MGoIceRink
So I decided to do a backyard ice rink this winter for the kids to skate on and as a finishing touch I iced over a block M at center ice to add some maize and blue flair. I am going to have to get another inch or so of ice over it in the next week or so to make sure the skates to beat it up too bad but it turned out pretty good and the kids call the rink Yost-South.
When I was in high school my brother and I painted up my parents side lot to look like a replica of Michigan Stadium turf complete with 6' tall "MICHIGAN" letters in each endzone. We put flood lights on conduit poles so we could play at night and I remember friends of friends that I didn't even know coming over for night pick-up games. Our quick 4-on-4 pick-up games quickly turned into full 11-on-11 battles.
I posted this because I wanted to see if anyone else did this kind of stuff or had any photos of their own personal UM fields, rinks or basketball courts.
Go Blue!
December 12th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
This is awesome, I wish I did this when I was younger
December 12th, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^
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December 12th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^
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December 12th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
An ice rink for ANTS??! The Derek Zoolander Yost South Arena should be at least...THREE TIMES THIS LARGE!
December 12th, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^
Well done indeed, sir.
I wish I had the space in my postage stamp yard to do something like this because I probably would. As it stands, the Michigan flag on the flagpole and the block "M" on the kids' basketball hoop will have to do.
December 12th, 2014 at 8:26 PM ^
do you have permission to use that trademark?
/dave brandon'd
/s
December 12th, 2014 at 8:26 PM ^
I would hate to get in those corners.
December 12th, 2014 at 8:29 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^
Get your kids practicing. You'll thank me later
December 12th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
Before we moved from Minnesota back to Michigan a few years ago, I had a great backyard for a rink (32 x 56). Here are a couple of photos (I posted links to pre- and post-flooding pictures below. Not sure how to get the pics to show up themselves.)
December 12th, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
That's so damn cool. Embedded styrene in your big-ass back yard ice rink. Talk about being king of the castle. Well done, man. Well done.
December 13th, 2014 at 12:25 AM ^
That's some serious shit.
December 13th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
I grew up in a rural area with a big back yard (2 acres total). So I feel qualified in saying that you have done great things with your space, my friend. WOW. Way to go all out on the size!!! That is so awesome.
December 12th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
I could have done a with a little less snow that winter. Seemed like I had to shovel off the rink every other day!
December 12th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
Hopefully we'll have a nice cold stretch soon so you and the kids can get out there.
December 12th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
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December 13th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
The university seal- nice, nice touch. I really like that idea. Please do post those pics when you get it finished.
December 12th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
Nice! Did you make a Zamboni, too?
December 12th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
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December 12th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
for your ice rinks. those are excellent.
we have a good sized main barn (90 x 65) that years ago, before we gathered all the livestock, kids, and husbandry instruments, i turned into an indoor ice rink. we only had 3 kids at the time, but they had a great winter of skating. it is amazing how much the sun is the enemy of ice, even when the temps are plenty cold. the indoor ice rink was the answer, no doubt.
December 12th, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
My neighbors used to do a decent sized rink, I'd say 60X30 or so...but no block M! Very nice. Get the kids practicing to be the next Copp or Larkin.
I ran across this one a couple days ago, this would definitely be one perk to living in the UP:
December 12th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 11:31 PM ^
There are a lot of online companies that sell kits with the liner tarps and you just get some 1x12 lumber from Home Depot. Just make sure you really reinforce the boards...water is really heavy!
December 13th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
You definitely need to use one continuous tarp. Water will leak through any seams you try to tape together. And make sure you don't poke any holes in the tarp - it needs to be pristine or you're in for an uphill battle. Also, make sure you use a white one to reflect light. Finally, remove any leaves or other objects that enter the rink during flooding or you'll have leaf-sized soft spots/holes in your ice when the sun comes out!
December 12th, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 11:38 PM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 1:37 AM ^
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December 13th, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^
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December 13th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
I made my own for about $20 out of PVC pipe. Similar to this design:
December 12th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 12:14 AM ^
Love the Ice Rink. I've been thinking about doing the same myself but my yard is too sloped. Can't figure out how to realistically do it.
Here's my MGoYard, though. This is the third year I've put it up. It's 1/3 scale. No letters in the end zone, though. The "M" in the center is about 1/12 scale. Last year, a guy who works in the Athletic Department stopped by and handed me 4 free tickets to a game. Complemented my fandom and rewarded me with the tickets.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/
December 13th, 2014 at 12:28 AM ^
Bang up job on the field but you are right in putting an ice surface down would be tough. You could probably do a smaller one on the one end.
December 13th, 2014 at 6:55 AM ^
this is a long-overdue thread on 'the back yards of the mgobloggers' . very nice.
December 13th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
You guys have reeealy tolerant wives.