hong still skates at her local rink, making sure to follow the proper safety protocols.

Even there, she posts helpful (and funny) content.

She’s a key ambassador for our products since it allows her to hone her skills and keep her competitive edge.

If you want to learn more about Coach Hong, check out her website or follow her YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram accounts.

While things may come back to some semblance of life as we remember, virtual learning is the future, regardless of your niche. Consider setting up space for your ice skating needs at home.

You get to skate year-round and can use your at-home station to navigate the pandemic.

Feel free to contact us for more information or a consultation on providing panels to suit your needs. 

Take a second and check out some of our most popular rink packages!

PolyGlide Ice - Home Ice Tiles

PolyGlide Ice - Pro-Glide Panels

 

Keep on Skating! 

Jim Loughran, PolyGlide Ice
www.polyglideice.com

Having fun with PolyGlide Ice is what do you do when it’s the middle of summer in Los Angeles, and you want to ice skate. 

Popular Fortnite streamer and YouTuber, Frazier -  aka Faze Kay - and his brother Jarvis, missed the cold weather and ice sports in their native England. 

Kay’s solution; to have some ice shipped to the Faze Clan mansion so he can ice skate around the pool.

After calling Antarctica for a batch of fresh ice, which of course, would melt in the LA sun, he was running out of ideas. 

Faze Nikan had a suggestion: get a lubricated synthetic material that works anywhere in any weather. 

That’s when we received a call from Kay! We were happy to help out the clan and sent some of our synthetic ice panels to the Faze Clan mansion.

 

Who are the Faze Clan?

For over ten years, the Faze Clan has been one of the premier eSports organizations in the world.

The company competes in several tournaments around the globe, including Fortnite, FIF, Valorant, Call of Duty, and many others.

The company’s growth over the years has been fueled by investment from celebrities, entrepreneurs, and athletes like Pitbull, Jimmy Iovine, Offset, and Ben Simmons. 

The Faze Clan soon evolved into content creation with several personalities on their roster creating Twitch and YouTube content.

Famous faces include Faze Kay and Faze Jarvis, who rack up tens of millions of views on their channels each month. 

The content creators recently moved into an LA mansion called the Faze house, where they spend time improving their craft while creating YouTube and Twitch content. 

What are Synthetic ice panels?

Synthetic ice panels are interlocking sheets made of a strong polyethylene compound.

The panels are infused with a compound that mirrors the feel of real ice skating. 

The durable material works with real metal skates and has minimal friction when compared to real ice.

If you’re thinking that metal skates will damage the tiles, it’s actually the opposite. The grooves formed by metal skates improve the skating experience over time.

You can connect the panels to create an ice rink or space for hockey, ice skating, figure skating, or even games like curling. Seeing and feeling those panels were too good to be true.

When Kay slapped on his skates and stepped on one of the sheets, he was convinced that this was just what he was looking for.

Setting things up

What we did not expect was the brothers to have their own Winter Olympics in the back yard! To start, Nikan set up the rink around the pool.

Since the synthetic ice panels need a hard flat surface, the guys also bought plywood to use as a base. 

Nikan then came up with three challenges for Kay and Jarvis.

The winner receives a special mystery box.

Since these two had no experience ice skating, this would be a fun way to get accustomed to skates while having some friendly sibling rivalry. 

Our synthetic ice is great for sports like ice hockey and figure skating.

But there are some fun activities and challenges you can do too.

Here’s what happened at the Faze mansion and how you can have your own challenges.

Game 1: The Time Trial

With helmets on for safety, the guys jumped into their first challenge; a simple time trial.

The brothers had 3 rounds to skate around half of the swimming pool as quickly as possible.

The fastest time would be the winner of the round, with the best 2 out of 3 the winner.

 

Kay easily took the first round but destroyed his time in the second and third rounds.

Kay was able to cut his time down to 9.67 seconds.

Jarvis got swept 3-0 as he took some time to find his balance in the skates.

Even trying to sabotage Kay’s second run was not enough to lose this one. 

How You Can Do It At Home

Time trials are a great way to improve your speed, balance, and control on the ice.

It’s also a great way to get your competitive juices flowing. For safety, it’s best not to set the ice panels next to a swimming pool.

However, you can set the panels in a line in the backyard, garage, or driveway. 

Have someone keep time, while each person takes turns skating from one end to the other.

A group of kids or adults can even turn it into a relay event, where the fastest team wins.

