ODR Atlas was built from a simple love for one of Canada’s greatest pastimes: the outdoor rink.

 

Whether it’s a crisp morning skate or an impromptu evening game of shinny under the lights, there’s something magical about a good ODR (outdoor rink). But if you’ve ever driven across town only to find a slushy mess or an empty field, you know how frustrating it can be to find a great rink
— until now.

 

That’s where ODR Atlas comes in.

 

We created this site to track, rank, and share the best outdoor rink locations in Canada — and eventually, across the world. It’s designed for skaters of all stripes: kids learning to stand up, weekend warriors chasing pucks, or anyone just looking to glide under open skies.

 

What We Currently Showcase

 

• Verified rink locations with user-contributed details

• Rankings based on quality, maintenance, amenities, and atmosphere

• A Conditions Skate Score that uses live and historic weather data to give you a real-time idea of the likely ice quality

 

What is Coming

​

• Constantly adding new rink locations and regions to our ever-growing list

• Community updates based on local insights from members

​

Why We Made This

 

We got tired of guessing. Guessing which rinks were flooded, guessing where the best ice was, thinking if there were lights, boards, or benches. Skaters deserve better—and so do the rinks and volunteers who maintain them. ODR Atlas helps celebrate those local efforts and make them visible to everyone.

 

Our Mission

 

To make outdoor skating more accessible, enjoyable, and connected—one rink at a time.

 

Whether you’re planning a winter road trip or just looking for your next after-work skate, ODR Atlas is here to help you find the ice, rate the experience, and share the love of the game.

 

How The Ratings Work

We track two things to help you find the best skate: The Setup (Stars) and The Ice (Skate Score). One tells you if it's a nice place to hang out; the other tells you if it's worth the drive right now.
 

1. The Star Rating (The Setup): Is this a nice spot to visit?
 

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Dream: Heated change rooms, lights, Zamboni-cleaned ice, and amazing spots.

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Solid: Good boards and lights. Probably has a bench or shelter to lace up.

• ⭐⭐⭐ Classic: Your standard community rink. Decent ice, but you might be lacing up in the cold.

• ⭐⭐ Rustic: Pond style. No lights, no boards. Bring a shovel just in case.

• ⭐ DIY: A raw sheet of ice. Skate at your own risk.
   

2. The Live Skate Score (The Conditions): We built a custom weather algorithm that updates 4 times a day to answer the only question that matters: "Is the ice actually good right now?"

Here is what we look for:

• 🌡️ The Goldilocks Zone: We want that crisp -5°C to -15°C range. Too warm means slush; too cold means brittle ice and frozen toes.

• 🌬️ Wind: Nothing ruins an ODR session faster than wind. We punish the score heavily if the winds are blowing hard.

• 📉 The "Shell Ice" Factor: We don't just check today's weather—we check the last few days. If it melted yesterday and froze today, the ice is going to be bumpy. We flag that.

• ❄️ Snow: If it snowed 5cm in the last few hours, the score drops because you're going to be doing more shoveling than skating.