Mikkeli opens outdoor ice rinks for skating amid unseasonably warm autumn

In Mikkeli, outdoor ice rinks are open for skating. Over the weekend, the city saw simultaneous football games on artificial turf and skating in T-shirts on the artificial ice. On Monday, additional ice maintenance was required due to heavy use and leaves falling from birch trees onto the rink. “The leaves started to clog under the skates, and we managed to clear them off through maintenance,” explained Timo Heinikainen, the city’s sports facility manager.

Along the edge of the rink, two piles of snow—created as a byproduct of ice planing—have also been utilized. “They have become a local recreational area for small children who enjoy playing in the snowdrifts,” Heinikainen remarked.

The Urpola artificial ice rink was frozen last week, and according to Heinikainen, this was done at least two weeks earlier than usual. The early freezing was prompted by the autumn school holiday beginning October 21 in South Savo, along with the prohibition of use of the Kalevankaan practice ice hall, which was closed in early July due to the risk of collapse. Local teams, including Mikkeli’s Jukurit junior team and the bandy team Kampparit, have already booked practice slots at Urpola.

Despite the unusually warm autumn, the outdoor ice is ready for skating. Heinikainen noted that freezing is not dependent on overnight frost, and the ice can withstand some warmth. “When the weather has been sunny, the ice has softened slightly in the middle, but this has not deterred skaters.” The ice thickness is approximately three centimeters, which Heinikainen indicates is sufficient for maintaining quality with the cooling systems used.