Clean Run - May 2012 - 46

Rubber belting is easy to keep clean and lasts a long time. Tracked-on dirt does not reduce the traction of the surface and is easily removed with a whiskbroom. According to a NADAC representative, users report that it holds up well in all sorts of weather, from the freezing temperatures of Calgary to the heat and sun of New Mexico. Competitors using this type of matting seem to be pleased with it. Broderick says, “We have black rubber belting on our dogwalk, teeter, and A-frame. Pricewise, it is much cheaper than the pellets and skins [Author’s note: this may not be true of all rubber granules], and it is much easier to apply. We feel it holds up to weather and wear and tear from dog nails very well. Our belted equipment is out in all weather, rain/mud/sun/ snow, and really doesn’t need washing; a good rainstorm or hosing will do. I have not observed it getting slippery with dirt or mud. Although it’s black with yellow painted contacts, it doesn’t seem to get hot in direct sun.” Floridian Becky Nicholas says that she finds her matting from Shipp Belting “lightweight and not horribly expensive at all. Mine has lived outside in Florida weather 24/7 for three years now and it still looks new. It is cooler in 98° full sun than paint, and offers complete traction in the rain.” There are some downsides to this kind of rubber. It is difficult to get paint to adhere to it when it is frequently used, so marking contact zones may be a challenge. Also, Broderick reports that while the black surface doesn’t get excessively warm in the sun when it is attached to a wooden obstacle, it gets much hotter when covering an aluminum one. NADAC has slatless obstacles, but if you compete in a venue that requires slats, you may be challenged in making this kind of rubber surface work for you (a company representative suggests that you may have to apply the rubber in between your wooden slats, leaving the slats bare). In addition, at this time, the Agility Association of Canada does not allow rubber matting, although it allows other forms of rubberizing. Shipp Belting offers a one-year warranty on the workmanship of their product. Although your quote may differ, I was offered the following prices for Dog Agility Matting:

The safest and bestselling jump cups in the world, Clip and Go Jump Cup Strips are now available in two styles!

Made of UV-stabilized polypropylene Molded in jump height markers Jump heights from 4" to 26" Use with 1" or 1-1/4" PVC pipe Guaranteed not to break

· Dogwalk: $104.73 · A-frame: $157.08 · Teeter: $34.91 · Table: $26.10

Clip-on Strips
Examples of rubber matting or belting

Contactacoat
Contactacoat (www.contactacoat.com) is a method of covering contact equipment with rubber granules. This form of rubberizing was brought to the U.S. by well-known competitor Daisy Peel, who recently sold her company to Ric Travis. Contactacoat products can be purchased through the Contactacoat website, or through retailers like AffordableAgility.com, as a kit to be applied by equipment owners. With this method, resin is applied to an obstacle in sections and the granules are sprinkled onto pre-painted, cured wood. AffordableAgility.com customer service representative Debbie Hetzel, speaking on behalf of owner Frank Spock, suggests deciding on a section to work on (like the contact zone), dividing the contact zone colored granules (usually yellow, but other colors are available) into two even amounts (one for each zone) and then separating each of those into four piles. After applying the resin,
Clean Run | May 12

Sliding Jump Cup Strips

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Clean Run - May 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2012