By Kristen Bartus
For the Daily
Zamboni. I think the strange name makes the machine seem intriguing. So, when after a recent hockey game I had the opportunity to take a ride on a Zamboni, I thought I had hit the jackpot.
I thoroughly enjoyed gliding along the ice on top of the massive machine and viewing the ice from directly above it. But what I really wanted to do was drive the Zamboni - when I learned that I could, I was elated.
As my designated driving time grew near, I became nervous. Zambonis do not go very fast, but that is a lot of machine to control on a slippery surface. I feared running into the boards and glass surrounding the rink.
I hoisted myself up into the high seat and put my foot on the large metal pedal. I shifted into forward and tentatively pressed my foot on the pedal. I began crawling along slowly, adjusting to the 6,000 pounds under my control. As I approached the corner, I made sure to turn in plenty of time before I could hit the boards. I felt like I was driving an old stick shift without power steering on an icy road.
The tires slipped a bit and the boards seemed too close, but I remained in control. I began to feel more confident. The machine buzzed steadily and a nice breeze kicked up as I gained speed. The beast yielded to my commands fairly easily. My laps were nowhere near perfect, but I was driving the Zamboni. I loomed high above the ice, solitary, like a leisurely ride on a John Deere. I experienced firsthand the zen of Zamboni.