Turf
The FieldTurf playing surface is the original and only system emulating natural grass. It is ideal not only for athletes at the elite level but for everyday athletes.
It was a three and a half day drive from Georgia in order to get the shipment here on schedule.
Phil Wilder looks on as one roll at a time is carefully placed in the
holding section. Installation will follow shortly.
Roll after roll of the new green 'turf'
wait their turn looking forward to the first kickoff of the new season in
September. FieldTurf’s grass fibers are surrounded and stabilized by a
special blend of “synthetic earth. "
FieldTurf is very different from traditional
synthetic turf. The most striking difference is immediately obvious. Instead
of a dense, abrasive rug, FieldTurf’s fiber surface is soft, silky - like
new blades of grass.
Warren McClung, Rob Becker, and Brad McIntosh
give the field a once over in anticipation of some finishing concrete work
necessary prior to the start of turf application.
The cement work Teichert installed was necessary to anchor the various sprinklers (center) utility, electrical and flow controls (top) and quick couplers (bottom). The quick coupler as the name implies allows a hose to be connected quickly.
George Little leans against his grading rig as Brandon Morris checks out the line. The Teichert men are preparing the area west of the D section for application of concrete.
Rolls of FieldTurf are carefully labeled and placed on the track waiting to be inserted into their proper location on the infield. Each roll is five yards wide, just the right size to fit between the hash marks.
Senior installer for FieldTurf, Jacques Blais (left) followed by Ryan Jensen, Kathy Branham, Travis Wilkinson and Miles Farland prepare to fine tune some spots (circled in pink) prior to installation.
Kathy Branham handles the small roller with precision as she compacts one of the marked areas on the infield. Precision leveling is of great importance in order that the FieldTurf have an absolutely tailored fit.
The lift elevates a roll of turf allowing the team to clamp on to the material and begin the long pull across the entire infield. The turf is unrolled face down in order for the sewing process to be commence.
The team uses turf clamps to pull from each end keeping the material taut while Jacques (blue shirt) sews a strong smooth seam along the entire length. Each roll is seamed to the previous one. The result is a giant tailored jacket for the infield.
The hands of Jacques Blais, senior installer, work their magic on the full length of each roll of turf. Jacques has performed installation around the globe including China, Qatar, Africa, Europe, and throughout the U.S.A. Installations include golf facilities, sports, recreation and landscaping.
Once a section is sewn it is stretched out smoothly by the team in preparation for the next roll. Numerous layers of ground rubber and sand totaling 1.75" in depth will be applied over this turf. The resulting cushion actually comes from above the turf, not beneath it. The layers will help to prop up the turf in a vertical manner.