NYRO makes public debut: Ultimate Hockey unveils next-generation surface for Ultimate Hockey Playgrounds
Playground
Patented synthetic ice technology delivers authentic performance without the need for water, refrigeration, or energy-intensive infrastructure.
Ultimate Hockey today officially presented NYRO, a groundbreaking high-performance synthetic ice surface for Ultimate Hockey Playgrounds. During a live demonstration event in Olten, Switzerland, the company proved that authentic ice hockey can now be played anywhere—without conventional arenas, refrigeration systems, or water supplies.
Operating under the banner “NYRO – Real Performance. Endless Possibilities,” the patented technology addresses the physical demands of professional ice hockey. NYRO was developed and perfected over several years by Jürgen Weiss, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Ultimate Hockey. Its self-lubricating material eliminates the need for maintenance fluids, offering realistic glide, edge control, dynamic acceleration, and controlled stopping.
“Our goal was never simply to replicate natural ice, but to liberate the sport from it. With NYRO, we engineered a surface that makes ice hockey possible anywhere on the planet—completely independent of climate, traditional arenas, or heavy energy consumption. The true innovation isn't just better glide performance; it’s breaking ice hockey out of cold halls and making it a global, all-climate experience,” explains Jürgen Weiss, CTO of Ultimate Hockey Playgrounds.
NYRO serves as the foundation for the Ultimate Hockey Playground—a modular, all-weather game deck designed for city squares, schoolyards, parks, and event venues.
“NYRO is the engine that brings Ultimate Hockey to life. By combining professional skating performance with a modular, energy-free setup, we can now take the game directly to where people live, meet, and play. We are offering cities, schools, and clubs a cost-efficient, year-round solution that turns public spaces into vibrant sports venues—making ice hockey truly accessible to everyone, regardless of season or budget,” so Markus Valier, Founder & CEO of Ultimate Hockey.
Key Product Pillars: Real Performance. Endless Possibilities.
Uncompromised Motion: Delivers authentic glide, optimal grip, and precise edge control for a realistic ice hockey experience.
Built for Anywhere: Modular design suitable for indoor and outdoor installation across all climate zones and seasons.
Designed for Sustainability: Requires zero water or active cooling, yielding up to more than 80% savingscompared to traditional ice rinks, and is 100% recyclable.
Smart Investment: Dramatically lower setup costs, minimal maintenance, and a long service life make NYRO an attractive, year-round asset for municipalities, sports organizations, and investors.
Making Ice Hockey More Accessible
The Ultimate Hockey Playground offers a scalable and modular alternative that can be installed temporarily or permanently. It enables cities, clubs and public institutions to introduce ice hockey to children, young people and new communities while creating opportunities for training, events and competitions.
The Playground is also an important part of the wider Ultimate Hockey ecosystem. Ultimate Hockey is a fast-paced 3-on-3 ice hockey discipline. Smaller teams, short games and constant player involvement create a dynamic format focused on speed, technical skill, creativity and entertainment.
The public presentation in Olten marks the beginning of the next development phase for NYRO and the Ultimate Hockey Playground. Further Playground projects and locations are currently being evaluated.
