AmyDavid

I am having real trouble finding out the answer to this....but it doesn't appear that any of the Ice Rinks around here do skate hire - is this correct? Are you expected to have your own?

Tangram

Most/all people have their own. I have even bought some.

Danny B

Dunno what it's like your neck of the woods, but NO, you cannot rent skates at any of the rinks here.

Canadian Tire sell half decent skates for $50+ & they last for years so it's a worthwhile investment.

Auld Yin

This is Canada. Babies are born here wearing skates. Don't go out and buy new skates until you decide if you enjoy it or not. Most towns/cities have skate exchange stores where you can get them second-hand and in reasonable condition.

G77

You're not wrong - our Canadian neighbour wants to take our 2 year old son skating, he's only been walking less than a year

Piff Poff

We are lucky, we can rent skates at one of the outside rinks (Bower Ponds). I have also found out that one of the local sports outfitters (Valhalla Pure) rents ski's and kayaks, they may do skates and snowshoes, not sure. You should ask some locals.

I got some skates from Walmart for myself, just went for the cheapest as I knew I would only use them a couple of times a year. They were about $30.

Jingsamichty

We all bought skates from SportChek - about $50 a pair for the kids and $80 a pair for us grown ups.

If you leave them in the garage for a week when it's not got above -20C, it feels pretty damn cold when you put them on!

Piff Poff

That's like leaving your gym kit in the car when you go to work with the idea of working out on the way home brrrrr!

Tanah

You can rent skates at the rinks here - seems a bit odd that you cant rent skates even if everyone is adept at skating there - surely not every single person would own a pair of skates

dbd33

Being able to rent skates is usual in Toronto too. I suppose anywhere with a significant number of tourists will have a rental facility at the rink.

iaink

My two year old has been skating (well, on skates anyway) for over a year. She was signed up for skating lessons with the local club this year, and was in the Xmas extravaganza show last night and everything, as a cute puppy dog shuffling uncertainly across the ice. She will be 3 in January. Old enough to walk = old enough to skate here.


The only place I know that you can hire skates is Nathan Phillips square in down town Toronto. Its a tourist thing.


Shortly after I arrived in Canada I signed up for adult skate classes through the local township parks and rec division. It was some ungodly hour on Sat morning, and the only people attending were unsteady immigrants, but it was worth the effort...got me to the stage I can do (forward) crosscuts and not harm anyone else on the ice.

If you are on a tight budget you can get used skates at places like "Play it again sports", along with expert advice on what you need.

Canada2006

There are munipical ice rinks everywhere over here. I was quite surprised at that. Even in our hamlet outside Montréal there are a few, not to mention the municipal cross-country-ski path next to a motorway

dbd33

Harbourfront is another place. Bloody cold though.

l i s a

Hi Amy

I got our skates from Sportswheels, Sackville (link below) They have second hand upstairs from $20 and you can trade in the kiddies ones when they grow out of them. Also staff were very friendly and helpful considering I know nothing about types of skates, safety hemets etc.

http://www.yellowpages.ca/amurl/2548...sportwheels.ca

destinationnovascotia

Can you skate already Amy, or are you taking lessons?