Academy
Ice Rink Academy
HIPPOTRON® Academy is a technical training programme dedicated exclusively to ice rinks. It brings together ice physics, water preparation, resurfacing, cooling technology, air handling, energy management and modern operational control into a single practical system.
Courses for ice rinks
The science of ice
A basic introduction to the physics of water and ice under ice rink conditions. Participants gain an understanding of how ice produced under controlled conditions differs from natural ice, and why the quality of the surface arises from the interplay of water, temperature, crystallisation and the operating regime.
Ice preparation based on the laws of physics and nature
The course explains the formation of the crystalline structure of ice, the phase transition of water, thermal conductivity, the significance of thin layers and the relationship between temperature, hardness and brittleness. The result is a physically grounded procedure for laying down and preparing the ice surface.
Ice care through the season
A practical course on daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal ice care. It focuses on visual inspection, resurfacing, shaving, measurement, maintenance, handling critical situations, keeping an operating log and drawing up standard working procedures.
Typical errors in ice production and control
Participants learn to recognise errors in temperature control, resurfacing, water quality, the thickness of the ice surface, the indoor microclimate, the cooling system, the BMS and the assessment of consumption. The course shows why colder ice does not automatically mean better ice, and why no measure can be assessed without a comparable baseline.
Optimising ice hardness and operating costs
The course links the mechanical properties of the ice surface with its temperature, water quality and energy demand. Participants learn to monitor ice hardness and the related quantities, to work with the operating temperature envelope and to look for the optimum balance between ice quality and energy consumption.
Ideal water preparation for the ice surface
A comprehensive view of the path water takes from the source, through treatment and storage, to the ice resurfacer and the ice. The course covers water hardness, dissolved solids, hygiene, degassing, the temperature of resurfacing water, ongoing quality checks and the handling of shaved snow.
Cooling and heating of an ice rink
Participants gain an overview of the principle of the refrigeration cycle, the types of cooling system, refrigerants, compressors, condensers, control, and the use of waste heat. They learn to distinguish instantaneous output from long-term operating efficiency.
Optimal HVAC control
The course explains the effect of air, humidity, dew point and air movement on the thermal load on the ice surface. Participants learn to control air handling and dehumidification so as to limit condensation, fog, corrosion and unnecessary warming of the ice.
Energy economics and rink physics
Technical quantities are translated into operating costs and investment decisions. The course covers energy indicators, the cost of an operating hour of ice, performance comparison, the payback of measures, the measurement of savings and a long-term plan for energy optimisation.
The trained ice resurfacer operator and the well-run rink
The course defines the knowledge and responsibilities of the ice resurfacer operator, the technician and the rink manager. It deals with ice quality, safety, statutory inspections, operating documentation and the route to an evidence-based standard of work for both people and technology.
SMART solutions for ice rinks
An introduction to the systematic management of a rink using sensors, operating data, SCADA/BMS, automation and predictive maintenance. Participants learn how to begin with monitoring, which data have real value, and how to introduce smart control step by step, with a benefit that can be assessed.
AI support for ice rinks
The course presents practical uses of artificial intelligence in predicting consumption, detecting deviations, planning maintenance, working with image data and supporting the rink manager. AI does not replace physics or human responsibility here — it helps make better use of good operating data.
Comprehensive rink development and innovation
An umbrella course that brings ice, technology, energy, people, financing and modernisation together into a single development map. Participants draw up a path from quick operational improvements, through measurement and standardisation, to larger investments and a long-term innovation strategy.
IIHF norms and standards for ice rinks
The course provides orientation in the technical framework for the ice surface, rink geometry, the indoor microclimate, water, cooling, air handling, energy efficiency and operational safety. Participants learn to distinguish binding requirements, recommended practice and the rink's own internal operating standards.
HIPPOTRON® ICE — equipment and technology
A technical course on the role of HIPPOTRON® ICE in preparing water for the production and maintenance of the ice surface. It explains the design of the unit, the principle by which it acts physically on the water flowing through it, its integration into the rink's water regime, the conditions for correct use and how the operational benefit is assessed.
The training programme takes participants from an understanding of water and ice, through day-to-day care of the ice surface and the control of rink technologies, to measurement, energy management, work standardisation and long-term modernisation. The aim is not merely to complete a course, but to improve the way a rink prepares its ice, works with energy, keeps its operating documentation and decides on further measures.