Skating guides
Practical answers for a first (or fiftieth) trip to the rink. Every figure and rule in a guide links its source at the end.
- How to ice skate for the first timeYour first public skate, step by step: renting and lacing skates, the basic stance, falling and getting up, the snowplow stop and rink etiquette.Updated October 5, 2026 · 6 min read
- Roller skating for beginnersHow to start roller skating at a rink: rental fit, protective gear, first strides, the toe-stop drag and other stops, falling safely and floor rules.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- What to wear ice skating (and to a roller rink)Clothes, socks, gloves and helmets for indoor ice, outdoor rinks and roller rinks, plus the clothing and items rinks ban from the skating surface.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- Quad vs inline skatesHow quad and inline skates differ in stability, speed, turning, stopping and outdoor use, and which style suits rink sessions, trails, dance or derby.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- How skates should fit, and how skate sizing worksWhy skate size rarely equals shoe size, how to measure your feet, how a good fit feels, and what Bauer, CCM, Riedell, Jackson, Moxi, K2 and others advise.Updated October 5, 2026 · 6 min read
- How much does ice skating and roller skating cost?What drives the price of public skating, skate rental, lessons, parties and your own skates, with real published prices from US rinks and skate makers.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- Planning a skating birthday partyWhat ice and roller rink party packages usually include, three real packages compared, and the questions to ask before you book a skating birthday.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- Public skating rules and etiquetteThe rules ice and roller rinks post for public sessions, from skating direction and passing to phones, carrying kids, jumps and resurfacing.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- Learn-to-skate programs: Learn to Skate USA, USA Hockey and moreHow Learn to Skate USA levels work, what its $20 membership covers, and USA Hockey's free Try Hockey events and learn-to-play options for new players.Updated October 5, 2026 · 5 min read
- Outdoor ice safety: how thick should ice be for skating?Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (4 inches of new, clear ice on foot), why white ice counts double, how to check ice, and what to do if you fall in.Updated October 5, 2026 · 6 min read