Worked yesterday and man, it did not start out well! The rink has two machines. One is an actual Zamboni and the other is an Olympia. The Zamboni is a four cylinder with a hydrostatic transmission. The Olympia machine is a six cylinder with an automatic transmission. Add to that, the Olympia sits lower, but the actual ice conditioner (the part that cuts the ice then lays the water down) is six inches wider.
My manager wanted to train me on the Olympia, which is essentially ther back-up machine, in the event the Zam tanks during a shift or something. I try to explain to him that I haven't even mastered the Zam yet, but he insists and throws me out on the ice with this thing. Never had the chance to just sit and get used to the controls or drive it in the parking lot to get the feel of it.
I get on the ice, start going down the center and he's giving me instructions on lowering the conditioner, starting the auger, opening the water valve and I'm fumbling around with the controls, not paying attention then BAM!!!!!!
I clock the door edge head-on, knock two pieces of plexiglass out and bend the hockey boards by the door! I mean, I hit this sucker so hard the door could barely be closed. Add to that there's something like 50 people all watching and those that didn't see it sure as hell heard it! I then proceed to put this SOB into a flat spin trying to get straightened out but, because I'm so rattled, I forget to turn the water off, which s directing a steady stream of 190 degree water and now I'm burning a hole into the ice!
All this within the first hour of my shift!
I wanted to throw myself under that thing and just end it! Man, it was awful!
My manager was great. Told me not to worry about it, that accidents happen, no one got hurt and the game still started on time. I felt horrible because now this guy has to go bang it out!
The Zamboni I'm comfortable on, but this Olympia machine is the devil's ride for sure! I hate that thing!
Oh well, there's always next Sunday to see how much more I can wreck!
