This post last updated January 1st, 2020
**updated November 10th, 2019
Our Good ol’ Minnesota winter is in full force! There is snow on the ground, and the sub-zero temps have arrived with their frosty vengeance! For some, this means snuggling in and hibernating with an endless supply of toasty beverages. For others, it means bundling up and enjoying what a true Minnesota winter has to offer!
Some may hit the slopes with skis or boards in hand, others may take to the lakes to catch the next foolish fish. I myself prefer to take a nice hike through the woods – and still, others like to lace up the skates and hit the rinks! Where can you find the best rinks? That’s what we’re about to find out! Fortunately for those of us in Rochester, there are many to choose from. Some have warming houses, others have lights to skate by at night, and others are great for hockey players looking for a pick up game!
Outdoor Rinks
For rinks with warming sheds, the warming shed hours are Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
**There is one studio rink location, where hockey is NOT allowed.**
Northern Heights Park, 900 22 Street NE (Warming house and lights)
**Hockey is allowed at the following outdoor rinks.**
Allendale Park, 3000 18 Avenue NW (Warming house and lights)
Manor Park, 4238 Manor Park Drive, NW (Warming house and lights)
Lincolnshire Park, 5276 Members Parkway NW (Warming house and lights)
Viking Park, 2 Avenue & 26 Street NW (Lights, but no warming house)
Northern Heights Park, 900 22 Street NE (Warming house and lights)
Withers Sports Complex, 2021 Mayowood Road SW (Warming house and lights)
Graham Park, 1570 Fairgrounds Avenue SE (Warming house and lights)
These rinks are great for broomball too. The Northern Heights location has a broomball game nearly every Sunday night during the season!
Ice Skating at the Oval
Continuing on the success of the last few years…you can now skate around the running track at Soldiers Field Park. The warming house will be open and skate rentals available from 12-5 PM on Saturdays in January & February. Also, join the City of Rochester MN and the Rochester Park & Recreation for Ice Skating on the Oval on January 25th, 2020 from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Check out the Facebook event for more information!
Indoor Rinks
Fair weather fan? Want to enjoy outdoor sports from the comfort of indoors? Rochester’s indoor ice arenas are the perfect place to lace up and avoid the windy outdoor temps! The Rochester Rec Center has two rinks that offer open skating times.
Equipment
Are you looking for equipment? Maybe you’re not suited up for ice skating yet? Blades to Ballet is a fantastic resource to get you started. They offer skates and equipment, sharpening, and a wealth of knowledge to keep your equipment in great shape year after year!
Lessons
Rochester Figure Skating Club offers Learn2Skate and Learn2Skate for Hockey classes, geared toward sharing the fun and fundamentals of skating. Classes are available for for all ages (preschoolers through adult) and skill levels (beginners through advanced). Lessons take place year round inside the Recreation Center.
Olmsted Medical Center’s Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance Program offers Hockey Ultimate Training (HUT). The focus is on proper hockey techniques to be more efficient, creating less stress on the body, and lowering risk of injury, while improving the fundamentals of hockey.
Wherever you go, try to take a moment to enjoy nature’s beauty. We’re pretty fortunate to have such dramatic four seasons in Minnesota; hopefully you can make some memories on the skating rinks to talk about in front of y our fireplaces!
