Can You Ice Skate in Summer?
Have you ever wished you could ice skate in summer?
In this article, I will answer a question often asked by skating enthusiasts – can you ice skate in summer? To give you a quick answer – it is possible to ice skate in summer or in warmer months. In fact, in the modern day, it has become increasingly easy for ice skating to be a year-round activity.
Read on to find out all about the different types of summer ice skating, how to prepare for it, and the challenges you may face when you want to ice skate in summer
Types of Summer Ice Skating
There are a few different ways in which you can ice skate in summer depending on where you stay and the resources available around you.
Indoor ice rinks
Indoor rinks are the most common way of enjoying ice skating during summer. In fact, all competitive figure skaters, ice dancers, and hockey players practice skating year-round thanks to indoor rinks.
Indoor rinks use special technology to prevent ice from melting even during warmer months. Typically, a refrigerating coolant goes through pipes that are placed below the ice rink. These keep the rink cold throughout and allow ice skating enthusiasts to skate round the year.
If you want to cool off from the harsh summers, check with the rinks in your area if they stay open during summer.
Portable or temporary ice rinks
Portable or temporary ice skating rinks are rinks that can be installed in any location. These rinks use synthetic ice that is easy to maintain and install. They work fine in any weather condition and are an excellent way to enjoy ice skating in summer.
These rinks work just as well for ice skating, figure skating or even basic ice hockey.
Natural Ice
In some parts of the world, you can find ice even during the warmer months. You can find it in the form of frozen lakes or rivers.
If you live in such areas or can visit such areas, you will be able to skate even during summer. But since the ice skating surface is outdoors, make sure the ice is not thawed. Check for cracks or soft spots in the ice. Skate only if you feel confident about the firmness of the surface.
How to prepare to ice skate in summer?
Regardless of where you go ice skating during summer, you need to prepare yourself appropriately to have a safe and memorable summer ice skating experience.
Clothing
Even though you are skating in summer, you should understand that you are skating on ice. This means that the temperature at the rink are not going to be warm or humid like they are on the outside. So you should wear
For ice skating or figure skating-
- a full-sleeved shirt or a top to cover your torso properly.
- Add layers in the form of a lightweight fleece jacket that’s full-sleeved. (Important for summers)
You may need to take it off once your body warms up well. - Wear full-length athletic leggings. Ideally, opt for leggings that go over your skates.
- Wear thin socks and gloves
For ice hockey-
- a long-sleeved shirt, a hoodie, or a typical hockey jersey
- athletic pants or track pants or hockey pants
- In addition to this, you must wear proper protecting gear like shin pads, socks, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, neck guard, and helmet.
Clothing you can avoid when skating in summer
You can avoid
- parkas, long jackets
- down jackets
- scarf
- neck buffs
- beanies
Skates
If you have packed your skates at the end of winter and stored them out of sight, or if your skates haven’t been used in a while, check for the following before stepping on a rink
- wear and tear of the skating boot.
- tightness of the screws
- sharpness of the blade
- fraying of laces
If you notice any damage or shortcomings with any of the above, take help of a professional to fix it or buy new skates or laces.
Rink
If you are using a temporary ice skating rink or want to skate on a naturally frozen outdoor ice rink, you need to ensure that the ice lies hard and flat and stays even all across. To do this
– use a special resurfacer
– use hot water to even out rough patches
– keep your rink clean
– apply a protective coating if required
Challenges of Ice Skating in Summer
Weather unpredictability
If you want to skate outdoors on natural surfaces, you need to mentally prepare yourself that the weather could spoil your plans. The rink, which may have been in excellent shape, could easily start melting in case of increase in temperature or humidity.
So keep your ice skating plans flexible and prepare yourself for disappointment.
Extra Sweating and Loss of Control
Even though you skate on temperature regulated indoor rinks, you may find yourself sweating more in summer than you would in winter. This would result in sweaty feet and lesser control over the skates.
Make sure you wear moisture wicking high quality socks when skating during summer.
The extra sweating would also result in stinkier skates and ice skating gear. Make sure you tackle stinky ice skates immediately to avoid build up and damage of ice skates. You can read my full post on how to tackle stinky ice skates here.
You may also notice yourself getting dehydrated more frequently. So carry enough fluids with you on the rink. You could also get tired more easily – especially if skating on synthetic rinks or outdoor rinks. So take good care of yourself and your gear when you go for an ice skating session in summer.
Limited Availability
Even though it has become increasingly common to find ice skating rinks that stay open all year round, the availability of an indoor rink is still far lesser than in winter. The struggle of finding an ice skating rink in summer is higher if
- you stay in areas that are predominantly warm
- you stay in an areas that do not have frozen lakes or rivers in summer
- ice skating is not a commonly practiced social activity in your region
If that is the case, you may need to go out of your way and travel to a place with year-round skating rinks. Limited availability of skating rinks also results in the rinks getting booked faster – particularly for casual, recreational skaters. So book in advance to avoid disappointment.
