Before you buy ice at a new rink, ask which sessions you're allowed on, whether there's a level rule, how booking and payment work, and what happens if you can't make it. Rinks set their own rules, so the answers change from one rink to the next. These ten questions cover what adult skaters most often need to know, with examples from one rink's posted rules.
Key takeaways
- Freestyle sessions often have a level rule, and some rinks ask you to book, belong to a club or reach a level first.
- Ask about packs and punch cards, which bring the cost down if you skate often.
- Check the refund or credit rule before you register, because some rinks don't refund freestyle once you've booked.
- Asking at the front desk as a new adult skater is completely normal.
The first time you look at a rink schedule, it can read like a code. Turning up to the wrong session can be awkward or even against the rules, and ice costs money, so it's worth asking a few questions before you pay. Most rinks post their session rules at the rink or online, and the front desk is usually happy to explain.
The examples below come from one rink, Poway ICE in California, whose freestyle page sets out its rules clearly. Your rink's answers will be different, which is the whole point of asking. Our page on ice time explains public, freestyle and adult sessions if the names are new to you.
1. Which sessions can I skate on?
Most rinks offer a few kinds of ice, usually public sessions, freestyle sessions and sometimes adult sessions. Public sessions are open to everyone and usually cost the least, but they're crowded. Freestyle is practice ice for figure skaters working on jumps, spins and programs. Ask which ones are open to you, because the same name can mean different things at different rinks.
2. Is there a freestyle level rule?
Some rinks ask you to reach a certain level, book ahead or belong to a club before you can skate freestyle. At Poway ICE, the minimum for open freestyle is Basic 4 with an instructor, or approval from the skating school lead. Its freestyle skaters also need a basic understanding of the flow of traffic and the right-of-way rules. Your coach can tell you when you're ready, and our page on ice time explains what freestyle expects.
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Build a bundle3. Do I need to book?
Ask whether you need to book or can just turn up, and how to pay. At Poway ICE, every skater and coach registers, pays and signs in for the session before going on the ice, and wears a session sticker. Its freestyle sessions are capped at 25 skaters, so booking early matters there. Schedules change with the seasons, and sessions sometimes get cancelled for games or events.
4. Can I jump on public ice?
It depends on the rink. Many don't allow jumps or spins on public sessions, some allow small ones, and some set aside an area for them. Poway ICE, for example, uses a jump and spin zones safety map. Check your rink's posted rules, and save bigger jumps for freestyle.
5. Do you sell session packs?
If you'll skate often, ask about punch cards and packages. At Poway ICE, a one-hour freestyle session is $17 on its own, and a 10 pack of hour sessions works out to $16.50 each. Its 75 pack brings that down to $14 a session. Ask whether quieter weekday sessions cost less too.
6. What if I can't make it?
Ask about refunds and credits before you register, not after. Poway ICE gives no refunds for freestyle sessions once you've registered, and credits only with 24 hours notice. That's worth knowing if your work schedule is unpredictable. If you're not sure you'll use a big pack, start with a smaller one.
7. Can my coach teach here?
Not every coach can teach at every rink. At Poway ICE, only approved coaches who have signed the rink's coach facility use agreement can teach on freestyle sessions. If you already have a coach, ask the rink whether they're approved there, and if you need one, ask the front desk or skating director who teaches adults. Our page on choosing a coach has the questions to ask a coach.
8. How does music work on freestyle?
On freestyle, skaters take turns playing their program music, and the skater whose music is playing usually has the right of way. Some rinks have that skater wear a sash or vest so everyone can spot them. Ask how to add your music, whether there's a sign-up or a queue. Poway ICE also doesn't allow headphones or earbuds without permission, so ask about that too.
9. Where do practice passes work?
Some group classes include practice passes, which are good value. They don't always work on every session, though. At Poway ICE, Learn to Skate practice passes aren't valid on any type of freestyle session. Ask which sessions your pass covers, so you don't turn up to the wrong one.
10. Are there adult or quiet sessions?
Some rinks run sessions just for adults, an adult public session without the children or an adult freestyle with only adults on the ice. They're often calmer, and they're a lovely way to meet other adult skaters. Public sessions are also often quieter on weekday daytimes than in the evenings and at weekends. Look for names like Adult Skate or Adult Freestyle on the schedule, or ask at the front desk.
Before your first session
Go in with a plan for what you'll work on, usually one or two things from your last lesson. Arrive early enough to lace up and warm up off the ice, so the session itself goes on skating. Our page on rink etiquette covers the unwritten rules, and our article on the real cost of adult figure skating helps you budget for ice. Rink staff and other skaters would much rather answer a question than untangle a collision.
Sources
- Adults Skate Too, Understanding Ice Time: Public, Freestyle and Adult Sessions: kinds of ice, freestyle rules, adult sessions and quiet times, which Erika wrote and checked.
- Poway ICE, Freestyle page: its level rule, session cap, registration, refund and credit rule, coach rule, headphone rule, practice passes and package prices.
- Adults Skate Too, The Real Cost of Adult Figure Skating: packs, practice passes and asking the skating director.
