7 Ideas for Hosting a 2021 National Skating Month Celebration
Reserve Your 2021 National Skating Month Kit!
Start planning your events and reserve your kit today! This year, we are offering the standard National Skating Month kit and a deluxe kit with more items and special add-ons. Learn more and reserve here.
Whether on-ice or virtual, your National Skating Month events are going to look a little different this year. Use the resources provided in your 2021 National Skating Month kit and online to plan an unforgettable celebration commemorating 20 years of National Skating Month!
Need a few ideas to get started? Here are seven ideas for hosting a National Skating Month celebration.
On-Ice Events
If your rink is open, plan an on-ice event with your state and rink COVID-19 guidelines in place.
Try Skating
One of the most popular events throughout National Skating Month history is free skating days. Participants can register for either a free public skating session or free skating with instruction from Learn to Skate USA instructors. Remember to distribute information regarding your program, session times, and costs to all attendees.
Ice Shows/Exhibitions/Demonstrations
Consider hosting a physically distanced ice show or skating demonstration! Have skaters demonstrate foundational skills and fun elements like spirals, Bauers, jumps and spins. Include hockey and speed skating demonstrations as well. Space attendees apart according to your state guidelines. If your state has building capacity limits, live stream the event via Zoom or another video platform or post a video series on social media.
Skate a Marathon
Encourage your Learn to Skate USA or U.S. Figure Skating members to skate a marathon throughout the month of January! Eleven laps around the standard ice rink is equivalent to one mile. Encourage your skaters to complete 289 laps, or one marathon by the end of the month. Include a prize for everyone participating or enter their names into a drawing.
Off-Ice Events
No ice? No problem! Use these ideas to take your National Skating Month celebration virtual and continue to share the excitement of 20 years of skating!
Virtual Info Session
Host an informational session about your Learn to Skate USA program. Include icebreakers and activities (stretching class, off-ice demonstrations, etc.) to engage participants. Send registrants a follow-up with more information and how to sign up for future classes. Consider offering a prize or coupon (free skating passes for public skate, free rental skates on next visit, etc.) for all attendees.
Off-Ice Skills Tutorial
You don’t have to wait to get on the ice to start practicing your skills! Demonstrate Basic Skills elements via Zoom or another video conferencing platform so that skaters are prepared when the rink doors do open. Send registrants a follow-up with more information and how to sign up for future classes.
Digital/Social Media Contest
Hold a virtual contest and offer a prize or drawing for all participants. Hold an online coloring contest or have participants like and share a post to be entered for a drawing. Encourage participants to share their favorite skating move, or use the “When I Skate I Feel…” template to go viral!
Virtual Rink Tour
Get new skaters excited for their first day with a virtual rink tour! Walk through the facility and demonstrate where skaters will go to get skates, prepare and step on the ice! Demonstrate how to properly tie skates, and walk through the first skills skaters will learn (including how to fall and get back up). Be sure to include any new guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No matter what your National Skating Month might look like, Learn to Skate USA is here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your Business Development Specialist with any questions regarding planning and hosting National Skating Month events. Together we can skate to great, one blade at a time!
