Nate Parseghian, Montana YardRink Owner Since 2023
As a high school athletic director and someone deeply involved in sports, transforming my backyard into a skating and hockey destination has been a passion project. I fell in love with hockey in college, eventually joining an adult league, and now I’m working to get my two young boys excited about the sport – helping them feel confident on skates and out on the ice.
Going into my second year with YardRink, I’m thrilled how the company has helped me expand my rink and transform my backyard into the skating haven I’ve always wanted. Without YardRink, the family wouldn't be spending nearly as much time outside during the winter months – or away from screens.
Making the Perfect Rink Setup
Like many in the ODR community, I knew a level surface was key, so I put in the effort to prepare my yard with dirt and sand before choosing a rink. When it came time to research my options, I came across a YouTube video from Jeremy Rupke (How to Hockey) featuring his YardRink setup and I was intrigued. I loved the concept of having the liner on the outside of the rink and the rounded boards. I also knew a square rink wouldn’t play like a real rink, which made YardRink even more appealing.
Confident in my choice, I purchased a YardRink starter rink that fit the size of my yard. As soon as we had it set up, we found ourselves fully embracing winter – not from inside, but outside on the ice. Our first year was a huge success, giving us 90 skateable days!
A Personalized ODR
As much as we loved last winter, I spent the summer brainstorming ways to expand the rink with the space we have. Thankfully, YardRink worked with me, and I was able to order a standard-sized rink and modify it to fit my yard perfectly.
Now, thanks to Montana’s cold winters, our rink is frozen solid and we’ve been skating for weeks. There’s nothing better than seeing my kids eager to get outside whether it’s before school or after school, or our favorite, night skating in the dark. With YardRink, our family can do whatever we want, from practicing our skating and skills to just goofing around and having fun together.
A Backyard Skating Haven
It’s not just my family enjoying the rink—our friends and neighbors love it too. My sons invite their friends over, and whether it’s their first time seeing the rink or their tenth, it’s always a hit. We set up a fire pit so the adults could relax while the kids laced up and hit the ice.
When my buddies come over, many of whom have backyard rinks themselves, they’re always impressed with the look and setup of my YardRink. It makes me proud to know that I built it myself and created a space where my family and friends can enjoy the best parts of winter together.
