For your first skating lesson, book a beginner or adult class, wear warm stretchy layers and gloves, and plan to rent skates unless you already have your own fitted pair. Get there early enough to check in and lace up without rushing. The first class is mostly about standing on blades, a little gliding, and learning to fall and get back up, and nobody expects more than that.
Key takeaways
- Rental skates are fine for your first few weeks. Lace them snugly and ask to swap if they pinch or your heel lifts.
- Wear stretchy layers you can move in, leave the jeans at home, and always wear gloves. A helmet is a good idea while you're learning.
- Give yourself extra time to check in, sign any forms, collect your skates and lace up.
- Expect the first class to be about balance, marching, a little gliding and practicing falls. That's where everyone starts.
A first skating lesson is exciting and a little nerve-racking, especially as an adult. The good news is that you don't need much, and nobody in a beginner class expects you to know anything. This checklist covers what to sort out before you go, what to wear and bring, and what the first class is actually like.
Before you go
Book a beginner class at your rink, ideally one for adults. Many rinks run Learn to Skate classes with an adult group, often as a series of weekly classes, so check when the next one starts. Find out what time to arrive, where the class meets, and whether the price includes skate rental.
If you'd rather start with a private lesson, our guide to choosing a coach covers how to find one. If you have a health condition or an old injury, it's worth checking with your doctor before you start. Mention it to your instructor on the day too.
What to wear
Wear warm, stretchy layers you can bend your knees in, like leggings or athletic pants, a fitted long-sleeved top and a light jacket you can take off as you warm up. Leave the jeans at home, because they're stiff and cold once they get wet, and skip scarves, which can catch or get in the way. Our guide to what to wear ice skating has more ideas.
Gloves are the one thing not to forget, because your hands will touch the ice when you fall or get up. Any warm pair is fine. Wear one pair of socks that comes up higher than the top of the boot, so it doesn't rub. A helmet is a good idea while you're learning, and padded shorts or knee pads under your leggings are completely normal if they help you relax.
Skates: rent or bring your own
Rental skates are fine for your first few weeks, and most rinks have them. If the rink rents both figure and hockey skates, ask for figure skates for a figure skating class. Try them on, and ask for a different pair if your heel lifts, your toes are squashed or the boots feel soft and worn. Swapping is normal, so don't feel shy about it.
If you're renting, you don't need guards or soakers yet. If you already have your own skates, bring them with hard guards for walking to the ice, plus a small towel and soakers for afterward. New blades usually need sharpening before you skate on them, so check with the shop that sold them.
If you haven't bought skates yet, there's no rush. Once you know you're sticking with skating, get fitted in person, and our fitting guide explains what a good fit feels like.
What to bring
You don't need a bag full of gear for a first lesson, and most of what you need is probably in your closet already. The table covers the basics. Once you're skating every week, our skating bag checklist covers the rest.
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Gloves | Your hands will touch the ice. Any warm pair works. |
| A light jacket or zip-up | Rinks feel cold until you warm up, and you can take it off once you do. |
| A water bottle | Skating is more work than it looks. |
| Payment and booking details | For the class, skate rental and any forms at the desk. |
| A helmet, if you have one | A good idea while you're learning, especially for backward falls. |
| Your own skates, guards, soakers and a towel | Only if you own skates. Guards protect the blades off the ice. The towel and soakers are for drying them afterward. |
Getting there and lacing up
Get to the rink earlier than feels necessary. You may need to check in, sign a waiver, collect rental skates and find the right sheet of ice, and it all takes longer than you'd think the first time. If you have a few minutes spare, warm up with some marching on the spot and gentle leg swings before you lace up.
Lace up sitting down, with your heel pushed right to the back of the boot. Lace snugly around the bend of your ankle so your heel stays put, and a little easier through the top hooks so you can bend your knees. If you're not sure, ask your instructor to check. They'd much rather help than watch you wobble on loose laces.
Say hello to your instructor before the class starts, and mention anything they should know, like an old injury or nerves about falling. Instructors teach nervous adults all the time, and it helps them help you.
What happens in a first class
Beginner classes usually start with getting used to standing on blades, with marching on the spot, small steps forward and dips, where you bend your knees low. Most also teach you to fall and get back up early on, often before you've moved very far. You may try a two-foot glide, and some classes get as far as swizzles or a first stop. Holding the boards for a while is completely fine.
You'll probably fall, and so will everyone else in the class. Bend your knees, go down to one side, keep your hands in and tuck your chin, and our guide to falling safely walks you through it before you go. Look up rather than at your feet, and keep your knees soft.
It will feel strange, and it gets easier each time you go back. If you hit your head or something really hurts, stop for the day and get checked, even if you feel fine.
After the class
Write down what you learned while it's fresh, even just a line or two in your phone. If you can, go to a public session before your next class to practice, because a little practice between classes helps new skills stick. Our page on your first 30 days covers what the next few weeks usually look like.
Tired ankles and sore legs the next day are normal at first. If you used your own skates, wipe the blades dry, put soakers on rather than hard guards, and let the boots air out at home. Then book your next class while you're still excited about it.
This is general advice from adult skaters. Every rink runs its classes a little differently, so check with yours about rentals, helmets and what to bring.
