RinkSmart: A Parent-Invented Solution for Safer, Warmer Skating
I’m a father of two who has been building a backyard rink every winter since my kids were little. Some of our best memories were made out on that ice—skating, laughing, chasing pucks, and soaking in the magic of Minnesota winters.
But one thing always bothered me:
How do you keep kids warm and a little safer at the same time?
When they were younger, they wore helmets every time they skated. And every winter, the same challenges showed up:
• Frozen ears
• Hoods that didn’t fit over helmets
• Constant adjustments
• And once they got older and weren’t wearing helmets for casual pond skating, there was no product designed to keep them warm *and* offer a bit of extra protection.
I looked for solutions. There were products out there, but none that were warm, discreet, comfortable, and something my kids would actually want to wear on a backyard rink. Nothing felt right for pond hockey.
So—like any parent who worries, tinkers, and wants the best for their kids—I built the solution myself.
That’s how RinkSmart was born.
A warm, comfortable beanie with discreet impact-assist padding placed exactly where real falls happen. Not a helmet. Just a smarter winter hat that keeps skaters warm and gives parents a little extra peace of mind.
This product was created from real backyard experience, tested on real Minnesota ice, and designed by a dad who wanted something better for his own kids.
Pond Raised. Ice Ready.™
From my family to yours—enjoy the rink.
