The problem with almost all of these videos is that they show "drive offs". You should always stop before the threshold and lift the conditioner. Drive offs are not recommended for many reasons. Potential conditioner damage, blade damage, squeegee damage, and threshold damage. Not worth it just for the sake of speed. Been an operator for 32 years
Great video, you make it look so easy. I'm just learning now, my first floor didn't go so great but it's just like everything else I guess once you get the basics and fundamentals down it's just down to muscle memory and repetition.
I'm just doing floods for now and I'm having trouble committing to my turns. It's not as easy as it looks I never dreamnt I'd be a Zamboni driver.... What would my dad say. Lol
New to your page great info really helpful.. if I'm not running the wash water and going into the corners I've noticed when I turn my water off the water doesn't carry and leaves dry spots.. so I've been turning down as much as possible is this the correct way to approach this?
@R!OT EARTH lol, thanks for the correction. Hope all is good. It seems narrow but as you quoted off their website it's not. I would like to see the tape on that tho… 😉 Ours technically is something like 84 10 3/4 with the thicker kick strip. It is a solid video for sure.
I'm brand new at this. Had my first drive today. No cutting (although we did drive the entire surface), just a little mid-ice flooding to increase the thickness a bit. Could you clarify saying "water off/water on." The video which is a very good training device doesn't show much of your right hand. Seeing that would help a ton. I take it that you're cutting off the hot water but the wash water and pump stay on. Is that right?
Hello I am a zamboni driver French, I did not work with this machine before... could you m explain how to work the corners on the track when l ' ice thickness is too high... thank you
I do 3 passes often. Especially after public skate where most of the wear is. 2 is standard but you can do 1, 2, or 3. Maybe 4 on an Oylmpic size rink. I mix it up to change things up. Also starting on the other side of the rink is a good practice. It changes the overlap points. I even start my passes over one of the creases up the middle. It is a tricky pattern but again it changes the overlap points so not to double cut the same areas all the time.
Never a good idea to show people to drive off the rink without stopping. Perhaps a seasoned driver but no way I let a new driver pull that stuff. Good video until that point.
I gave the video a thumbs down as soon as I saw you didn’t stop when exiting the ice. If you’re going to make a video you’ve got to be better than that.
For one thing, the conditioner WILL NOT LIFT UP unless both augers are off!! So if you forget to disengage the augers or miss the lever with your hand you will drive right over the threshold with the conditioner down damaging the blade, plastic threshold, bolts holding the threshold in, conditioner, and/or the flooring just outside the ice surface. Second, you need to wait for the augers to come to a complete stop before lifting the conditioner or you can do damage at the point where your vertical and horizontal augers meet.
Wish me luck, just got hired to be a zam driver, no experience. Huge help thanks for the video.
I now am in your shoes !!! How long until you felt comfortable
The problem with almost all of these videos is that they show "drive offs". You should always stop before the threshold and lift the conditioner. Drive offs are not recommended for many reasons. Potential conditioner damage, blade damage, squeegee damage, and threshold damage. Not worth it just for the sake of speed. Been an operator for 32 years
I only have been driving for 18 years and I totally agree.
Great video... Started Zamming November 21 and I find this video has helped me do very well thus far.
Great video, you make it look so easy. I'm just learning now, my first floor didn't go so great but it's just like everything else I guess once you get the basics and fundamentals down it's just down to muscle memory and repetition.
Just wait till you hit the twentieth floor! Skyscraper!! ; )
I'm just doing floods for now and I'm having trouble committing to my turns. It's not as easy as it looks I never dreamnt I'd be a Zamboni driver....
What would my dad say. Lol
New to your page great info really helpful.. if I'm not running the wash water and going into the corners I've noticed when I turn my water off the water doesn't carry and leaves dry spots.. so I've been turning down as much as possible is this the correct way to approach this?
Thank You very Much! This will make my training so much easier to understand! 👍
best tutorial around ! thanks !
3rd pass cuz it's an Olympic size rink not NHL, approx 15-20ft wider.. this guy is a good driver and that's a beautiful facility
It is an NHL rink. You can do 1 pass, 2 passes or 3 passes before going up the middle.
@R!OT EARTH lol, thanks for the correction. Hope all is good. It seems narrow but as you quoted off their website it's not. I would like to see the tape on that tho… 😉 Ours technically is something like 84 10 3/4 with the thicker kick strip. It is a solid video for sure.
Hi ! Do you lower de debit of cold or hot water in the corners ? I drive a zamboni too and I always cut 50 % of the hot water when I turn.
Even with the zamboni you gotta do parallel parking
Amazing tips thank you
Do you turn on the bump 1st then drop the Conditioner?
I'm brand new at this. Had my first drive today. No cutting (although we did drive the entire surface), just a little mid-ice flooding to increase the thickness a bit. Could you clarify saying "water off/water on." The video which is a very good training device doesn't show much of your right hand. Seeing that would help a ton. I take it that you're cutting off the hot water but the wash water and pump stay on. Is that right?
Zamboni driver here. You’re correct in your assumption in the last part.
good video
Hello I am a zamboni driver French, I did not work with this machine before... could you m explain how to work the corners on the track when l ' ice thickness is too high... thank you
turn your water off before entering the coners, this prevent bowling ( build-up) of the corners
Did you use wash water at all? Or not because this was a first cut
the only guy to ever do 3 round passes before going down the center
Yeah, the guy I was training with today said to do 3 passes before the center, but I felt like 2 was fine.
We also do three laps before going down center ice, but we are also an olympice size rink :-)
I do 1... should i be doing 2?
@@domenicdangelo777 Doing 2 laps around first is better bc then it gives you more room to turn around when going down the center of the ice
I do 3 passes often. Especially after public skate where most of the wear is. 2 is standard but you can do 1, 2, or 3. Maybe 4 on an Oylmpic size rink. I mix it up to change things up. Also starting on the other side of the rink is a good practice. It changes the overlap points. I even start my passes over one of the creases up the middle. It is a tricky pattern but again it changes the overlap points so not to double cut the same areas all the time.
How does someone get a job as a zam driver? A new rink is opening near me and if figured I'd try to shoot my shot
CJ email them asking if they need jobs that’s what I did
only one big right hand turn..
very helpful thank you
Never a good idea to show people to drive off the rink without stopping. Perhaps a seasoned driver but no way I let a new driver pull that stuff. Good video until that point.
I gave the video a thumbs down as soon as I saw you didn’t stop when exiting the ice. If you’re going to make a video you’ve got to be better than that.
For one thing, the conditioner WILL NOT LIFT UP unless both augers are off!! So if you forget to disengage the augers or miss the lever with your hand you will drive right over the threshold with the conditioner down damaging the blade, plastic threshold, bolts holding the threshold in, conditioner, and/or the flooring just outside the ice surface. Second, you need to wait for the augers to come to a complete stop before lifting the conditioner or you can do damage at the point where your vertical and horizontal augers meet.
Too much background noise, I quit watching it part way thru.
Propane zam...