Science plays part in rink preparation

Gangneung – It’s like a football pitch: the better the surface, the better the play, says the ice expert at the Olympic figure skating rink.

Remy Boehler is the Frenchman whose job it is to ensure perfect underblade conditions for Yuzuru Hanyu and all the other skaters bidding for Olympic glory over the next fortnight.

Easy, one might think, with the 2018 Games braced to be one of the coldest on record.

But the finger-numbing, sub-zero temperatures outside the rink can pose their own problems, as the Pyeongchang Games ice expert said yesterday.

“The ice is sensitive and reacts to everything – to air temperature, humidity, to the quality of water.

“If it’s very cold outside, like now, and that’s felt inside, it can pick up on that, you have to have good insulation inside.”

Boehler has drivers from Korea, Japan and America to call on.

The arena on the South Korean east coast has a capacity of 12 000 which presents its own set of problems.

“When you have 12 000 people the temperature can rise 100 in 10 minutes,” Boehler said.

“So to anticipate the change of setting points for the cooling machine we are using a new system of control which allows us to tell exactly what temperature it is in the hall.”

His job satisfaction is providing a surface for the skaters to perform at their best.

“The ice is the same for everyone, if we do a good job it helps them to skate better.”

Boehler’s manicured ice gets its first slice of competitive action today with the start of the team event. – Reuters