Tiny Sticky Specks on Boots

[Mergen Tatara]

I've noticed some tiny, sticky white specks on the sides of my boots recently.  At first, I thought they were dust particles and tried to wipe them off, but they wouldn't go away.

Then I used my fingernails and gently tried to peel them off.  Slowly, they came off like a sticky substance.    Have anyone else experienced this? 

I believe most boots have a polyurethane coating applied on the surface, for water proofing.  Could this be the coating drying up, hardening and forming these little specks on the boots?

Hmm... 

[hopskipjump]

It's from the ice on the ice rink.

We have several rinks we use and one is a really crappy rink.  That is the one that would get on dd's clothing and skates.  It's part of the paint, and it what makes an ice rink's ice white.  I'm sure that there are different qualities of products.

[VAsk8r]

Is this why my skates have little blue specks on the sides? I have noticed some of the kids have them on their skates, too. I would guess they got there from my skates sliding across the ice after a spin fall.