Jessica P - Jan 18, 2023

FIGURE SKATING LIGHTING

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PERFECT LIGHTING

A rigid and technical style of skating that involved creating “figures”, particularly “figure eights” was introduced by an Englishman in the late 1700’s. About a century later a ballet dancer from New York City liberated this form into becoming the highly expressive, acrobatic and highly choreographed dance style that dazzles crowds today. Figure skating was the first winter sport introduced to the Winter Olympics in 1924. Figure skating is not only a sport but it has a undeniable cross over into the entertainment business with flamboyant costumes and music that is enhanced with dynamic lighting.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHTING

Whether it’s public skate night, training or competing, having the right light can make all the difference. Intentionally positioned lighting can help skaters draw focus to those difficult jumps, spins and triple axels that make figure skating such an impressive performance.

Lighting is often the primary tool used for programming cues and revealing the finest details of footwork and hand movements that judges need to see to call scores and for coaches to clearly evaluate movements in order to provide feedback.

Skaters need to feel a level of security and comfort on the ice that allows them to move with confidence when executing demanding routines. Both lighting cues and lighting quality are key to having skaters hit their marks. Whether it’s recreational practice, intensive training or an enchanting ice capades event that you’re hosting, having the correct lighting is vital in creating a safe environment and a visually captivating performance.

OUR APPROACH

Not only does lighting create the perfect atmosphere for an enjoyable experience, but it can also help skaters perform their best...or worst. As in all sports prevent risk of injury and visual comfort are the top criteria.

The most important factors in creating a safe and memorable figure skating experience for athletes and spectators are:

LIGHT LEVELS

Lumens are measured in “lux” and “foot candles” ( 1 fc =10.76 Lux).

The light that reaches the and is visibly reflected by surfaces (illuminance) will vary based on many factors such as source, tilt and venue dimensions. We follow IES recommendations and guidelines to ensure requirements are met.

These numbers are target references that we meet through a holistic approach of site visits, calculations, commissioning and testing to ensure that the adequate amount of light hits the surfaces and illuminates your the rink as intended.

Different levels will be required for use of the ice. Practice, tournaments and if its being rebroadcasted online or televised will vary. Levels increase with the calibre of professionalism and age range. Like hockey, due to the level of speed and hand and foot movement detail, high levels are required.

Combining the correct vertical and horizontal lux while offsetting flicker is a priority.

GLARE

Glare is the most frequent offender and challenge of any rink. It’s the intensity and brightness that from a light source into the eyes directly or as reflected from other surfaces.

Glare can cause serious discomfort and temporary blindness.

Ice rinks have many reflective surfaces that produce glare effects such as the artificial ice and sideboards.

Glare is mitigated best through uplighting with indirect fixtures however this is not always possible so proper tilt, placement, optics and accessories such as louvers and shielding can be applied.

There is a GR and more recent UGR method to calculate the glare metric which must remain at under 45 for every angle.

UNIFORMITY

This is the science of selecting the appropriate sources and utilizing the optical characteristics and spacing them optimally to create uniformity. Uniformity combined with the correct light levels enables visual comfort and acuity. Uniformity helps the brain compute the accurate direction, speed and motion. It also supports a better image for broadcasting.

CONTRAST

By creating contrast with lighting it guides the eye to areas that you want to draw focus to or away from and with adjacent spaces such as the viewing gallery. It helps athletes and spectators with depth perception and defining areas. It also plays into the adaptation time of our eyes from levels of brightness to darkness which becomes increasingly more important as you age.

PLACEMENT

Based on your building, a lighting layout plan is created that will adapt your site and existing systems such as HVAC and audio/ visual integrations.

Positioning lights correctly will optimize light output, quantity of units needed and enable access for facility managers while reducing or eliminating glare. This will result in better energy savings and benefit those on and off the ice without interfering with scoreboards or any important signage.

