Sun Valley Resort revamping iconic outdoor ice rink – boisedev.com

The well-known Sun Valley ice rink has welcomed skaters of all abilities for decades. It first opened in 1936 with the rest of the resort. It has appeared in movies, hosted the worlds most famous figure skaters and is a place many Idahoans have taken a lap (or a tumble).

But this winter, the ice is gone both on the outdoor rink, as well as the indoor rink next door where the Sun Valley Suns usually play.

No triple axels. No salchows. No nervous kids learning to skate.

But, the rinks will return.

We are replacing the entire mechanical refrigeration system that services both rinks as well as the floors beneath each ice surface, Scott Irvine, Ice Operations Manager for Sun Valley Resort, said. The scope of the project is extensive andwere thrilled to have it underway.

The resort closed the rinks in September, according to the Idaho Mountain Express, which forced the cancellation of the final planned outdoor ice show of the summer season. But the paper said the upgrade was already planned to start the next month. The rink reopened for a time in January when the outdoor temperatures were cool.

The work, as viewed late last month by BoiseDev, appeared extensive with the concrete surface of the outdoor rink entirely removed and work crews preparing the surface for new equipment.

Irvine said the refrigeration and piping system for the outdoor rink date to 1956. The indoor rink opened in 1975.

The upgrades should make the year-round outdoor rink, as well as its indoor sister, more energy efficient.

Modern refrigeration systems are much more energy efficient and reliable than their predecessors, Irvine said. Our new system is also capable of providing more refrigeration capacity, which will help us maintain more consistent ice in the warmer months.

Combined, the two rinks have nearly 25 miles of piping, Irvine said.

The Sun Valley Co. got approval last fall from the City of Sun Valley to add a new 1,924 square foot addition to the existing skate shop building next to the rink for the new ice plant. Before the upgrades, the equipment sat outdoors behind a chain link fence.

A few other changes are coming as part of the project.

We will also be upgrading the lighting in the indoor rink from CFL bulbs to LEDs, which will not only improve the aesthetics but cut our lighting energy consumption in half, Irvine said. There will also be some cosmetic touch-ups and landscape improvements, but the buildings will retain the character and charm so unique to Sun Valley.

Irvine said the rinks should be back open for the heart of the summer season in June.

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Sun Valley Resort revamping iconic outdoor ice rink - boisedev.com