There are a few chilly days ahead in the forecast and if you’re looking to build an outdoor rink, it’s a good time to start.

The weather to this point hasn’t been great for building outdoor rinks says Scott Sears, administrator of the NL Outdoor Rinks! Facebook page that now has some three-thousand members.

However, that should change with cold weather coming over the next few days, giving Sears hope that January and February will be better for skating outside.

Sears has some tips for those building their first outdoor rink this winter. He says the most important piece is the slope.

He says you have to make sure the ground is level. Also, the boards must be the right height so that water can accumulate throughout the rink for a good skating surface.

Another good tip says Sears is to source your tarp before you frame your rink so you know the correct dimensions.

Sears explains that you want your rink dimensions to be slightly smaller than the tarp so you have some overlap to get up the boards and wrap out around, building a bowl-like shape to catch all of the water.