Try a time trial event before hockey practice, ice skating practice, or when you have a group of friends over to the house.

Game 2: The Jump Style Contest

 

For the second game, Nikan wanted to increase the difficulty.

The panels were set up in a straight line that fell off a ledge about one foot high.

The goal of the game is to jump off the ledge and land cleanly. 

Nikan would judge Kay and Jarvis on the style of each jump out of 10.

Falling after the jump or leaving the ice after the jump would be an automatic disqualification.

The brothers were up to the challenge.This time, Jarvis stepped up.

After Jarvis scored only 1 point on his first attempt, Kay fell on his first attempt, giving him a 0.

Kay came roaring back with a 5 on his second attempt to Jarvis’ score of 4. 

With the scores tied, it was down to the last jump.

Jarvis scored a 5, but Kay’s unimpressive jump landed him a 4!In the end, Jarvis won the game by two points.

With the games tied, there was just one more game left to crown an overall champion!

Time for Your Jump Style Game

Figure skaters are known for their impressive jumps and practice different jumping techniques off the ice.

But there could be a little friendly competition on the ice! You and a figure skating friend can practice simple jumps on your synthetic ice rink and get a friend to give you a score out of 10.

If you’re not into jumping, you can try a gliding competition. Set your panels up in a straight line. Take turns gliding the length of the panels on two feet then on one foot. The person to reach the furthest point wins the competition. 

Game 3: The Lego High Jump Challenge

 

Do you think you can perform a jump on the ice?

In the toughest challenge yet, the guys set up the panels on the grass, using the plywood boards as a base. In the middle of the ice strip was a wall of two rows of legos.

The brothers had to start from one end, skate to the middle, jump over the lego wall, and skate to the end.

The first person to fail the jump, while the other succeed, would lose the game.

But there was a catch.

After every round, Nikan would add two more levels to the lego wall.

With the competition at its peak, the brothers cleared the first three rounds with ease. 

At 8 layers high, Jarvis and Kay cleared their jumps.

To decide a winner, the wall was set to 10 layers high. Unfortunately, Jarvis crashed into the lego wall, leaving Kay to clear the legos and win the game.

In the end, Sweedish gamer (and very athletic) Faze Teeqo stole the show, jumping over the 12 rows of the blocks with ease.

The guys were so impressed, they gave the prize to Teeqo!

Ready For Your High Jump Challenge?  

Do you have legos at home? Set up your own high jump challenge to compete against your family or friends.

Jumping improves your strength, balance, and power.

You can set a wall of legos like the Faze house and take turns jumping over.

If you don’t have legos, a small box will do. 

If you want to take it up a notch, set up an obstacle course! Use cones, hockey sticks, pool noodles, or anything you can find.

Take turns going through the obstacle course.

The course could be a timed event, or must be completed without touching the obstacles. 

Conclusion

We were so happy that the guys at the Faze mansion were able to experience how to have fun with PolyGlide Ice during an LA heat wave. 

We made these synthetic ice panels out of a love for skating and hockey.

However, you can use it to have some fun challenges too!

With everyone still under some kind of quarantine, setting up some panels are a great way to learn skating, challenge your friends, and beat the boredom.

At the same time, these fun games increase your confidence on the ice.

You’ll also see an improvement in your speed, strength, and balance.

When you’re ready to skate against others or hit a large skating rink, your competition will not know what hit them.

These are just some of the challenges you can do on any of our synthetic ice rink packages.

If you’ve completed a challenge or made up some of your own, we’d love to see.

Tag us on our Instagram page. 

Take a look at some of our most popular rink packages!

PolyGlide Ice - Home Ice Tiles

PolyGlide Ice - Pro-Glide Panels

 

Keep on Skating! 

Jim Loughran, PolyGlide Ice
www.polyglideice.com

Home Hockey Training

Hockey on synthetic ice offers the ideal home ice advanatge for any elite player. 

The sport may not get it’s due like many of the other mainstream sports.

But according to Statista, More than 5 million Americans picked up the sport in the last 10 years.

That means kids and teens are still picking up the sport, raring to learn and to become great players.

Of course, they’re going to need all the training they can get.

Even adults and full professionals need to train.

That’s why hockey on synthetic ice has been so important to the hockey industry.

A little back story

I’ve been a lover of hockey for decades.

It’s this love for the game that made me try to replicate it when I was not by the rink. 

