Ice Skating Safety Tips | How To Ice Skate Safely Outdoors

Ice skating is so much fun this time of year, but ice skating safety is so very important if you are planning to go ice skating outdoors. We have all been taught the dangers of ice, especially thin ice in the winter. But how do we know if it is safe to skate on, let alone walk on?

Before making your way out onto the ice I advise you to please do plenty of research on the topic. This blog post is just an introduction to ice skating safety and I am sure that there is much more to learn than what I have here. Nevertheless, this blog post is a collection of ten of my best ice skating tips to make sure you have a fun and safe adventure on the ice.

One. Always skate with a buddy! Never go alone.

Two. Check the depth (in numerous places). The ice should be four inches thick for a single skater and eight inches thick for a group. Ice that is ten inches thick can safety support a snowmobile!  You can check the depth by bringing a drill and a tape measure. Drill into the ice and measure the depth.

Three. Clear debris off the ice such as large amounts of snow, sticks, and rocks. Clearing off the snow will help you see if there are any obstacles stuck in the ice and this will prevent falling.

Four. Do not skate where you see water.

Five. White ice (ice with lots of bubbles) is not structurally sound. The ice pictured here is white ice. It was only “safe” because the water beneath was less than three feet deep. Ice with bubbles like this is prone to cracking. The best ice to skate on is clear or “dark” ice.

Six. A good rule to follow is to only skate when it has been below freezing for at least three consecutive days.

Seven. Stay away from areas in the ice that appear cracked or even open. If there is a hole in the ice, the integrity of the ice surrounding it is weaker.

Eight. Water that has a strong current can thin out ice from underneath. Water with a strong current is also dangerous because it will pull you away from the opening of the ice if you were to fall through. Best to avoid this kind of place unless the ice is very thick.

Nine. If you hear, see, or feel cracking ice beneath you: disperse your weight so that it is not all on one point. The best way to do this is to lay on your stomach to evenly distribute your weight to keep from breaking through. Gently scooch yourself back to shore for safety. Do not go back out on the ice and warn others nearby.

Beginner’s bonus tip:

Unless you use figure skates for tricks and figure skating, leave ice skates with toe picks at home. Toe picks can catch on uneven surfaces on natural ice and send you flying into the air. The best kinds of skates to ice skate outdoors with are hockey style skates without toe picks. They’re much harder to find in women’s sizes (a sexist problem that needs to be fixed), but with some research you can find a pair. These are also the best skates for children and beginners because they are easier to skate with, more comfortable, are thicker and warmer, and have more ankle support than typical figure skates.

I hope you have a safe and fun time ice skating this winter. If you have any valuable safety tips please share them in the comments below. Please share this post with your loved ones if they’re planning on ice skating outdoors this winter season. Happy adventures!