There’s no better time than now to hit the ice. And whether you skate indoors or out, it’s great to keep moving.
Manhattan is home to the most beautiful rinks in the world: Rockefeller Center and Central Park’s Wollman Rink. But the ‘burbs are getting better: Sports Plus in New Rochelle boasts “The Central Park” rink, which emulates the landscaping and beauty of Manhattan’s jewel.
Most rinks offer private lessons, birthday parties and hockey programs, so call for details.
MANHATTAN
Rockefeller Center
Sure, it’s a tourist magnet, but don’t let that stop you. The ambience is unbeatable, the setting sublime. Naturally, it’s crowded, but later in the day the lines get shorter and there’s more room to skate. Sessions are four hours long, and Friday and Saturday nights, the rink is open until midnight. There’s skating through mid-April, but the Christmas tree leaves Sunday.
Where: Between 49th and 50th streets, off Fifth Avenue
How much: $8.50 adults, Mon.-Thurs., $11 Fri.-Sun.; $7 kids Mon.- Thurs., $7.50 Fri.- Sun. Skate rental $6. Cash only.
Information: (212) 332-7654
Chelsea Piers Sky Rink
It’s been called “a rink in heaven,” and if there’s another place offering year-round skating overlooking the Hudson, we haven’t heard about it. Safety guards, who keep things safe on the ice, are everywhere and the environment is laid-back. There’s a separate rink, without the view, for hockey players, complete with 1,800 seats for spectators.
Where: Pier 61, 23rd Street and the Hudson River
How much: $11.50 adults, $8 kids. Skate rental $5.
Information: (212) 336-6100, http://www.chelseapiers.com
Wollman Rink in Central Park
Along with the “Matrix”-esque feel of being surrounded by skyscrapers, and the sweet, storybook setting surrounding, this outdoor rink offers unlimited skating. You can start in the morning, have a spin, then go out to eat and return to skate some more, without having to pay again. Weekday evenings are the least crowded; Friday and Saturday nights, the rink’s open till 11. The season runs through March.
Where: Just inside the park, at 59th Street and Sixth Avenue
How much: $7 adults, $3.50 kids and seniors. Wed. and Thurs. nights after 6 are “cheapskate” nights: $3.50 adults, $1.75 kids and seniors. Skate rental $3.
Information: (212) 396-1010, http://www.wollmanrink.com
QUEENS
World’s Fair Ice Skating Rink
If you’ve ever wanted to skate in the shadow of the Unisphere — that icon of the 1964 World’s Fair — this rink’s for you. The easiest way to get there: Take the No. 7 train to Shea Stadium and walk 10 minutes through the park to the rink. By car, take the Grand Central Parkway to Flushing Meadows Corona Park; the parking’s free. Skating runs through March.
Where: Flushing Meadow Park
How much: $4, Wed. and Fri. afternoons ; $7, Fri. evening, Sat. and Sun. Skate rental $4.
Information: (718) 271-1996
BROOKLYN
Kate Wollman Rink
With its Prospect Lake setting — and ban on hockey skating during public sessions — this is a tranquil place to skate. “The views are exquisite, and the pine trees in the background make you feel like you’re in the country,” says Barbara Christ, who works there. She says the morning sessions tend to be more laid-back than Saturday nights, where the scene is “hipper.” Skating runs through mid-
March.
Where: Prospect Park, at Parkside and Ocean avenues
How much: $4 adults, $2 kids and seniors. Skate rental $4.
Information: (718) 287-6431
STATEN ISLAND
WW II Veterans War Memorial
Enclosed in a giant white bubble are two rinks: Rink A for advanced skaters and Rink B for beginners. All skaters are required to sign a waiver; no one under 18 admitted without an adult. The rinks are open through March.
Where: Victory Boulevard, off Clove Road in Clove Lake Park
How much: $6. Skate rental $3.
Information: (718) 720-1010
LONG ISLAND
DeMatteis Pavilion, Uniondale
This tiny outdoor rink is surrounded by trees and office buildings, much like Rockefeller Center. Open weekends only through March, it has a concession stand, recorded music and a family-friendly atmosphere. Sessions are 90 minutes long.