I’m not talking about a tennis ball and roller blades in a cul-de-sac.

That’s an amazing experience in itself.

But I’m talking about a real (or as close to real) hockey experience.

One with actual ice skates and a puck.

For years, our company has been providing that experience.

This guide will help you set up and play hockey on synthetic ice, the way it was meant to be played. 

 

 

What is synthetic ice?

Synthetic ice is made of durable sheets of polyethylene panels that emulate the slick, skating feeling of ice skating.

These panels can be cut to fit a particular space.

Others are available in a standard size for a small strip or space in the home.

Once set up, you can use your actual ice skates on the surface, giving you a sweet skating experience.

With these artificial panels, you don’t need expensive cooling equipment and maintenance.

They’re portable, long-lasting, and, most of all, fun!

Why set up synthetic ice?

Now we can hear the gears turning in your head.

You can use synthetic ice tiles for your favorite pastimes like ice skating, and even curling.

But we’re all here for a hockey setup.

When it comes to hockey, a synthetic ice setup will be best for the following reasons:

• You want to get your kids into the sport: If you have kids who’ve expressed interest in hockey, this is a great opportunity to get them and keep them in the sport.
• You need to fuel the fire: You may have some budding mites or squirts in your house that you want to help improve their skills - or burn off some extra energy.
• For professional development: Are you a budding professional or high-performance athlete that needs their own space? A synthetic ice space allows training all through the year, without the added cost of a full ice setup. 
• No access to facilities: With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, you don’t see yourself or your kids heading to the city rink or an ODR in the near future. So you need a space that’s not only accessible but safe.

With one or more of these reasons in mind, it’s time to get your first set of synthetic ice panels.

 

 

What to look for in your synthetic ice

Before making that purchase it’s best to be clear on a few things:

• Who’s it for?:  Think about how many persons would be using the ice panels. Would you have neighbors over? Is it just for your professional training? This will determine the number of panels you will need. It would suck if you need to get more panels because there are more users than expected.
• How will it be used? : Is it for fun games in the afternoon? Or will it be for simple drills to improve speed, strength, or dexterity? This will determine the quality of artificial ice acquired. A high-density option that’s going to stay in a fixed space will work well for heavy use.
• Where will it be installed?: Speaking of fixed space, it’s a good idea to earmark space for your hockey on synthetic ice. Will it be a garage, basement, or backyard? This will determine if you need additional equipment for walls or lubrication.

With those particulars checked off, make sure to ask your provider about the panels themselves. 

1 - Coefficient of Friction

The Coefficient of Friction is a good starting point.

Friction determines the gliding ability as it opposes motion.

Therefore if the coefficient of friction in your ice rink is low, then you will have a higher gliding power. 

2 - Ask about the materials

Some material, like our infused Pro-Glide panels, work best for longterm, intense use.

Make sure to choose the right material based on your needs.

More importantly, make sure that every part of your panel contributes to a healthy, happy environment.

Find out if the company uses environmentally friendly material and production practices.

3 - Set up and connection

Look for a company that’s willing to work with you for setup.

Once you give them the dimensions of your space, they should be able to tell you exactly what you need to fill the space.

Consider getting larger, custom panels for larger spaces.

This means there will be fewer seams made where the two panels connect.

Panels should seamlessly link and feel as smooth as possible.

 

 

Time to install

With panels in hand, you can now set up for space for hockey.

Before slapping together your artificial ice, make sure to check the space thoroughly.

You’d want an even surface to get a great hockey experience.

Clear any debris from the area before installation. 

More importantly, the ground must be flat, so that skating is smooth.

This also minimizes the chances of injury.

If the subsurface is not flat, an underlayment or plywood subfloor is vital.

This will help the artificial ice tiles lay better, keep level, reduce moisture and sound. 

Once you install the subfloor, place the panels down in order, making sure each connects snugly.

In an enclosed space like a garage or basement, leave some space between the walls.

Flooring of any material tends to expand in hotter months. 

Slap on those skates!

We could assume at the same time that you were buying the panels, you had some skates ready!

Conventional skates can be used on your new rink.

Note that the skates may need to be sharpened more than on natural ice.

However, the panels become broken in and more responsive with continued use.

So this will reduce the number of sharpenings in the longterm. 

Will this feel different from natural ice?

Without a doubt, natural ice has a kind of gliding effect that has been a challenge to match.

