What is the purpose and meaning of project o.d.r.?
The story behind the name “project o.d.r.
This story begins way back when I was growing up in South Dakota. My dad built an outdoor rink for my brothers and me to get out in the long winter months. Not only did our skating and hockey skills improve tremendously, we created memories I still cherish today. At that time I decided, one day I would love to build a rink of my own and keep the tradition alive.
My rink started as a dream and continues to morph into more. I reached out to NiceRink, as this was the rink we first had back in the 90s and loved! They have graciously helped support this journey over the years.
My dad and I on our ODR
year one build
What started as a simple first-year rink build quickly turned into a yearly tradition — testing ideas, improving the setup, adding new features, and documenting every step along the way. Over the years doing this there have been many changes but the one consistent theme-
People everywhere want help building their own outdoor rink and maintain tips. We’ve learned alot from our growing community and want to share that with you as we continue this tradition.
Each year, our rink evolves.
Each year, there are unpredictable factors we encounter.
And each year, a community forms around the shared love of winter ice.
That’s when the name Project O.D.R. was born — a place for anyone looking to learn, build, create, and celebrate outdoor hockey rinks in all their forms. We had to add the periods from ODR to O.D.R. due to my father asking, '“what is ‘odor’?” and here we are. We hope you enjoy the content and join our community!
Here is a look back from year 1 to now entering our 7th season of our build.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to inspire and support the outdoor rink community—and share tools to help anyone build their own backyard rink. We share step-by-step tutorials, real-world tips, and community stories that empower families, builders, and hockey lovers to turn a patch of snow into their own frozen tradition. Our goal is to make rink building accessible, rewarding, and something that brings people together every winter.
We do this by providing:
Clear, step-by-step tutorials
Real build experiences with tips and lessons learned
Tools, resources, and product recommendations
A community where people can share their own rink stories
Content with inspiration and entertainment for ODR fans everywhere
Whether it’s your first backyard rink or your tenth, our goal is to make the process easier, more enjoyable, and rewarding. We also hope you will share your rink and any great tips with us that we can share and grow with the community. Share your story with use here.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to grow a global community of outdoor rink builders who share ideas, stories and passion for the game—keeping the spirit of outdoor hockey alive for generations to come.
Pick-up Hockey Game with the Guys
Why Outdoor Rinks
An outdoor rink isn’t just a winter project — it’s an experience. We aren’t trying to sugar coat it as it comes with many ups and downs from mother nature, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. It really is a ‘labor of love’.
It’s the early-morning skate with coffee, the after dinner nights under the lights, the backyard games, the snowfall skates, the friends who come over with sticks, and the memories that stick with you forever. It’s getting the crew over for pickup games, family time, and it’s a tradition we hope you embrace as your own.
For many hockey players, an O.D.R. is where the love of the game begins.
And for many families, it becomes a tradition that grows year after year. We hope you join!
Project O.D.R.
So what does Project O.D.R. stand for?
It stands for Outdoor Rinks, yes — but also for community, creativity, and outdoor fun. It stands for family memories that last long after winter ends. It stands for passion, progress, and the belief that every rink has the potential to become something magical.
Thank you for being part of this growing community.
We can’t wait to see the rink you build!
Friends and family skate day.
Next Step: Build Your First O.D.R.
Want help getting started?
Check out our O.D.R. Build Checklist, browse our rink tutorials, and check out our resources page to begin planning your perfect outdoor setup.