CRI COLOUR RENDERING

The higher the CRI the better the accuracy of the light source on the colours they are reproducing. This is especially important for entertainment and when dealing with sponsorships and other branding agreements. Measured on a scale from 0-100, CRI should be at 80 for competition and broadcast. While 60 is the bare minimum for practice and recreation but not ideal. LEDs are superior in that most offer high fidelity CRI.

Neutral white light hues will enhance overall clarity and visibility for your general multi-use lighting. We can create a crisply lit, energizing space with our lights LED lights that have a superior CRI (color rendering index) all with dimming capabilities. All patrons and skaters will appreciate this quality of light while they train, compete or perform.

High colour fidelity will also make costume colours and makeup pop and give that extra sparkle!

COLOUR TEMPERATURE

Colour temperatures are impactful on human performance, mood and visibility.

We are mostly accustomed to anywhere from 2200K of warm, dimly lit lights in cozy restaurants and homes to the colder, up to the bright white blue range of 5000-6000K which is common in many commercial and industrial spaces.

4000K is suitable for training and recreation. 5000 - 6500K is suggested for competition and broadcast.

OTHER CHALLENGES

Arenas can be harsh on hardware due to the humidity and having to balance temperatures. We offer specially IP rated and certified fixtures to endure these conditions and interferences, keeping them long lasting and high performing.

Still using legacy lighting? The added benefits of LED lighting for figure skating...

ENERGY BENEFITS AND RETROFITS

Not only is LED the environmentally friendly option but it produces vivid and beautiful lighting effects. LED technology offers much greater energy efficiency than traditional halogen or discharge lamps without the tedious wait for start-up times.

LED lights have significantly longer lifespans, which means your venue will save on up to 80% on energy plus the reduction of cost for re-lamping and maintenance. We can provide a cost analysis for your to illustrate your saving and payback forecast.

The energy efficiency factors for LEDs have been clearly established, globally. Legacy lamps such as fluorescents come with a host of issues and are being phased and in some places are already banned.

RGB COLOURED LIGHTS

RGB can be a built in LED lighting feature that gives colour options (almost 17 million colours actually). Coloured lights can give a boost and can create and sense of drama and excitement.

The rink is after all, a stage and sometimes literally converts into one.

For figure skating, lighting makes all the difference! White light is perfect for creating a bright and vibrant atmosphere in the rink — it enhances the movement of the skater, making their jumps and spins look almost effortless. Coloured light, on the other hand, can provide a different kind of atmosphere — one that is softer and more intimate. It can be used to bring out certain stages of performance and even create an entirely new environment within the arena. It can also help define key points in a routine by furthering emotion and reaction from both spectators and the athletes themselves.

The crossover use of RGB is beneficial for other special events such a sports where defining team colours is not only needed but raises the team spirit. Boost your sales incentives for venue rentals and elevate your vibe for special occasions with this feature.

LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS

We can also specify a controls system that works best for your budget and facility needs. Controls can be as simple as including dimmers and occupancy sensors.Controls offer the flexibility and ease to control lights from one location or even remotely off site.

They are programmed so they can be easy for you to use!

Being able to switch the lights from a performance routine to the house lights in a matter of seconds or turn off an entire venue full of lights with a click of a button is invaluable to time saving and fluidity for a show.

Other building areas such as the stands, kiss & cry/ penalty boxes, change rooms, concession and zamboni storage all require light, sometimes at different levels. Professional planning of lighting controls offer the convenience to control these zones independently all from one or multiple designated locations. The additional perks of controls offer data on energy use and more, all of which can be useful for your management team and operational decisions.

Creating the perfect setup for a figure skating rink requires careful planning and execution.

When it comes to installation and our local team of engineers are part of making sure that all of your lighting system components are securely mounted for safety and durability. We perform commissioning and testing and are available to provide our clients with attentive, quick turn around service.

Figure skaters and coaches have enough to kiss & cry about as they standby in this section of the rink while they wait on the tip of their blades for final scores.

HOW WILL YOU SCORE IN THIS KISS & CRY SECTION?

Selecting the right fixtures and engineering a start to end plan based on complex calculations for rinks and figure skating is daunting. That’s what were here for! With our years of expertise and a fully equipped team, we are here to help guide you through the process of selecting the best options for your particular needs and budget.

