Wild Ice Skating 101 - A Basics Workshop - Fall 2025

In this jam-packed entry-level workshop you'll learn the basics of how to predict, find, assess, and travel across wild ice for skating. You'll learn basic rescue techniques, and view wild ice anomalies through a 90 min.+ in-class presentation, and an hour of hands-on (ice rink) on-ice rescue instruction, with drills and practice scenarios. There will be Q&A portions built-in throughout.

Who this workshop is for:

This is an adult intended workshop. This year we are also continuing to test: Special exceptions for teenagers with a parent/gaurdian to be considered based on skating abilities. Reachout to LearnToSkateOutside@gmail.com for workshop approval prior to sign-up).

Wild ice skating can be a highly dangerous activity if not taken seriously, so we are mostly offering this workshop to adults currently. Many mature teens that are skilled skaters have reached out in recent years including students of Laura's, so this year we will continue to trial accepting teens with a parent/gaurdian that will attend the workshop together on a case-by-case basis. Please reachout to LearnToSkateOutside@gmail.com for this approval prior to purchase.

LTSO reserves the right to turn attendees away or refund purchased workshop tickets if the safety of participants is in question.

**NOTE: This is an in-person workshop and as such, attendees must attend in-person. Workshop materials will not be sent out to those who do not attend the event in-person. If you cannot attend in-person please let us know as soon as possible as this event will likely sell-out and another may be able to attend. Our refund policy states: No refunds 7days before the event however; credit can be given, and special cases can be reviewed.**

Skating Ability Recommendations

For wild ice and to get the most out of the on-ice portion of the workshop, ice skaters should have intermediate-to-elite capabilities. Meaning, at minimum you should be able to skate forwards, backwards, glide, turn fast, forward stop and backward stop to gain the most practice during the on-ice portion of the workshop. (Adult Level 3 of the Learn To Skate USA curriculum - https://www.learntoskateusa.com/media/1085/curriculum_adult.pdf - And for teens that are considering gaining approval for this workshop: advanced to elite skating skills are recommended as workshop approval will be based on skating skill ability and general strength i.e. teens that train multiple days a week at a rink and are of an advanced level of skating strength).

* If you have ice safety gear (ice picks, life preserver, throw rope bag, ice screw, +), please bring this with you to the workshop to practice with and to receive our feedback on. If you do not, we will have enough safety items to share for everyone to practice 'being a victim' & 'a rescuer' with on the rink.

Event Details

Plan to arrive early! – Sign-in outside the 'Summit Room' will open at 5:00pm and we will start on the West rink ice at 5:30pm. Plan to arrive early to fill-out a waiver. The Summit Room can be accessed from the West side of the inside of the West Ice Rink (you will need to enter the West rink and walk around. There may be skaters on the ice but that's totally fine!), please ask the front desk for directions if needed. Our on-ice portion will take place on the West rink from 5:30-6:30pm. We will have a 15 min. break at 6:30pm for you to take off your skates and head into the Summit room for the in-class portion of the workshop which will take place for the rest of the evening. We recommend you bring your own skates, however if you need to rent or if you forget, you can rent skates at the front desk for a public session skate rental fee.

Admission Options:

$165 - Basic Admission - Gives you a ticket to attend the event in-full which includes a 90 min.+ presentation in a classroom setting, one hour of on-ice rescue instruction, with drills and practice scenarios, and Q&A’s throughout. Links to resources + gear recommendations will also be sent after the workshop.

$195 - All-Access Admission - Gives you a ticket to attend the event in-full which includes a 90 min.+ presentation in a classroom setting, one hour of on-ice rescue instruction, with drills and practice scenarios, and Q&A’s throughout. This tier also gives you access to a screen recording of the presentation slides to review, and re-review on your own time after the workshop. Links to resources + gear recommendations will also be sent after the workshop.

$215 - 1 :1 VIP Consultation + All-Access Admission - Gives you a ticket to attend the event in-full which includes a 90 min.+ presentation in a classroom setting, one hour of on-ice rescue instruction, with drills and practice scenarios, and Q&A’s throughout. This tier also gives you access to a screen recording of the presentation slides to review, and re-review on your own time after the workshop. Links to resources + gear recommendations will also be sent after the workshop. Additionally, you will have access to a 1:1 – 15 min. virtual consultation with Laura (sign-ups through Calendly post event). This is your time and it’s "ask whatever you want"!

$250 - Teens With Parent/Gaurdian, All Access Admission - New (and on trial) this season! - This admission gives a pre-approved teenage skater (by email: LearnToSkateOutside@gmail.com) and one parent/guardian a ticket to attend the event in-full together (required), which includes a 90 min.+ presentation in a classroom setting, one hour of on-ice rescue instruction, with drills and practice scenarios, and Q&A’s throughout. The on-ice portion for a non-skating parent/guardian can be viewed from the hockey boxes at the side of the ice however, if you are a skating parent/guardian, you are encouraged to join your teen on the ice! This tier also gives you access to a screen recording of the presentation slides to review, and re-review with your teen on your own time after the workshop. Links to resources + gear recommendations will also be sent after the workshop.

Donations: For those feeling generous towards the mission of Learn To Skate Outside (as we continue getting up and running!) during check-out there will be an option to make a further donation.

* If you have ice safety gear (ice picks, life preserver, throw rope bag, ice screw, +), please bring this to practice with and to receive our feedback on. If you do not, we will have enough safety items to share for everyone to practice 'being a victim' & 'a rescuer' with.

For inspiration before the workshop...

Checkout Laura Kottlowski's virtual reality 180 film about wild ice skating. In this short film you will skate 'as Laura' and 'with Laura' on various ice surfaces around Alberta, Canada. This film was funded through a grant partnership between Google and The Adventure Film Festival in 2019. The film is best viewed in a headset if you have one (search for 'To Return' in the YouTube app), and if not YouTube converted it to 2D viewing for you as well...

(It is a virtual reality film, so you will have to click through as eventbrite does not support VR) -- https://bit.ly/ToReturnVRFilm