Most rinks offer figure skaters a few kinds of ice. Public sessions are open to everyone and usually cost the least, but they're crowded, and many rinks don't allow jumps or spins on them. Freestyle sessions are for figure skaters practicing jumps, spins and programs, and adult sessions, where a rink has them, are just for grown-ups. Every rink runs its sessions a little differently, so check the schedule and the posted rules.
Key takeaways
- Public sessions are good for practicing basics, stroking and edges, but expect crowds and check whether your rink allows jumps or spins.
- Freestyle sessions are for figure skaters working on jumps, spins and programs. The skater whose program music is playing usually has the right of way.
- Some rinks also run adult-only sessions, low-level freestyle, dance or skating skills ice, so it's worth reading the whole schedule.
- Go in with a plan for what you'll practice, and ask at the front desk if you're not sure which session suits you.
The first time you look at a rink schedule, it can read like a code. Public, FS, LTS, stick and puck, patch: it's a lot, and turning up to the wrong session can be awkward or even against the rules. This page explains the kinds of ice most rinks offer, what you can practice on each, and how to pick the right one for where you are now.
Rinks set their own rules, so treat this as a general guide and check the details with yours. Most post their session rules at the rink or online, and the front desk is usually happy to explain. Asking as a new adult skater is completely normal, and much less awkward than finding out the hard way.
Public sessions
Public sessions are open to everyone: families, hockey players, couples on a date and figure skaters. They're usually the cheapest ice and the easiest to fit in, and they're where most adults start. The rink plays its own music, and everyone skates around the rink in the same direction, so you go with the flow.
You can practice a lot on a public session, from stroking, swizzles and stops to edges, crossovers around the ends and backward skating when there's room. Many rinks don't allow jumps or spins on public sessions, and others allow only small ones or set aside an area for them, so check the rules. Stay aware of the people around you, who may be much less steady than you are, and give small children plenty of room.
Public sessions are often quieter on weekday daytimes than in the evenings and at weekends, when families and groups arrive. If you can get there at a quiet time, you'll have more space to work. Our page on rink etiquette covers the unwritten rules as well as the posted ones.
Freestyle sessions
Freestyle sessions are practice ice for figure skaters. There are fewer people, coaches teach lessons, and skaters work on jumps, spins, footwork and their programs. Schedules often shorten it to FS. Some rinks ask you to book in advance, belong to a club or reach a certain level before you can skate freestyle, so ask before you turn up.
Freestyle runs on a few shared rules. Skaters take turns playing their program music, and the skater whose music is playing usually has the right of way, so watch where they're going and keep out of their path. Some rinks have that skater wear a sash or vest so everyone can spot them. Skaters in a lesson get room too, and it's good manners not to stop and chat where people jump and land.
Freestyle can feel intimidating the first few times, especially when the ice is full of fast teenagers. Nobody expects you to skate like them. Keep moving, keep looking around, and you'll find your own space. Your coach can tell you when you're ready for freestyle, and some rinks expect you to be able to stop and skate backward with control before you join.
Adult sessions and other ice
Some rinks run sessions just for adults. An adult public session is like a public session without the children, and an adult freestyle session follows freestyle rules with only adults on the ice. They're often calmer, and they're a lovely way to meet other adult skaters. Not every rink has them, so look for names like Adult Skate or Adult Freestyle on the schedule, or ask at the desk.
You may see other kinds of ice too. Some rinks run low-level freestyle for newer figure skaters who aren't ready for a busy regular session. Dance sessions are for ice dancers, and some schedules still say Moves or MIF for practice of what U.S. Figure Skating now calls Skating Skills. A few rinks run patch sessions, where each skater gets a section of ice to practice figures.
Reading a rink schedule
Rink schedules use a lot of shorthand, and the same session can go by different names at different rinks. The table covers the terms you're most likely to see. If something on your rink's schedule isn't here, or you're not sure whether it's open to you, ask at the front desk.
| Term | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Public skate | Open to everyone. The rink plays music, and jumps and spins are often not allowed. |
| Freestyle (FS) | Practice ice for figure skaters, with jumps, spins, lessons and program music. |
| Adult skate or adult freestyle | Adults only, with public or freestyle rules depending on the rink. |
| Low-level freestyle | Freestyle for newer figure skaters, at rinks that offer it. |
| Learn to Skate (LTS) | Group classes, often including classes for adults. |
| Club ice | Sessions booked by a skating club, usually for its members. |
| Dance | Ice for ice dancers. |
| Moves or MIF | Skating skills practice, under the old Moves in the Field name. |
| Patch | Figures practice, with each skater on their own section of ice. |
| Stick and puck, or hockey | Hockey practice or games. Not for figure skating. |
Check each session's details before you go: start and end times, whether you need to book or can drop in, any age or level limits, and how to pay. Some rinks sell punch cards or passes that bring the cost down if you skate often. Schedules change with the seasons, and sessions sometimes get cancelled for games or events, so it's worth checking on the day.
Which session suits you
If you're brand new, a Learn to Skate class plus a public session to practice is the usual starting point. Public ice gives you room to work on the basics without worrying about freestyle rules, and the class gives you something to practice. If your rink has adult sessions, try one, because it's often easier to relax when everyone else is a grown-up too.
Once you're working on jumps and spins, or taking private lessons, freestyle is where you'll probably spend most of your time. Many skaters mix and match, using freestyle for jumps and spins, public ice for stroking and edges, and adult sessions for the company. Your coach can help you plan which ice to buy, and our page on choosing a coach covers finding one.
Making the most of your ice time
Ice time costs money, so it pays to go in with a plan. Before you step on, decide what you'll work on, usually one or two things from your last lesson, and how you'll warm up. Arrive early enough to lace up and warm up off the ice, so the session itself goes on skating. Our page on your first 30 days has ideas for what to practice early on.
Afterward, write down what you worked on, in a notes app or a paper log, so the next session picks up where you left off. Short, focused practice is worth more than a long session of aimless laps. If you're working out a skating budget, our article on the real cost of adult figure skating looks at what adults spend.
Every rink is different, so check your rink's posted rules and ask at the front desk if anything's unclear. Rink staff and other skaters would much rather answer a question than untangle a collision.
