The Experts Known As 'Ice Meisters' Create Perfect Olympic Skating Surfaces
They're not the Zamboni drivers. These skilled technicians know how to make ice for figure skating, speedskating, hockey and curling — each requiring different temperatures, textures and hardness.
by Melissa Block
Feb 19, 2018
3 minutes
In the Winter Olympics, where races can be won or lost by thousandths of a second, tiny imperfections can make all the difference.
Nowhere is this more true than in the ice venues, where skilled technicians called "ice meisters" have honed their expertise over years of crafting the perfect surface.
Make that surfaces: It turns out that all ice is not created equal.
Depending on the sport, the ice might need to be softer or harder, colder or warmer, textured or smooth.
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