Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas to use for for rubber matting to use on cement. My rink is in backyard and we have the kids get dressed in the heated garage and then walk out of garage and through yard around side of the house to the backyard to the rink. Wondering if anyone else uses the black skate protecting pads or tiles or what you all use? Websites, ideas?

Thanks!

Deke

You will see people using various things: some people use the rubber similar to matting that is used in horse stalls, other people just strap their skateguards or skaboots to the bottom and walk to the rink. I have a 28 foot path of plywood scraps laid down over interlock on the way to my rink. It works and does the job. It's also a second life for some old boards before they find their way into the fire.

I used this stuff for the walk out from the house to the rink...good for skate, a little tough on wallet, but it is a one-time investment and protects the deck from the skates and the skates from the deck...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Buffalo-Tool ... qdV2vRDvms

I've used relatively inexpensive 24" x 24" floor mat tiles that I found at Sam's Club before. They aren't going to last forever, but I have a bunch that are now going on 4 seasons that cover the floor of my tiled screen porch (equipment/skate storage) across the patio and then across about 10' of grass to my rink. Was afraid that they'd be too fragile and sharp skate blades would cut right into them, but I'm a tad bit north of 200 lbs and routinely walk to and from my rink on skates across these tiles and they have held up well enough so far. They seem to run around $20 for a pack of 8 tiles.

I use stall mats from Tractor Supply. A little expensive but they work great and they can be used year after year.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/r ... _vc=-10005

Yep, I had a customer this year use the stall mats. Look and feel just like the arena stuff. He bought 33 of them at $30/ea...do THAT math.

33x$30= my wife is going to kill me.

This guy went with his wife to pick them up, haha. I should have gone into IT sales...

You and me both, apparently.

I don't think my husband is going to let me spend more on mats then we spent on the rink. "Budget-Smudget".. ;)