Zamboni Driver

If you’ve ever been to the Arctic — or Chicago — you know that ice isn’t always pretty. In fact, beneath the smooth sheen of fresh snow, most winter wonderlands are hazardously jagged, full of bumps, cracks, and bulges that one can easily slip on, trip over, or fall through.

That’s true of both real and manmade ice, which is why Zambonis — machines that resurface the ice in ice rinks to make it smooth and clean — are so important.

Zamboni Drivers make their living behind the wheel of Zambonis. Employed by park districts, arenas, and hockey and ice skating rinks, Zamboni Drivers operate the Zamboni, which smooths ice surfaces by shaving off the top layer of ice and coating it with hot water that first melts any imperfections in the ice and then freezes to form a new layer of skateable ice on top, resulting in a surface that’s smooth — and therefore safe — for Hockey Players and Ice Skaters.

Although you do it every night, and as needed every day, resurfacing isn’t your only responsibility as a Zamboni Driver. You’re also charged with installing and removing ice, monitoring ice conditions, and maintaining and repairing the Zamboni. In addition, you often do double duty as a Janitor or Facilities Manager, which means you also handle things like snow removal, cleaning, opening and closing of the building, skate sharpening and maintenance, and customer service.

Think of it this way: If a rink’s ice were its face, you’d be a Plastic Surgeon, using the Zamboni to routinely rid it of wrinkles and blemishes!