Where: 164 EAB Plaza, across from the Nassau Coliseum
How much: $8 adults; $5 kids and seniors. Skate rental $3.
Information: (516) 683-0303, http://www.eabplaza.com
Iceland, New Hyde Park
This 36-year-old, year-
round rink just had a makeover. Now the bleachers are heated, so spectators stay warm while watching. Disney music accompanies the Saturday and Sunday children’s sessions, while the teens take over at night, when a live DJ spins the tunes.
Where: 3345 Hillside Ave.
How much: $6 adults, $4 kids and seniors. Skate rental $4.
Information: (516) 746-1100, http://www.icelandnhp.com
Long Beach Arena
This year-round rink has two levels: a mezzanine studio for group and private lessons, which has a view of the New York skyline and Reynold’s channel; and a public rink below, originally built for the New York Rangers to train on, for beginners. A special feature: “skating helpers” that beginner skaters can hold onto. They look a little like walkers, and rent for $2.
Where: 150 W. Bay Drive, Long Beach
How much: $6.50 adults, $5 kids and seniors. Skate rental $3.
Information: (516) 431-6501, http://www.longbeachicearena.com
Lake Grove Sports Plus
This full-service, year-
round ice rink claims to offer more public sessions than any rink on the island. There are DJ’s and laser-light shows Friday and Saturday nights, and two rinks: one for more experienced skaters, one for beginners. There’s also a bowling center, games, and a “kids town” with maze, tubes and slides.
Where: 110 New Moriches Road, Lake Grove
How much: Weekdays $6 adults, $4 kids, $3 seniors. Weekends $7, $5 and $3.50. Skate rental $3.50.
Information: (631) 737-5481, http://www.sports-plus.com
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Sports Plus
Just 35 minutes from the city, this metropolis features two skating rinks, including one the size of Madison Square Garden’s. The other, the “Central Park” rink, is surrounded by park benches, lampposts and brick walls. A huge screen plays videos of Britney Spears and *NSYNC, and at night, the rink lights up underneath a disco-like crystal ball. Other attractions include a rock wall, bumper cars and laser tag. From Manhattan, take the Metro North 1 or 6 train
Where: 19 LeCount Place, New Roc City Mall, New Rochelle
How much: $8. Skate rental $4.
Information: (914) 637-7575, http://www.sports-plus.com
Playland Ice Casino, Rye
This is the training ground for the New York Rangers. There’s also a mini-rink especially for kids, and a mid-sized studio rink for figure-skaters to twirl and spin. You can even watch the Rangers practice, if you buy a ticket. Open every month except July.
Where: Off Playland Parkway, Westchester (I-95, exit 19)
How much: $5.50 adults, $4 kids and seniors. Skate rental $3.
Information: (914) 925-2761, http://www.ryeplayland.org
Breaking the ice
Those who skate say it’s never too early to start.
Nina Newby, the figure skating director at Westchester’s Sports Plus, has seen 2-year-olds toddling on skates, but says the ideal age to start is closer to 6.
“We do give classes for 4- and 5-year-olds,” says the former Olympic silver medalist for the U.S., “but 6 is the best.”
She advises against starting kids on double-
bladed “training” skates, since they don’t do much good in the long run. Instead, she says, get them on single blades right away.
“The key is getting them to [find their balance] on their own,” she says, “without using their hands or the wall.”
Here are some other tips for helping your kids onto the ice:
* Dress them warmly, with gloves and thin socks. You want the skates to fit as close to their shoe size as possible, then lace them up snugly.
* Join your child on the ice and hold her hand and help her stand still until she finds her balance.
* Have your child lift his feet up as if he’s marching. Then have him take small, walking baby steps until he can glide.
* Everyone falls, so laugh it off. If he keeps falling, reassure him that it’s OK to be apprehensive.
* If she keeps falling after 20 minutes, get off the ice and relax. “The body is going through a lot of trying to do this stuff,” Nina says. “It takes a lot of energy and concentration to make it happen.”
* When she finally does glide, applaud her progress by saying, “Look how far you’ve come since you started!”