However, the manufacturers of the synthetic ice industry have started implementing specific infused surfaces that are getting them closer to the feeling of skating.

There will be some resistance, however, many hockey players find the resistance helps build strength and speed for the real ice.

With that said, choose some of the best skates on the market.

It’s better to make an investment in skates that will help you crush the competition! 

You could try several skates such as:

• CCM Jet Speed Skates
• Bauer Vapor 2X Pro
• Bauer Nexus
• Bauer Supreme 1S and 2S
• CCM Super Tacks

Don’t forget the rest of the equipment

 

Of course, we will need some more equipment to make our hockey on synthetic ice at home dreams a reality.

Chances are you would have some of these pieces of equipment already but just in case:

• Hockey Stick: Make sure to get more than one stick, if possible, for yourself or your hockey-playing family.
• Puck a.k.a your Biscuit: A plastic or rubber training biscuit helps you get faster, and silkier with the stick. More importantly, it can save broken windows and noses!
• Goals: Pick up two lightweight, standard goals for some intense games! If there’s a goalie in the house, this can help with shot-stopping skills and flexibility. While you’re at it, some shooting targets can help with accuracy!
• Training Equipment: While you can use simple household items in place of cones, pick up some agility cones or other equipment to help with speed and change of direction.
• Safety!: While it’s easy to go play without safety in mind, hockey at home can lead to injuries. Of course, it brings out the competitive nature of all involved! Make sure to get a helmet, elbow, and knee pads for protection, if you’re playing with others.    

 

 

Time to play!

Now it’s time to get some good use out of your space!

If you’re playing with friends, or your little mites are raring to go, “friendly” games are a great way to start.

Set a target - like the first to 5 goals - and start playing! Take some time to get accustomed to the ice.

To make things more exciting, you can have penalty shootouts, giving each other the chance to practice some sweet goalie skills.

Practice Drills

Practice makes permanent.

Most high-performance athletes get artificial rinks installed in their homes to hone specific skills.

While it’s fun to keep playing games and penalty shootouts for the intense competition, getting some drills in can help you and your budding players.

These simple drills below would get stronger, faster, and more intelligent in the sport.

1. Cutting

Learn how to navigate tight spaces with a simple cutting drill.

First, get five small cones or items and label them A to E. Put A and E a fair distance apart.

Cone B and D should be placed the same distance from A and E and should be closer to each other.

Now, place cone C even closer to B and D.

Begin from cone A towards B while dribbling. Cut to C, then reduce your speed and pull your ball around D.

Dribble to E and finish at A. Record the time spent.

 

2. Pop and Burst

Let cone A and E be 15ft from each other.

Let C be 30 ft away from the duo.

Place cone B and D at 12 ft from A and E.

Let B and D have three cones each.

Start at A, dribble to B. using elimination skill, pass through the cones, and sprint to C.

Head for D and pass through the funnels using elimination skill again. Finish at the E point.

Don't forget to record your time!

 

3. Lateral Movement Drills

Mount cone A, B, and D 15 ft away from each other.

Place C and E 9 ft from B. Begin at A.

Head for B and double pull to C and then to B. Burst forward around D and double pull again at B.

Dribble back to A to finish. Record your time.

Maintaining your artificial ice

Cleaning and maintenance is the key to the long health of your hockey space.

Skating on synthetic ice cause abrasions, dirt, and shavings.

Shavings are a natural part of skating on the panels.

Use a soft brush to clean shavings and a wet mop or cloth to clear dirt.

Artificial ice panels last several years, going well past the warranty date. 

Conclusion

Hockey on synthetic ice is fun and can shape a hockey skill or career for years.

It’s a great alternative for those with little access to facilities, training, and even playing time.

Setup is a simple process as long as there is some planning beforehand. 

Before starting, have a clear idea of the space and purpose of the ice.

This can help you save time and money.

Get home-friendly equipment like hockey sticks, pucks, and goals.

These will ensure you get the best performance possible while being safe. 

Over time, you will build your hockey skills and love for the game.

If you need help with setting up your very first synthetic ice for hockey at home, reach out to us today.

We’ll help you through the selection process so you can have a space to use for years to come.

Take a second and check out some of our most popular rink packages!

PolyGlide Ice - Home Ice Tiles

PolyGlide Ice - Pro-Glide Panels

 

Keep on Skating! 

Jim Loughran, PolyGlide Ice
www.polyglideice.com