Ice skating date – Top 15 tips

Wondering if an ice skating date is a good idea? Need help planning your ice skating first date to have a great time? Below are my top tips to increase your chance of having a memorable experience and launch a new relationship: where to go, what to wear, how to behave...

Is ice skating romantic? Is ice skating as a date a good idea?

In theory

In the mind of many, ice skating is very romantic. You can imagine the 2 persons holding hands gliding as well as they can. One falling in slow motion… the other one laughing but with loving eyes seeing the other a little vulnerable.

You imagine that it is a great Ice breaking!

In practice – when to avoid an ice-skating first date

It is generally a great idea to go for a romantic ice-skating date but there can be exceptions to this too.

When to avoid ice skating?
Answer - When one person in the date is a really good skater - and this is why:

• The good ice skater will be bored, as she / he is waiting for the other one; moving like a snail around the rink is not fun for a proficient skater
• The good ice skater could be a little turned off looking at the date, falling on their bottom all the time. Even if you don't want to judge, you do. I was 15 and a national level skater when I had an ice skating first date. Looking at my date struggling to stand straight was not sexy because I know what good skating looked like.

In those cases, it might not carry the best memories intended for a first date.

Tip #1 When is it a good idea to propose and ice-skating date?

Well, if you are quite sure of the person already and want to take your relationship to the next level or want to commit to something on an ice skating date, the plan needs to be made carefully. Suggest an this type of date only in the following cases:

• If both partners can at least stand up on the ice without falling all the time and also manage to move a little, at least.
• If both are equally inexperienced in the sport/activity and may bond well taking the lesson together, trying to stay up together and bond over it.
• If it is a fairly mature relationship, long term preferably and both want a moment to cherish where both partners can be holding hands, being giggly and fresh, and are past judgments (in the falling over context!)
• If you think that intense and emotional dates are the best ones, especially at the start.

Tips to organize your ice skate date

Tip #2 - Have the right mindset

Mindset to have for a successful ice skating date:

You have to want to get to know the other person - not to impress

Imagine a person being too good at something and feeling intimidated versus being on an equal ground of similar inability and feeling relaxed and free of ego! The vulnerability of both the partners being at loss of expertise on a matter like ice skating helps them be themselves, instead of feeling pressured to pretend.

Both of you can laugh at how the other person is falling over. How much both of you are bad at it! The most important thing is, it gives you the power of laughter and confidence too, and how you are brave and forsaking your ego for the other person too. Humility and being open-minded are key, so is the openness to try something new despite the chance of falling… Just have fun!

Tip #3 Choose the rink

Choose one where there is enough space for you two to skate and fall and be as free as possible.  The very small crowded Christmas temporary rink will not be enjoyable, especially for a first date.

The outdoor ones have more feel and vibe and there are bands or DJ’s playing as well, to add to the flavor!

Tip #4 Check if tickets should be reserved

You must be sure of how they will grant you entry. If there is a ticket that needs to be booked in advance, make sure you do that to save from embarrassment. If there are multiple rinks in the area or your town is small, there might be no need for this, but in big cities timed tickets with pre-booking or reservation is a must.

If you don’t do that you might need to wait in the line, and it gets really cold and unpleasant to wait so much. Do your research instead of just showing up without.

Tip #5 Keep warm

It’s important to be warm because nobody wants to fall sick the moment, they are done with their first date. Be reasonable and keep warm enough for the ice-skating rink. If surprising the date, ensure you ask them to wear something which will keep them nicely warm. Check out the next section for tips on what to wear.

Just be careful. Many articles written by journalists or date coaches (and not ice skaters) mention wearing thick socks. DO NOT! You must wear thin clothes for your feet to keep moving and stay warm.

Tip #6 Plan your budget

Include tickets, skate rental, food and beverages in your expense plan for the date. If going Dutch on this, make sure you still have the other person’s share just in case they forget their wallet or don’t have enough.

