April 9, 2025 — Residents of Chicago will tell you that It’s been cold in the Windy City for the past two nights. That’s something that Nick Ricci loves and it gave him an opportunity to show off his discovery once again. The former Chicago Tribune staffer saw the mercury fall and he was busy in his backyard, making an outdoor rink. He doesn’t use a plastic liner, and he doesn’t have a refrigeration plant either. But what he has developed could revolutionize back yard ice rinks, municipal outdoor rinks, even skating trails. Best yet, it’s completely recyclable, good for the environment — and for your lawn!
Atmospheric Intelligence
Nicky calls his process, “A.I.” — but in his mind those initials stand don’t stand for Artificial Intelligence but Atmospheric Intelligence. As soon as the thermometer hits the freezing point, he’s in the back yard, sprinkling his base with thin layers of water. And what a base is it. It’s a paper-based solution he discovered while working at the Chicago Tribune. Over time, he’s perfected the process and says that as long as the thermsmeter is 32°F or colder, he can make ice. That’s the Atmospheric Intelligence courtesy of Mother Nature.
On Monday night, he misted his ice on the hour for 12 consecutive hours, requiring a 3-hour cure time. He was able to build up about a third of an inch of ice. “It’s not very thick, but it’s very hard,” he says. I watched him skate on it and what amazed me the most is that ice wasn’t producing any snow.
Broadsheets
What Nick has developed is a low-cost reusable base that will last for at least a couple of seasons. And when it’s finished, it’s completely recyclable. And there’s more good news. Unlike plastic liners on the market for backyard rinks, this base won’t suffocate your grass. With Nicky’s base, you just roll it up and store it away. It dries up on its own. And the white? That’s courtesy of the paper. Similar to the broadsheets of yore. So no more ice paint!
Watch what Nick has to say:
Nicky’s been playing with paper as a skating base since 2008. He discovered ice making way before that, as a kid. In Chicago, when the Sanitation Department would move the snow off the streets into the parks, back in the day, the firemen would come and hose it down, leaving ice behind.
“I watched that. And I liked the ice they created,” Nicky tells me. “And then I went to a Blackhawks hockey game with my cousin. We sat right next to the doors and we saw it all. Those players, they’re walking on blades and then, “psssssss”. They were gliding! I was hooked.
Not Pond Ice, but Pro Ice
“The problem with the backyard ice rinks that most people build is they’re building a pool, not a rink,” he says. “This solution lets you make ice and keep it when Mother Nature is ready. And as you can see, the ice is level and is hard to scar.”
Before you run out and buy a bunch of paper, that’s the contributing element but not the entire package. Nicky’s going to be building more ice tonight and will post more pictures in the morning but that’s probably it for the season.
For more information, check out Nicky’s Facebook page at http://facebook.com/nick.a.ricci
