Want to get started skating in Seattle this winter? You’ve come to the right place: There is plenty you should know before taking to the slippery surface for the first time. And, once you’re ready, there are plenty of slippery surfaces to choose from in the Seattle area, especially during the holiday season.
From getting the right equipment to being safe on skates, here’s how you can get started ice skating in Greater Seattle, including notes on where to go and how to learn.
Getting on the ice
Of course, you’ll first need to learn how to skate.
Many Seattle-area rinks offer Learn to Skate classes, providing the foundational knowledge of ice skating based on a national program. Most require helmets, gloves or mittens and thin socks, and run four to eight weeks. Hockey, bike, ski and skateboard helmets are acceptable. Jeans are not.
Rental skates are available for these classes, too, if you want to try ice skating before diving in feet first, if you will.
In Seattle proper, your best bet for skating lessons is Kraken Community Iceplex at Northgate. Like most rinks across the Greater Seattle area, KCI offers ice skating classes for both kids and adults. To find the closest program to you — from Sno-King rinks in Kirkland and Renton to Lynnwood Ice Center — visit st.news/KCI or learntoskateusa.com/findaskatingprogram.
At KCI, youth Learn to Skate classes cost $216 for eight weeks, plus a $17.50 USA Learn to Skate registration. Adult classes run $240.
If you aren’t so green and would rather refresh your muscle memory on the ice, public skate sessions are available regularly at KCI and beyond. At KCI, admission is $16.84 in person and $16 online; kids under 4 skate free and skate rentals are $5.50. See krakencommunityiceplex.com/public-skating for more.
Lacing up
If you’re just getting started, rentals are your best bet. Skating (and its resultant hobbies, figure skating and ice hockey) is expensive. Starting out on rentals at a public skate or in a Learn to Skate class is perfectly acceptable.
But as you progress through your training, going from waddling to executing crossovers and backward strides, you may want to get your own gear, especially if you plan to make skating a long-term hobby.
You’ll find new skates at hockey-specific stores like Hockeywolf at Olympic View Arena in Mountlake Terrace and Pure Hockey in Lynnwood. For secondhand gear in the Seattle area, Play-It-Again Sports in Lynnwood is the best option. New skates start around $100, though some pairs can cost up to several hundred dollars.
When it comes to skate sizes, it is important to note that sizing will differ from your shoe size. It is generally recommended that your skate be 1-1.5 sizes smaller than your shoe size. Sizing varies between brands, so you’ll want to try before you buy.
Skates should fit snugly when tied, to ensure you won’t wobble on the ice, but also shouldn’t be too tight on your feet. If putting on skates causes discomfort, try a different size. When you put your foot in the skate, there should be a bit of room at the front so your toes aren’t jammed up as you move around. When lacing up, tie everything tight; you may need to loop longer laces around the back of the skate to do so.
A final tip on blades: Make sure you routinely get your skates sharpened at your local rink’s pro shop to ensure they maintain their edges, which give you control on the ice. Time spent on the ice will determine how often you need to sharpen your skates, but a good rule of thumb is one sharpening session for every 10 hours on the ice.
Where to skate
Beyond the basics, it is best to learn to skate by skating. While it can be scary to put sharp blades on your feet and set forth on the ice, once you become familiar with the feeling, which some say is like flying, you’ll find yourself at home on the rink.
Where that home is geographically located may vary, so we’ve gathered some ice rinks from around Greater Seattle to sharpen your skills.
Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink
Northeast First Street and 100th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue; bellevueicerink.com
Running through Jan. 8, with hours from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. most days, this 9,000-square-foot holiday rink is a popular option for winter skating and also offers free instruction with admission on select days. Tickets, including skate rental, are $14 on the weekdays and $17 on weekends. Purchase in advance at bellevueicerink.com/admission; walk-up tickets are limited.
Everett Community Ice Rink
2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett; angelofthewindsarena.com/ice-rink/public-skating
Next is an NHL regulation-size ice rink next to the Angel of the Winds Arena that has public skating opportunities year-round. Admission is $8.50 with a $4.50 skate rental; $5.50 for children 5 and younger (which includes the skate rental); and $7.50 for seniors and members of the military with ID. There are also opportunities for Learn to Skate classes for all abilities and ages of skaters, as well as ice hockey and figure skating sessions.
Kraken Community Iceplex
10601 Fifth Ave. N.E., Seattle; krakencommunityiceplex.com
The official community rink of the Seattle Kraken has a variety of public skating opportunities for the holidays, plus festive decorations and dining options on-site, in additional to year-round skating. Tickets are $16 when reserved in advance at krakencommunityiceplex.com and kids under 4 skate free. It is recommended that skaters arrive approximately 20-30 minutes before public skates to pick up rental skates during the busy holiday season.
Lynnwood Ice Center
19803 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood; lynnwoodicecenter.com
This long-running rink in Lynnwood across from Edmonds Community College has a whole host of public skating opportunities and also offers lessons. Admission is $14 for those 13 and older and $10 for children 12 and younger. All tickets must be purchased in advance online at st.news/Lynnwood-skate.
Sno-King Ice Arenas
14326 124th Ave. N.E., Kirkland; snokingicearenas.com/kirkland
12620 164th Ave. S.E., Renton; snokingicearenas.com/renton
35300 S.E. Douglas St., Snoqualmie; snokingicearenas.com/snoqualmie
With multiple locations throughout Greater Seattle, Sno-King arenas offer public skating year-round as well as themed holiday events. Tickets are $12 for those 6 and up, $5 for kids 5 and under. Drop-ins are welcome, but you can purchase tickets online at snokingicearenas.com/public-skating.
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