Tip #7 Bring tissues

The cold and the wind as you skate can give you the sniffles. Don’t forget to bring tissues so that you remain elegant.

Tip #9 Choose your skates

At some rinks you may have a choice of rental skates between figure type skates or hockey type skates.
Hockey skates are often seen cooler. However, for beginners they offer a lot less balance and make it harder to learn.
If this is really you first time, I recommend figure type skates.

Next we will have a look at what to wear when going ice skating as a date.

Outfit for ice skating date – tips for the guys and girls

Tip #10 Wear thin socks

The first thing is to NOT listen to anyone who tells you to wear thick socks at the rink. This is a BAD idea. Nobody in a sane mind will ever tell you to wear thick socks at the skating rink as it hinders your balance and even though you might initially think it is warmer, it is not. Wear thin socks that go high on the calves to go over the skating boot and avoid friction.

Tip #11 Choose the best types of clothes to wear at an ice skating date

• Warm clothes – are a must when you are skating
• Loose clothes – must be worn for you to feel free to move and want to get back up easily if you fall.
• Hats are nice if you are skating outdoors, and they can add a cute touch to your overall look.
• Layers, layers, layers! – this is based on the intensity of your skating, the number of people on the rink or even the weather (if you are skating outside).
• Do not wear a floating scarf. All the pictures of ice skater on the internet include a scarf floating in the wind. It is beautiful on the picture but dangerous in reality. Choose a turtleneck or a neck warmer.

Tip #12 Jeans or no jeans? - can you skate in jeans?

If you are sure you won’t fall much, you can skate in your jeans!
If this is not the case, here is when you should not wear jeans:

• If you know how to and you want to try out some fancy moves.
• If you cannot skate well and might fall a lot… cold ice and jeans are not a great combination!

Tip #13 Gloves or no gloves? - Complex question when it comes to ice skating as a date

Well, normally I always recommend wearing gloves when ice skating. It protects your hands from the cold and from cuts if you fall.

However, this is a date, and you may want to hold the other person’s hand…

If it is a first date, I would wear the gloves at the beginning of the date and see how things progress. You can always remove them later, if you feel there is an opening for holding hands.

Suggested ice-skating date outfit for a girl / woman

You can have a great time at the ice-skating rink and still totally smash the looks department on the date if you keep these points in mind:

• Wear some warm leggings or warm pants and don’t pick that skirt, if you want no free show when you fall!
• You must consider leg warmers, more so, if you are using those horrible rental skates – they will not only keep you warm while hiding the top of the boots, but they will make your legs look longer too!
• A turtleneck top is a good idea which serves a dual purpose of keeping your neck warn while helping you avoid the scarf that would fly around and be annoying. 
• When skating outside you should add another layer. No long coat because of safety reasons but a short wind breaker jacket would be in order.
• You can dress up anyway, just make sure you keep warm and functional and never wear flowy stuff.

What to wear at an ice-skating date for a guy: 

For men, these are good clothes and accessories to go for:

• Bottoms which are warm but not too tight and allows you to move easily.
• A turtleneck sweater looks great and you can also ditch excess warm clothes like scarves if you wear this.
• Skating outside means you would want to add another layer but avoid a long coat, instead, choose a short wind breaker jacket.
• You can also stick to your own style. There is no one way to dress for a skating date, no rules apart from avoiding flowing stuff that might be a reason for you to fall. You can show your personality rather than trying to be someone else.

Ice skating first date moves…

Tip #14 - Suggested move if you fall

Be cool!
Flash your best smile and show that you are not afraid to be vulnerable.

Tip #15 - Suggested move if the other person falls

Offer your hand to help the other person stand up. But only if you are stable yourself, otherwise you could both end up on the ice.

Tip #16 - Suggested move while skating side by side

“Do you want to try skating in unison like a pair? Might be easier if we hold hand so that we feel the rhythm…”

“Do you want to try skating backwards, I can hold your hands”

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