Public Skating in NYC

[skategeek]

There are certainly plenty of long-term lots around the airport, so that might be a good option (I use The Parking Spot on Haynes Ave when I fly out of EWR).  I don't know much about transportation from there into the city, though.  Depending on the timing of your trip, you could think about bookending it with a stop at Floyd Hall Arena in Montclair/Little Falls- daily adult public sessions that are lightly attended.  You could drive from Newark or take the train from the city (Montclair-Boonton line).

[rd350]

Summer at Chelsea Piers is tricky because of camps - lots of camps.  Publics in the summer are better earlier in the session, unless there's a large group.  I hit a public that had 200 kids that never skated before on it last summer!  Waste of a lesson but the kids were new to the country and mesmerized by the ice so it was hard to be too mad.  I would call ahead about large groups.  That would be your best bet.

If you're there on the weekend and have time on a Saturday you might try and drop in on a Black Diamond class.  It's off ice followed by a group lesson on full private ice (group can be tiny or ?10/12 people tops I think?), then you get 30 minutes 1/2 ice to practice and then you switch rinks for I think it's another 90 minutes of private ice (for the class participants).  $50 and worth it.

I think the earlier the better for general freestyles.  No coffee club in the summer.

Location wise though, very easy from Javits.  Easy walk or bus.

[celia]

Walking the highline from the javits to Chelsea piers can be really nice - depending on the time of day.  The highline in the upper 20s is very narrow and pedestrian traffic can slow to a crawl.  But beautiful if you have the time.

[skategeek]

Oh, good point about the camps.  I didn't catch that the trip is in July.  No adult public session at Floyd (sniff)... camp takes over.

[dlbritton]

If you're there on the weekend and have time on a Saturday you might try and drop in on a Black Diamond class.  It's off ice followed by a group lesson on full private ice (group can be tiny or ?10/12 people tops I think?), then you get 30 minutes 1/2 ice to practice and then you switch rinks for I think it's another 90 minutes of private ice (for the class participants).  $50 and worth it.

I think the earlier the better for general freestyles.  No coffee club in the summer.

Location wise though, very easy from Javits.  Easy walk or bus.

I saw the description of the Black Diamond class and it looks interesting but I will probably arrive on Saturday (conference starts on Sunday afternoon) and leave the following Saturday

Walking the highline from the javits to Chelsea piers can be really nice - depending on the time of day.  The highline in the upper 20s is very narrow and pedestrian traffic can slow to a crawl.  But beautiful if you have the time.

Even if I don't get a chance to skate I will probably walk down the High Line just to look at the rink.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

[alan]

OK, Bryant park is a huge rink, but always crowded on weekends and evenings as it is totally free if you bring your own skates (outdoor seasonal rink). If you don't mind traveling to Queens, the World Ice Arena in Corona Park is really nice and reasonably priced. It's also indoors and year round. You can go by train and a two block walk.
Anyone who is an ice skating enthusiast and  travels to NYC must skate at Radio City at least once. Just remember you are paying tourist prices.

[Christy]

Well it looks like I may finally get to visit NYC and do some skating. From searching it looks like Bryant Park will close at the beginning of March, but I'm just wondering when the other tourist rinks (Rockefeller and Wollman) are likely to close. Looking at the calendar it looks like Rockefeller closes at the end of Feb but I can't find anything that specifies a closing date so just want to be sure, and I can't find anything on Wollman.

[Isk8NYC]

Bryant park closes in February because the site becomes a venue for NYC's Fashion Week events.
http://bryant-park.com/ice-skating/

Rock center usually closes in April.  Eta: that what their site says, too.
https://therinkatrockcenter.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Mid_Dec_GABrochure(1).pdf

Lasker rink used to have a tennis bubble over it but No more.  They don't hold up well against nor'easters. Lasker closes iMarch, usually.  The exact date depends on weather - they opened in November 2017 instead of October for that reason.   
http://www.laskerrink.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=335492&ssid=233584&vnf=1

Wollman rink is usually closes  a week or so after Lasker, so late March/early April.
http://www.wollmanskatingrink.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=360149&ssid=268650&vnf=1

Check before you go becaause weather is a big factor.  They've closed due to the brutal cold snap this week, for example.

[skategeek]

If you can get over the river there are several year-round rinks in northern NJ.

[Christy]

I was just re-reading the thread. What's the story with Chelsea Piers rink please? I assume I could do the general skating sessions there? I'll probably stay near Central Park so would I be able to walk via the High Line (as that's something else I really want to do)?
The weather is giving me some cause for concern. We can visit any time of the year, and of course the outdoor rinks have limited opening, but OH wants me to do the tourist stuff as a special treat.

[rd350]

What do you mean about Chelsea Piers?  They have 2 rinks, a lot of hockey time but also a lot of freestyles.  Publics are generally crowded but if you go at 1:30 to the days that have that start time for a public the session could start out not too crowded unless there's a group which is really hit or (totally) miss as they can be large.

Not sure who said Bryant Park is huge - it is very crowded and very small and they generally don't let you do any figure skating but that could depend on the staff that day.  They're not supposed to let you go backwards (same with Wollman).  They might have meant Wollman, which is very big but oddly shaped (more like a baseball diamond).  They have morning freestyles though and some adult classes some mornings that should be good.

I thought Wollman and Rock Center were open until first week of April but I could be wrong.  I don't skate at either.  Rock Center is crowded and not too big.  Hit or miss but I think you can go really late at night and usually looks empty uber late (when the news cuts to it).

There are a bunch of other really small rinks in the city, probably not worth it.

If you want to journey out of the city, Prospect Park for outdoors is supposed to be decent and not crowded during the day during the week.  They have a couple of restyles too.  Easy subway ride outside the city to Brooklyn and in Prospect Park.

[Christy]

Thanks for the info on Chelsea Piers. It sounds like the public sessions can get really busy, and there's no way of knowing what to expect?
We're only there for a few days so not sure I'd want to head out of the city, but plans can change 

[rd350]

If you call Chelsea Piers the day before you should be able to find out if there's a big group and if not the 1:30 start (Monday's and Fridays??) should be pretty good.

[Christy]

Thanks for the info. It's now looking like the visit may be May / June time so no opportunity to visit the outdoor rinks, but more time for sightseeing (and hopefully less chance of travel plans being disrupted by the weather)

[axelwylie]

Just got back from a weekend trip to NYC and got to skate at Chelsea Piers. The ice is smaller (NHL size I think) and is well maintained. I believe it is a concrete base as the ice is hard. They Zam every hour. I was there from 7:00-7:50 am and the ice cost $28.50 as a non-member.

There are two rinks but one was being used for skating camp. There are also locker rooms for members who pay the annual fee to rent a locker to store their equipment.

It wasn't crowded at all, but we were there fairly early for the summertime.