Super-Glide History
Global Synthetic Ice has an easily traceable history, stages of its development
and creation of more perfect synthetic ice almost every seven years
Founded by Perry Boskus in late 1990s, the focus of the company has always been to create the most ice-like experience for hockey and figure skaters all over the world.
In 2020 Perry passed the business torch to another synthetic ice expert, Chris Crowley.
Super-Glide is the ultimate synthetic ice solution for any
and all artificial ice-skating rinks - from a small home
practice rink to a full-size commercial rink
Using the Latest Technology and the Most Modern Machinery
Making History
First introduced to “plastic skating” in 1985 Perry Boskus was a demonstrator for one of the first plastic skating surfaces available at that time. He noticed the benefits right away and listened to the many complaints, then in the late 1990s innovated, invented, and improved the product he called Super-Glide creating the “Synthetic Ice” Industry we see today.
Constantly working on improving the quality of our synthetic ice we’ve developed a number of striking innovations (watch here or see them listed below). Prior to these advancements, no plastic ice product had ever been successful for public use; they were only used for professional skating shows. These plastics are still being sold today by many companies and customers still frown on the experience.
”Successful Synthetic Ice advancements introduced
by Florida Skating Inc dba Global Synthetic Ice:”
- First (2000) we eliminated the wood-core and designed a solid core product allowing outdoor usage.
- We made the panels larger (2000) and two sizes to make a brick pattern creating a stronger assembly.
- Increased the length of the splines from just a few inches to 4ft. and 8ft. long to cover every section of connected panels. This new spline system was copied by many other companies and is still being sold today.
- Replaced the wood perimeter with the same material as our surface to deliver a finished appearance while eliminating splinters for customers.
- After months of intensive experimentation with new gliding materials, we developed our own non-silicone formula creating the “Skate Like Ice” experience that made us famous. This formula is dry to the touch and unnoticed by skaters.
- In 2004, we introduced our newest Super-Glide surface material “Ice Blue”. This was also copied by other companies and sold but the glide was so bad it started to reduce our sales as those rinks failed.
- In 2006, new machinery came online to manufacture Super-Glide. Advanced technology allowed us to do things never done before in this industry. Our modern machinery made production more precise; panels were more consistent and could be made thinner. In addition, we designed a new “Foam Core” surface for home use.
- In 2007 we outgrew Florida Skating Inc. and became Global Synthetic Ice and Super-Glide became a registered Trade-Mark around the World.
- In 2008, we introduced our latest advancement, our patented Interlocking System (received patent in 2012, #8,129,005 B2) this new method replaced the old spline system with interlocking panels which eliminated expansion and contraction issues caused by outdoor changing temperatures. Our new system incorporates newly designed edge tabs that interlock and keep panels locked, a big advancement over the Dove-tail designs.
- In 2010, we invented a hockey marking embedding process allowing hockey lines and goal creases. With this invention we now specialized in Full-Size Outdoor NHL rinks. Also in 2010 we invented a Hockey Net Holding system to keep the net in place but also breaks free when hit by a player, just like ice.
- In 2011, we introduced Super-Glide Ultra (replacing the outdated foam core product and “Ice Blue” formula); this expanded the home market as sales of multiple rinks per day became the norm.
- 2016 – New Super-Glide SLICK synthetic ice matching the glide of ice was released. In a short time SLICK became the highest selling skating surface breaking all previous records.
- We introduce the new generation of Super-Glide synthetic ice every seven years on average.
Super-Glide SLICK
Interlocking Technology
SLICK panels are easy to assemble and disas–
semble – watch
Spline Interlocking Connection
Used By Some Competitors
CONS:
We abandoned this technology for joining synthetic ice panels more than 10 years ago due to its imperfections. In return, we have created our own patented panel joining technology, which ensures their reliable, seamless joining on ice rinks of any size, indoor and outdoor.
Spline Interlocking Connection
(source: manufacturer's YouTube Channel)
Visible seams
(source: manufacturer's YouTube Channel)
New installation, visible seams
(Poland, 2019)
New installation, visible seams
(Poland, 2019)