Indoor ice skating rinks offer climate-controlled environments with consistent ice quality year-round, while outdoor rinks provide a more challenging, weather-dependent experience that many skaters find magical. Choosing between indoor vs outdoor ice skating rinks depends on your skill level, budget, and what kind of experience you want. I have skated at both types of rinks … Read more
Ireen Wüst of the Netherlands is the most decorated Olympic speed skater of all time with 13 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze) across five Olympic Games from 2006 to 2022. She is the first athlete in any sport to win individual gold medals at five consecutive Olympics. For men, Finnish skater Clas Thunberg … Read more
The Winter Olympic Games began in 1924 in Chamonix, France, originally held as the International Winter Sports Week. The International Olympic Committee retroactively recognized these as the first Olympic Winter Games in 1926, with 258 athletes from 16 nations competing in 6 sports and 9 events. Over the past century, this celebration of winter sports … Read more
USFS figure skating test levels explained simply: they are a nationally standardized progression of skill-based assessments that measure your abilities across four disciplines – skating skills, singles, pairs, and ice dance. Whether you are a six-year-old dreaming of Olympic gold or a sixty-year-old returning to the ice after decades away, understanding how the U.S. Figure … Read more
When my neighbor asked me last winter whether she should sign her 7-year-old up for hockey, I understood her hesitation. She had seen the highlight reels of NHL collisions and heard stories about concussions. The question “is hockey safe for kids” echoes in the minds of countless parents standing at the rink glass, watching their … Read more
Have you ever watched a figure skater glide across the ice in perfect harmony with their music and wondered: how do figure skaters choose their music? I spent weeks researching this question, reading forums where skaters share their real experiences, analyzing interviews with Olympic athletes, and studying the official rules that govern competitive skating. Music … Read more
Each costume is worn for about four minutes of competition and can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $9,000 or more. That is the jaw-dropping reality Olympic figure skaters face every season. If you are wondering how much do figure skating costumes cost across different levels, the answer spans a dramatic range. Beginner skaters can find … Read more
The hollow on ice skate blades is the concave groove ground into the bottom of your blade during sharpening. This groove creates two sharp edges on either side of the blade that bite into the ice, giving you the grip you need to turn, stop, and accelerate. Without the hollow, your skate blades would be … Read more
If you’ve ever opened a hockey bag after a game, you know the smell. That sharp, penetrating odor that seems to cling to everything. Learning how to get the smell out of hockey equipment isn’t just about comfort. It’s about protecting your health, extending the life of expensive gear, and avoiding the embarrassment that comes … Read more
Ice sports you can try as a beginner include ice skating, curling, recreational ice hockey, broomball, ringette, figure skating, and speed skating. Each activity offers different levels of physical intensity, equipment requirements, and social engagement. Most beginners can learn basic skills in their first session with proper instruction and the right mindset. Our team has … Read more