Making sure your rink has the right lights can mean all the difference between success and disappointment.

Let us help you with scoring points for more kissing than crying with your lighting set up.

Contact one of our agents today!

OUR SOLUTIONS

DOME BAY
DIRECT & INDIRECT

WATTAGE: 100W/150W/200W/240W/300W/400W/480W

CCT: 3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 100-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT / PENDANT MOUNT

150LM/W

The Dome Bay is an extremely versatile, Direct /Indirect, highperformance LED sports high bay that is ideal for both outdoor and indoor sports lighting applications. With its flexible, modular design the Dome Bay is specifically engineered to illuminate swimming pools, tennis and soccer domes, gyms, arenas and more.


• LED Driver: Lumileds

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: >50,000 hours

• CRI: RA>80

• THD: <15%

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

POOLSIDER DIRECT & INDIRECT

WATTAGE: 60W/100W/150W/200W/300W/400W/600W

CCT: 2700K/3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 120-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV) (REMOTE DRIVERS ONLY)

MOUNTING: YOKE MOUNT (STD) / PENDANT MOUNT / CROSS ARM BRACKET

170LM/W

The Poolsider is a modular LED flood light specifically designed for the caustic environment of Natatoriums, but versatile enough to be used in any flood light application. Multiple optical lens choices, and rotatable modules allow a wide variety of light spread for various use both indoor and out.

• LED Engine: Philip Lumileds 50502, CREE 3524 for 10D ONLY

• LED Driver: Meanwell XLG

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: 75,000 hours

• CRI: >70  Ra

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

NEO DIRECT LIGHTING

WATTAGE: 300W/400W/500W

CCT: 3000K/4000K/5000K

VOLTAGE: 100-277V (UNV)200-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT (STD)

140LM/W (UNV, HV)

The Neo is a high-performance LED high bay luminaire that is perfect for distribution centers and warehouses. It can be applied to industrial, commercial, gymnasium and other applications that would traditionally use HID or fluorescent luminaires.

• LED Driver: Integrated

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: 100,000 @ 25ºC

• CRI: 80+ (Standard) or 90+ (Optional)

• THD: <15%

• Power Factor: >0.93

• Operating Temperature: -30ºC to 50ºC / -22ºF to 122ºF

MAXUM DIRECT LIGHTING

WATTAGE: 90W/120W/150W & 120W/160W/200W

CCT: Selectable 3000K/4000K/5000K

VOLTAGE: 120-347V

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT (STD) / CEILING BRACKET

170LM/W

The Maxum is a WATTAGE SELECTABLE AND CCTSELECTABLE high bay featuring a patented design, with aesthetic modeling and unique style. It is occupancy sensor ready (It features a built-in occupancy sensor socket.) It has a luminous output of 170L/W, making it an ideal solution for warehouses, factories, supermarkets, and other indoor applications.

• LED Engine: SMD2835 LED

• LED Driver: Lifud

• CRI: Ra>70

• THD: 15%

• Power Factor: >0.9

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 45ºC / -22ºF to 113ºF

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PATRIOT DIRECT LIGHTING

WATTAGE: 115/130/155W & 155/180/210W & 240/270/310W

CCT: Selectable 4000K (DEFAULT)/5000K

VOLTAGE: 120-347V (CUNV) / 277-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: SUSPENDED / CEILING MOUNT / PENDANT MOUNT

150LM/W

The Patriot is a CCT SELECTABLE AND WATTAGE SELECTABLE DIE-CAST ALUMINUM LED linear high bay featuring a super compact design with die-cast housing with powder coated paint. Standard 6KV surge protection provides steady performance, even under poor power conditions.

• LED Engine: SMD2835 LED

• LED Driver: Ankom (CUNV), Fahold (HV)

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: >75,000 hrs

• CRI: >80Ra

• Power Factor: >0.95 @120V, Power Factor: >0.7 @347V

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 50ºC / -40ºF to 122ºF