Ice Skate for Fitness!
Ice-skating is a popular recreational and sporting activity that appeals to a wide range of ages. Ice-skating can be practiced outdoors or at an indoor venue. Ice time is also required for related activities such as figure skating, ice hockey and ice dancing and speed skating.
Safety Tips
Dress children warm in several thin layers and gloves or mittens and a hat.
Wearing thin socks because thick socks can cause too much foot movement and result in greater foot irritations.
There’s no such thing as safe ice. Allow children to only skate on approved surfaces.
Falling can be dangerous. The American Academy of Pediatrics says novices should always wear a helmet.
Did You Know?
The earliest skates where made of the leg bones of large animlas!
An experienced speed skater can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.
Recreational skating burns 250 calories an hour; competitive ice sports burn even more.
Children ages 2 or 3 can begin to skate. They should first learn how to balance on ice skates and move while standing in a straight line. This includes learning how to fall down and get back up. Lessons usually begin at age 4.
Jean Sheff is editor of Westchester Family.
Bear Mountain Ice Rink. Bear Mountain State Park, N.Y. 845-786-2701; www.bearmountainicerink.com
Danbury Ice Arena. One Independence Way, Danbury, Conn. 203-794-1704; www.danburyice.com
Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink. Sue Merz Way off Sherman Ave., Greenwich, Conn. 203-531-8560; www.greenwichct.org.
Ebersole Ice Rink. Delfino Park, Lake St., White Plains, N.Y. 422-1444; www.westchestergov.com.
Edward J. Murray Memorial Skating Center. 348 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers, N.Y. 377-6469; www.yonkersny.gov.
Harvey School Evarts Rink. Rtes. 35 & 22 (20 Jay St.), Katonah, N.Y. 232-3618; www.harveyschool.org
Hommocks Park Ice Rink. Boston Post Rd. & Weaver St., Larchmont. N.Y. 834-1069; www.hommocksicerink.org.
Ice Hutch. 655 Garden Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 699-6787
Palisades Center Ice Rink. 4900 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack, N.Y. 845-353-4855; www.palice.com.
Playland Ice Casino. Playland Pkwy., Rye, N.Y. 813-7059; www.ryeplayland.org.
Stamford Twin Rinks. 1063 Hope St., Stamford, Conn. 203-968-9000; www.stamfordtwinrinks.com
Wampus Pond. Rte. 128, Armonk, N.Y. 273-3230; www.westchestergov.com/parks.
Westchester Skating Academy. 91 Fairview Park Dr., Elmsford, N.Y. 347-8232; www.skatewsa.com
