Think this time of year is all about grey skies and chicken soup? Shame on you Melbourne! Embrace the season with a trip to the
Olympic Ice Skating Centre in South Oakleigh.
As Melbourne’s only permanent ice rink (apart from Bendigo) it plays host to a number of ice sports clubs, as well as competitions and interstate championships. Skates can be hired for 2-hour general sessions, where skaters of any level of experience can take to the ice. General sessions are variably held on the weekends and throughout the week, subject to public and school holidays. For more info on session times visit
the website.
The rink turns nightclub on Fridays and Saturdays with a Disco session well into the night.
For those of you who don’t treat the weekend as one big sleep-in, group lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters are held at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, and are a good way to learn the basics: such as how to stop, and getting up after a fall.
It is essential you wear pants and a long-sleeved top, and if you want to avoid the dreaded ice burn then gloves are a good idea too. Trust me, you’ll need them!
If you’re more into spectating or need to rest your aching legs, retire to the (heated) cafe with a hot chocolate and watch how the pros do it.
See you on the ice.
