Instead of taking a summer holiday, Queenstown Ice Arena co-owners and brothers Ted and Daniel Graham are taking turns painting the rink's ceiling and doing other necessary maintenance.
The ceiling is painted every year due to condensation loosening the paint, though this year paint was only needed on patches.
''All of it probably takes about three weeks,'' Ted Graham said.
''Last year, we probably spent two months on it.''
The brothers are hoping to open the arena during the summer school holidays but the rink must first be insulated.
''We're waiting for consents ... it's not a huge urgency but we would like to get it done before we open [for this season].''
In the off-season, skates are also sharpened, the floor painted, planning undertaken and everything is primed for opening, which is scheduled for April 19.
''There's tons of stuff for us to do.''
