Submitted Photo The hockey rink at Roosevelt School is set to open later this week, according to Minot Parks recreation manager Ann Nesheim. Delayed opening of Minot’s outdoor rinks has been attributed to uncommonly warm weather.

The Minot area has experienced some unusually warm weather, which has resulted in a later opening of outdoor ice skating rinks compared to previous years, according to Minot Parks Recreation Manager Ann Nesheim.

Three of six outdoor public rinks opened last weekend. Two rinks are located at Polaris Park – one dedicated to leisure skating and the other to hockey – and a dedicated hockey rink at Perkett School. Nesheim said the other three, located at Roosevelt School and Corbett Field, are planned to open later this week.

Neishem said typically rinks open mid-December. However, the warmer weather delayed rink flooding. Crews start the flooding process by soaking the ground and then freezing water layer by layer to build up a thick skating surface. She reported there were days crews would flood rinks but on nice days the water wouldn’t freeze. The process typically takes a few weeks, but Neishem said it took longer than usual this year.

Minot Parks has requested community members refrain from skating on the unopened rinks until they are officially open for the season. Skating on unfinished ice can impede the freezing process and further delay opening.

New to the skating scene this year is the availability of youth and adult skate rentals at each rink for $2. While Minot Parks doesn’t lock the rinks outside of warming house hours, rentals will only be available Monday to Friday from 4-9:30 p.m. and weekends from noon-9:30 p.m. while the houses are open.

While at the mercy of the weather, Neishem said, skating season will, hopefully, run through February.