Synthetic Ice has come a long way in the last half decade! We are proud to be part of the pioneers who led the “self-lubricating panel” movement. And we haven't stopped our continuous R&D as we head the pack.
Of course, skating on synthetic ice will be a bit different from skating on real ice. Although there is a higher coefficient (10-15%) of friction compared to real ice, the period of accustomization for most is short-lived (~5mins) and skating is always noticeably more comfortable once the steel on your skates heats up. The latter coupled with a freshly sharpened pair of skates and proper skating technique will mean that a skater is soon performing all the same movements - clean strides to effortless transitions - as they would on real ice. And the best part? The added friction forces players really focus on their technique, so when they hop back on real ice, the same biomechanics are directly translatable and players are absolutely flying!
Check out how you can maximize your skating experience on Synthetic Ice.