Patent ID: 8147963

Claim:
A synthetic ice apparatus, comprising: a first layer molded utilizing a mold emulating natural ice formations, wherein the first layer provides a plurality of textures representative of the natural ice formations; and a second layer coupled to the first layer for providing a rigid backing to the first layer, wherein a rigidity of the second layer provides a plurality of degrees of hardness that emulate the natural ice formations; wherein the first layer and the second layer form a surface penetrable by an ice climbing tool utilized by a climber to climb the synthetic ice apparatus, and the plurality of textures provided by the first layer and the plurality of degrees of hardness provided by the second layer result in a surface traversable by the climber using the ice climbing tool; wherein the second layer is of at least one thickness predetermined for enabling the rigid backing to prevent deflection of the first layer and allow penetration of the first layer in response to an impact on the first layer by the ice climbing tool.