Skating rink facts for kids

A skating rink is a special place where people go to glide around on skates! It can be a smooth surface made of ice, perfect for ice skating, or a hard floor designed for roller skating. These fun spots are great for exercise, learning new tricks, or just having a good time with friends and family. Skating rinks are popular all over the world, offering a cool way to stay active.

What is a Skating Rink?

A skating rink is essentially a dedicated area for skating. It provides a safe and smooth surface for people to enjoy different types of skating. Whether you prefer gliding on sharp blades or rolling on wheels, there's a rink designed just for that!

Ice Rinks: Skating on Frozen Water

An ice rink is a large, flat surface made of frozen water. It's where people go for ice skating, ice hockey, figure skating, and speed skating. The ice is kept very cold and smooth, often by special machines called Zambonis that clean and flatten the surface. Many towns have indoor ice rinks that are open all year, while some places have outdoor rinks that open in winter.

Roller Rinks: Wheels on the Floor

A roller rink is a smooth, hard floor used for roller skating. This can include traditional roller skates with four wheels or inline skating (often called rollerblading). Roller rinks are usually indoors and have a polished surface, like wood or concrete, that's perfect for rolling. They often play music and have disco lights, making them a fun place for parties and social events.

Skating Rinks in Books and Music

The idea of a skating rink has also inspired artists!

• Skating Rink is the name of a musical piece from 1922. It was created by a composer named Arthur Honegger. He called it a symphonie chorégraphique, which means a "choreographic symphony" – a piece of music meant for dance.
• The Skating Rink is a novel written in 1993 by Roberto Bolaño, a famous author.
• The Skating Rink is also the title of an opera that premiered in 2018. An opera is a play where most of the words are sung. This opera was adapted from Bolaño's novel by a composer named David Sawer.

See also

• Rink (disambiguation)
• Skate (disambiguation)